Vietnam War Memorial Post 639

We Won the Vietnam War - 2/8/04 Back:

WHY WE WON THE VIETNAM WAR

After years of hearing how we “lost” the Vietnam War, I have finally had enough. I have watched veterans from that era beat their selves up and hang their heads in shame. It is time to set the record straight.

As you may know, the Vietnam War was the longest war in U.S. history. It was also the second most costly. But what you may not know is that the U.S. military did NOT LOSE A SINGLE battle during the entire war. Even the well-celebrated Tet offensive was a clear win for the United States.

With the political climate in the United States deteriorating and the news media and other sources abandoning the support of our troops, then President Nixon decided to sign the Paris Peace Accords on January 27^th 1973. This “Peace Treaty” guaranteed the right of South Vietnam to self-determination. Note the below:

Chapter IV: THE EXERCISE OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

Article 9

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam undertake to respect the following principles for the exercise of the South Vietnamese people's right to self-determination: (a) The South Vietnamese people's right to self-determination is sacred, ina- lienable, and shall be respected by all countries.

(b) The South Vietnamese people shall decide themselves the political future of South Viet-Nam through genuinely free and democratic general elections under international supervision.

(c) Foreign countries shall not impose any political tendency or personality on the South Vietnamese people.

In other words, the armed forces of the United States had acquitted themselves with honor and were leaving the country with a peace treaty in hand, having accomplished their task of stopping a communist country takeover of a friendly democracy.

However, as soon as almost all our armed forces had been removed, the North Vietnamese threw the treaty out and attacked when we were at our weakest. There was no political will to go back into Vietnam and thus South Vietnam was lost to the North.

But this WAS NOT A MILITARY defeat. It was a defeat of our political will and of our national fiber. With the news media constantly bombarding the public with anti-war sentiment, we simply grew tired and quit.

A military action CANNOT survive without the total support of the American people, including the news media. Once we are committed to war it has to be total and all out. Lets have our protest before and after an engagement, not during.

So, in my opinion, the United States military won the war in Vietnam. Veterans have nothing to be ashamed of. Vietnam was given away by the politics of the time. Politics I hope to never see again.

Sources: The United States Department of State

ANGELS N’ CAMOUFLAGE Back:

Not long ago, while doing some research for an article, I ran across an organization that seemed to be very worthwhile, so I gave it a second look. Angels N’ Camouflage is an Internet based organization that “adopts” active military members and veterans alike. (www.angelsncamouflage.org or info@angelsncamouflage.org)

What drew my attention to them, was that they were interested not only in the active military, but the veterans in the V.A. facilities, homebound veterans and veterans that are just plain lonely. They recruit “Angels” who will write letters and send small items and in general try to brighten the day of any vet.

This organization was founded by Melissa Harrison~Remy and here is how the organization was begun, in her own words:

In the summer of 2003, my family decided to become Volunteers at our local VA Hospital. It was soon discovered that a majority of our Veterans were now living in 'Group Homes' because they were not able to live on their own for one reason or another. The irony of the situation was most of the Veterans had no support from family and friends. When we would go to visit some of the Group Homes, it saddened us at the loneliness they had succumbed to. Just a mere visit from a stranger was such a treat for them!

In a world where we are so eager to support our Active Military, it broke our hearts to see how quickly one forgets about our Retired Military. What really surprised us was the number of Veterans who were only in their thirties and forties! Little did we know that as the War in Iraq continued, so would the number of young Veterans continue to grow as they came home and had no other place to go, but to one of these homes.

Just like the generations before them, our young men and women are coming home from this War only to find that the life they left behind no longer exists. Not only do they have 'post war trauma' demons to deal with, but now they have to deal with the fact that life went on without them in one form or another.

Seeing this and the fact that it was not just an isolated situation from this War but a continuous cycle from previous Wars; we had to ask ourselves what could 'we' do to show our Veterans that there is someone out there who loves and appreciates them not only for who they are, but what they did for their Country. Not only did they put their lives on the line for others, but they are human beings who crave compassion just like the rest of us.

After many long hours of planning and implementing, Angels 'n Camouflage finally became a reality! Our dreams of making sure that no Veteran be left standing at Mail Call with empty hands nor an empty heart is finally becoming a reality. It truly amazes us at the compassion of 'Angels' from all over the World, including Australia who have joined our Organization by ~ Adopting a Veteran ~. It takes someone truly special to dedicate themselves to weekly letters/cards and monthly 'forget-me-nots' without expecting anything in return. It touches our heart just as much to see our Active Military participating as well!

"Because this conflict is just and right, I've no doubt we will prevail. So don't worry about me, I'm on the side of Angels"

Here is their Mission Statement:

MISSION:

The Organizations main purpose is to educate the Public making them aware of the need to support our Veterans, both at home and in Combat Zones.

To stand beside any and all Veterans, understanding past mistakes on our part as a Society and making sure that we do not make those same mistakes in the future.

Our Members and our Veterans are treated with the utmost respect and our Members are also expected to treat others with that same respect. Angels 'n Camouflage operates on the sole belief that we are all in this fight together, making a difference in the lives of our Military, one-day at a time.

Angels 'n Camouflage is operated by a Board of Directors and Members who volunteer their time and services. Angels 'n Camouflage does not raise funds for profit. We raise Awareness. Angels 'n Camouflage is not affiliated with any other Organization.

Supporting our Military: past, present and future.

A word of caution here!! To do their jobs, they require personnel information, such as your address. However, you all know I rarely recommend an organization but with Angels ‘n Camouflage I see no downside at all.

They are raising the awareness of the American people to the trials of combat and to the sometimes-troubling aftermath of veterans. They are also helping the warriors that need it the most. The forgotten.

I would urge you all to take a closer look at Melissa at the e-mail addresses above. If you want help or to volunteer as an “Angel,” I bet they can find a place for you.

THE NEW GREATEST GENERATION Back:

I received a picture the other day from a very good friend of mine, that reminded me just how young most of our fighting men and women are. The inscription on the picture was, “boys will be boys.” And in that particular setting, that’s exactly what they looked like to me: boys. Note below:

Now, I have seen these young men in uniform, armed and angry. They no longer looked like children. They looked like American fighting men. And in talking with some of their commanders, that is just what they are.

For some of us, we worried that the fighting spirit had been replaced by political correctness or computer games. Or we wondered if this new generation just plain had the guts to defend this Nation.

Well, I think our fears have been laid to rest. They may look young but when it comes to doing the job they are every bit as able as we were. You add in the brains to operate the militaries newest equipment and you have the finest fighting force this world has ever seen.

Let's examine the situation. This is World War III. You absolutely must accept the fact that this is going to be a long and dangerous war for all of us, in and out of the military. Terrorist and radical Moslems want you and I and this whole Country, (Not to mention Israel), wiped from the face of the earth. There will be no talking with them, no treaties and no mercy from them.

And lately, I have heard a phrase, mostly from peace activists, that “they support our troops but are against the war.” This is frighteningly similar to the talk surrounding Vietnam. How can you be “for” our troops but against their mission without damaging the morale of the very military you claim to support?

This is a war that will place our young men and women in harms way for many years. As in World War II, patience in going to be a virtue because we are going to have setbacks and successes.

With the fighting force we have today the outcome is assured. (If we do not lose our will at home) The armed forces of today may very well be the “new” greatest generation. God bless them all.

Chief Steve Newton is a retired police chief and former Marine/Navy veteran.

Thanks to Jan for use of the picture.