Remembering Viet Nam

[SarahW]

"Ah, for I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

Caution--Some photos are disturbing...

Captured: A Look Back at the Vietnam War on the 35th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon – Plog Photo Blog

 

[RonBoyd]

One forgets sometimes what an emotional impact Black & White photography can have.

 

[Ronstar]

Riveting - thanks for posting!

 

[rescueme]

Recongnition, for action taken 42 years ago:

Vietnam Medal of Honor - mcall.com

 

[vicente solano]

I know this is a delicate question: In military terms: Would you have won the war hadn´t the media and politics intervened?
Let it be known my profound respect for all those who fought that terrible war.

 

[rescueme]

Would you have won the war.

There are no "winners" in war. Just assumptions on what could have been.

There are those that look at "good wars" (e.g. WWII) as war of necessity.

Then there are those called upon by their country (like me) to serve in a "conflict" in which they only see as needless loss of life (as I did, once I arrived in SEA).

I guess you can see (via my other postings) where I stand.

 

[HFWR]

Much like in Iraq, and more so in Afghanistan, how does one define "win"?

 

[Nords]

I know this is a delicate question: In military terms: Would you have won the war hadn´t the media and politics intervened?

Which war with which countries are you referring to? Vietnam, or the debacles that would have ensued when the Soviet Union & PRC jumped in to support their socialist brethren from the insidious effects of the deadly democracy domino effect?

"Intervention" may be a misnomer. Warfare has always been an inseparable part of politics, and I think modern warfare is also inseparable from media. Wars are certainly not won by ignoring those factors.

 

[Dawg52]

What a tough war.

 

[Avalon]

There are those that look at "good wars" (e.g. WWII) as war of necessity.

Then there are those called upon by their country (like me) to serve in a "conflict" in which they only see as needless loss of life (as I did, once I arrived in SEA).

+ 1

 

[youbet]

When I looked at pic #124, my thoughts immediately went to the concurrent thread involving disconnecting from family........

 

[vicente solano]

Which war with which countries are you referring to? Vietnam, or the debacles that would have ensued when the Soviet Union & PRC jumped in to support their socialist brethren from the insidious effects of the deadly democracy domino effect?

"Intervention" may be a misnomer. Warfare has always been an inseparable part of politics, and I think modern warfare is also inseparable from media. Wars are certainly not won by ignoring those factors.

Nords, I was referring to Nam. Here in Spain it´s commonly beleieved that the media (mainly TV), politics and part of your public opinion ended up demoralizing the US forces there.
And I agree that NOWADAYS your second paragraph express an absolute truth.
I insist I don´t mean to offend anybody by this comment.

 

[frayne]

Other than being shot at, which can be quite exhilarating, I remember Viet Nam as a beautiful country with wonderful people. I wish them nothing but the best and apologize for the US being so stupid for getting involved in such a silly war.

 

[HFWR]

Nords, I was referring to Nam. Here in Spain it´s commonly beleieved that the media (mainly TV), politics and part of your public opinion ended up demoralizing the US forces there.
And I agree that NOWADAYS your second paragraph express an absolute truth.
I insist I don´t mean to offend anybody by this comment.

Public opinion demoralized the politicians responsible for the war.

It was after returning from the war that the troops were demoralized...

 

[Rustic23]

So far I find many of the post in this thread just as repugnant as I did during the Viet Nam war!

 

[FinanceDude]

Which war with which countries are you referring to? Vietnam, or the debacles that would have ensued when the Soviet Union & PRC jumped in to support their socialist brethren from the insidious effects of the deadly democracy domino effect?

"Intervention" may be a misnomer. Warfare has always been an inseparable part of politics, and I think modern warfare is also inseparable from media. Wars are certainly not won by ignoring those factors.

Didn't we get sucked in by trying to help France yet again?

 

[HFWR]

So far I find many of the post in this thread just as repugnant as I did during the Viet Nam war!

Ambiguous goals, draftees, and lots of, shall we say, biased tv coverage do not a popular war make...

Didn't we get sucked in by trying to help France yet again?

Though if it weren't for France, we'd likely still be part of Great Britain.

 

[vicente solano]

So far I find many of the post in this thread just as repugnant as I did during the Viet Nam war!

I´m not sure I understand what you mean.

 

[Retire2013]

I can't forget Vietnam. I WAS THERE. Born and lived there the first 14 years of my life. Escaped by boat in 1975 when Saigon fell.

War is ugly and painful.

 

[calmloki]

Feelings continue to run strong decades after participation, different people respond to their experiences in their own ways. Amazing to me that it was so long ago - WW2 was ancient history to me in high school - it's been half again as long since the end of the Viet Nam war til now.

 

[mickeyd]

In military terms: Would you have won the war hadn´t the media and politics intervened?

We were winning when I left that hell hole in 1969. What happened after that time is someone else's problem.

Without freedom of the press and an elected legislature any military of 500,000 should have won, but we have that Constitution that we are obliged to follow...