House Republicans vote against amendment that would have saved billions of $s

[heironymouspasparagus]

Red,
When did you turn against the Viet Nam war?

Eisenhour "took over" from the French when Ho Chi Minh was kickin' their backside.  We sent advisors.  Then more.  Then JFK took over and sent more.  Then LBJ.  And by 1968, we were at 500,000+.

LBJ built it up in about 3 years.  And then we got Tricky.  Who milked it through another 7 years.  From his election in 1968 until early 1975.  And it cost a few hundred billion.  Was justified only by the "fight against Communism" argument.

And before any of that, the US, Britain, and Russia decided that the country would be split in half with north going to China, and the south going to Britain (Potsdam treaty).

The history really goes back to about 1910 or so.  And we have a long history of being wrong there, too.

It killed 55,000+ of us.  Which segues into the Traveling wall Viet Nam War Memorial, coming to Tulsa in September, 2011.  All who have not seen it owe it to themselves and their kids/grandkids to visit this when it gets here.  It will be during the week of 9/11.  Mark your calendars!!  Sponsored by the Union schools JrROTC.

[Red Arrow]

Red,
When did you turn against the Viet Nam war?

About 1966.  I was against the war, not our guys there.  Also, micro management of the war was is something we were supposed to have learned about Viet Nam.  (Disclaimer: Draft lottery number 38)

Eisenhour "took over" from the French when Ho Chi Minh was kickin' their backside.  We sent advisors.  Then more.  Then JFK took over and sent more.  Then LBJ.  And by 1968, we were at 500,000+.

Eisenhower, not Eisenhour.

Trying to preserve French colonialism.  I felt no duty to my country to go to Nam.

As I remember from a PBS special on the Viet Nam War, Ho Chi Minh came to us for help before he went to the Communists.  They wanted the French out.   We sided with the left over government in the south because the French were our "buddies".   I'm sure it wasn't quite that simple.  The "War against Communism" was the final excuse.  

LBJ built it up in about 3 years.  And then we got Tricky.  Who milked it through another 7 years.  From his election in 1968 until early 1975.  And it cost a few hundred billion.  Was justified only by the "fight against Communism" argument.

We were pulling out by spring 1973, just as I was graduating from Navy Electronics School.  

And before any of that, the US, Britain, and Russia decided that the country would be split in half with north going to China, and the south going to Britain (Potsdam treaty).

The history really goes back to about 1910 or so.  And we have a long history of being wrong there, too.

It killed 55,000+ of us.  Which segues into the Traveling wall Viet Nam War Memorial, coming to Tulsa in September, 2011.  All who have not seen it owe it to themselves and their kids/grandkids to visit this when it gets here.  It will be during the week of 9/11.  Mark your calendars!!  Sponsored by the Union schools JrROTC.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Yes, Eisenhower.  (Lottery #364.  )

How about that - about the same time I figured it out!  We got more in common every day!  Did you make it to the 1968 moratorium demonstrations at the "U"?  (TU)  (To paraphrase a movie, "I love the smell of tear gas in the morning.  It smells like....victory!)

Ho Chi Minh was a communist back as early as the twenties.  Very much a nationalist who wanted the French out no matter who helped.  He would have taken our help as well as China.

And I will keep inserting this about the traveling wall at every opportunity.  If one hasn't seen it, one should.  (I've seen the traveling wall 3 times and the full memorial is on the bucket list.)  Take your kids.

Traveling wall Viet Nam War Memorial, coming to Tulsa in September, 2011.  All who have not seen it owe it to themselves and their kids/grandkids to visit this when it gets here.  It will be during the week of 9/11.  Mark your calendars!!  Sponsored by the Union schools JrROTC.

[Red Arrow]

Yes, Eisenhower.  (Lottery #364.  )

I would have loved Lottery #364.  My brother was about 150 or so.  Fortunately for mom and dad, only I had to go. My college roomie (fall 1969) had #1, until he found out he was a year too young.  The next year he drew 300+.  There was a LOT of alcohol involved that first evening of the first lottery.  The youngsters of today wouldn't understand.

[Red Arrow]

Did you make it to the 1968 moratorium demonstrations at the "U"?  (TU)  (To paraphrase a movie, "I love the smell of tear gas in the morning.  It smells like....victory!)

I thought the big moratorium was '69 but maybe not. University of Delaware called a day off.  Mom and I went fishing on the Chesapeake Bay where we kept our boat. I bought a frying pan and really stunk up the common cooking area. 

[heironymouspasparagus]

It was 1969.  Tet was 68.

Friend out of high school got a mid range number, so he went ahead and enlisted in Navy so he could ride around on a boat, instead of walking.  Had a good deal.  Spent his time base in Subic Bay.  Rode up and down the coast in a boat (LST, I think?) and shot machine guns from time to time.  Sank every little boat they could find.  Then back to Subic for a little more R & R.

He got pretty easy duty.

[Red Arrow]

It was 1969.  Tet was 68.

Friend out of high school got a mid range number, so he went ahead and enlisted in Navy so he could ride around on a boat, instead of walking.  Had a good deal.  Spent his time base in Subic Bay.  Rode up and down the coast in a boat (LST, I think?) and shot machine guns from time to time.  Sank every little boat they could find.  Then back to Subic for a little more R & R.

He got pretty easy duty.

I was even luckier.  We started getting out in the spring of '73.  Thank you Tricky Dicky.

[Red Arrow]

It was 1969.  Tet was 68.

Friend out of high school got a mid range number, so he went ahead and enlisted in Navy so he could ride around on a boat, instead of walking.  Had a good deal.  Spent his time base in Subic Bay.  Rode up and down the coast in a boat (LST, I think?) and shot machine guns from time to time.  Sank every little boat they could find.  Then back to Subic for a little more R & R.

He got pretty easy duty.

I knew I was going to be drafted. I thought it would be better to serve on an Aircraft Carrier that in an unit that had to carry their toilet paper in their helmets.