Posted on 03/06/2018 9:51:14 PM PST by cba123
........my heart tells me YES to exactly what you say but then my mind reminds me that the Japanese were as brutal and so were the Germans.
Both are very important “partners” today on a wide variety of issues. I would say the Japanese much more so than the Germans. But, I’m partial as I lived in Japan from 69 to 71 and even then most Japanese just loved Americans. I never found a Japanese person that I felt was hateful towards me.
What I write here this morning reminds me too of that old saying “the best thing that can happen to a country is to go to way with the U.S.”..................lot of truth to that.
Liberty is hereby granted to all non watch standing personnel.
All personnel are reminded that a visit with the ship's Corpsman is mandatory before departure on liberty to prevent a mandatory visit to the ship's corpsman upon your return from liberty.
NOW! LIBERTY !!
Many victims of the Japanese and Nazis has some measure of justice after the war; this was not the case in Vietnam. The “forgive and forget” attitude of the US (actually worse; we strengthened them with trade) should serve as ample warning of how fleeting our foreign policy may be - especially for those considering enlisting. A friend who served at that time describes how he answers fundraising calls from disabled veteran groups today; he asks them to devote their energies to visiting high schools and warning young people about the dangers of enlisting. They could even bring pictured of disfigured vets...
My whole entire life was dictated, as it has turned out, by the draft number I had. So, on Feb. 7, 67 I joined the USNR. 2 years later I dropped out of my 3rd year of college to go on required active duty which at that time was 2 years.
Fortunately, though I got very close to Vietnam (on board a Navy ship), I never set foot in country.
With that historical perspective, I can say I agree with you about the “fleeting foreign policy”...........great statement.
However, I disagree with you that Vietnam era vets like me should go out and actively attempt to persuade young men or women not to serve their country. As one near 70 vet, I can say categorically that serving my country is, after my 2 successful kids, my most proud accomplishment and I’m so glad I did serve.
How would your loved ones feel if you died in-country and 20 years later our government was making nice with the same people you had fought against? Especially if they drafted you?
I’m not recommending anyone dissuades young people from enlisting; I was describing one person’s reaction to phone calls raising money for those who did - and had a worse experience than you (disabled vets). Young people have now had every warning; in my lifetime it was the reversal concerning Saddam Hussein (who we cheered and armed in the 1980s, then attacked a few years later). Saddam’s troops were killing US troops with weapons WE HAD GIVEN THEM.
I’m glad you came through your experience in one piece.
.........your first sentence is THE POINT..............no doubt! LOL, no 2 people in my family think the same thing EVER about anything.
I had a boyhood friend named Bobby Roberts. As little ten year old boys We use to play cave man along a creek on his mothers 500 acre goat ranch. We would hunt each other with Daisy bb guns! Rarely would either one of us hit the other.
The rule was to shoot below the waist. His mom promised a “whuppin” with my belt” if anybody got hurt. Never happened.
8 years later, Bobby caught a round in the forehead somewhere in the Danang area and was dead before he hit the ground. So, on the one hand I HATE that we’re buddy buddy with North Vietnam but on the other hand I’m glad that as a country we don’t still hate Japan and Germany...............so, it’s just not an easy call............period.
Understood - and sorry about your mate.
One of the biggest in the world. HK is not just the island. It handles the largest container ships in the world.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Hong_Kong
One of the biggest in the world. HK is not just the island. It handles the largest container ships in the world.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Hong_Kong
Victoria Harbour which is the body of water between HK island and Kowloon isn’t very deep. Half if it is filled in too. So yes, big ships don’t go through there.
I don’t know much about shipping but HK harbour out by Lantau appears to be deep enough. That’s where our carriers stop.
Thank you.
Kite surfed there last year! Great beach! I hit Nha Trang as well! Will definitely go back!
Sorry too be so slow. No, I am an old soldier from the same war and I got a yen to go back and see how the country had fared. I found I had enough money for the airfare and some to spend in 2003 so I went back. I have been going back there since as often as I can save the money to do it. I have a friend who is a Catholic sister in Đà Náng. It is more pleasant than the other big cities, even Nha Trang in the last 10 years.
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