Bill,
A friend invited me back to the following "Army Talk List" from South Africa. His reason was I think the following letter down below somewhere on the attachment by a man named John C. Scan down the letter till you get to his letter. They are talking and reacting to the Bob Kerrey Propaganda Campaign against Vietnam Vets in America. John C I know served several tours of duty with Special Forces in Vietnam and after the war continued his fight against the communists in Rhodesia, Africa.. He held the rank of Captain in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (essentially a special forces unit). Look at the despair in his writings and his reaction to things. When I was on the this list John C was as calm as a Buddhist meditating away. In the letter you can feel the despair after his long suffering.
ATB
Michael Wilson

 John1RLI@aol.com wrote:

.... Once again, Mark speaks eloquently and reflects my point of view directly. I generally do my best to keep a neutral stance on this list, especially considering I'm a Yank with limited experience in things South African. Still, I've finally reached my Mad Mike Point, brought on the recent diatribe about Bob Kerrey and his SEAL service in Vietnam. And, to anyone on the
list who cares to think that we, as soldiers, don't give a flying f---  about the state of the human condition, or where we stand with each other, then I gladly send my middle finger. I put up with politically correct crap on a daily basis when I hit the university, and the very fact that I served in Vietnam makes me a war criminal in the eyes of my cohort. Needless to say, I don't often add my African experience. Man, for anybody on this list who's  never heard a shot fired in anger, or watched a mate writhe in agony, or who  doesn't still see it behind closed eyelids, then go take one gigantic leap into (deleted) oblivion. I've got five (deleted) bullet holes in my body, plus I managed to get through six months of chemotherapy brought on by our friend,
Agent Orange, delivered to yours truly by either the US  Air Force or whatever the (stuff) is sprayed in southern Africa. Why the hell did I do all this???

Beats the (deleted) out of me. Every time I turn around I'm castigated for  being some kind of chauvinistic, white-male supremacist, and those of you who've bothered to read my postings these past months probably realize I am anything but. What I am, folks, is just tired. Tired of trying to explain why  we did what we did in Vietnam,... I'm just tired. Sorry for the tirade.
 It's been a long day . . . .
 Best to all,
 John C

Taken from   ArmyTalk@moo.sun.ac.za
 http://moo.sun.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/armytalk

Bill,

I found a letter I sent to Trev (a policeman in England, and friend) about the Bob Kerrey situation and some reflections. It was Trev who invited me back to the Army Talk List in South Africa, and I was responding herein to his invitation. You can use any parts which might be worth posting.

Michael

Trev,

I was touched by both Bart's and John C's mental anguish when former Senator Bob Kerrey was interviewed on national television by a reporter named Dan Rather (who had hated Vietnam Vets even 30 years ago if I remember right). But nothing has changed Trev. As I said many times, we lost the war because of being sold out by our political leaders to 3rd world despots and we will always be considered "losers," psychos (in my case I prefer the term mentally ill :)), and baby killers, etc. Many if not most of our own countrymen labeled us pariah at home and we were badly discriminated against in employment etc for the past 30 years. People here still hate us. I like to say "They hated us then, they hate us now." It has a certain poetic tone to it I think. History is always written remember by the victors. We lost. They won. 

They wrote the history. Vietnam Vets will never be resurrected and held in honor by the country they were called to serve. At our monthly meetings of Vietnam Vets we are very careful because anything a Vietnam Vet does catches the newspapers and sells big time here in the USA. So many committed suicide over the years. Without the medications I probably would have also.

When Bob Kerrey was being attacked by the media, I again went on the internet in defense of him etc and was immediately attacked by the majority of writers whose hate was tremendous towards Vietnam Veterans STILL. Nothing has changed Trev here. They hate us. So be it. In return for that, I will pray for THEM. How about that?

Cheers,
Michael

________________________________________________________________________
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( National Association of Medic's and Corpsmen ).. We are on a campaign to enlarge out membership and for those interested or know someone that would consider joining please forward this to them.. We have recently held elections and have formed the best possible leadership through the voting method.. Our ranks are open to all Military Medical personnel, of all wars and peace time and all military occupations.. All the membership info is on site, please consider becoming a member and if you do, in advance welcome aboard.. Our annual meeting will be held in D.C. on Veterans day as normal and in 2002 we have a major reunion in the Pacific Northwest in Northeastern Washington State just south of the Canadian boarder for that "Rough and Rugged" environment of the wilderness.. God Bless, Sincerely, God Bless, Sincerely Larry "Doc" Stanberry