As a result of the publicity of atrocities and the disaffected nature, drug use and anti war sentiments of returning Viet Nam Veterans many traditional veterans groups such as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War members did not openly welcome and in many cases rejected them as dope heads, cowards, baby killers, and war criminals. Viet Nam veterans returned alone as they had entered combat, separated from their units, to be questioned and looked at with pity or disgust by others who couldn't comprehend their experience. Many no longer fit in at home. America had changed while they were gone. As a friend of mine who served fifteen months in combat so that he could get an immediate discharge told the story. One day he was in the jungle fighting and 48 hours later he was on the street in civilian clothes in San Francisco frightened by the speed of the cars as they passed. No welcome home party, no parades, no transitional debriefing.
If You Can't Win Avoid Blame
This situation worsened as the war dragged on under Nixon for another seven years. As a majority of the American people grew to reject the arguments for continuing the war it became the in thing to be against it. Splinter groups from the original peace movement started to be over represented by the media because of their violent and vocal tactics. Violent radicals such as the Weatherman and Jane Fonda types who crossed the line in their support of North against American troops were given more coverage in the press than their numbers warranted.
Note this quote from the March 14, 2004 issue of the Cleveland Free Times: In 1995 sociologist Thomas Beamish and his colleagues analyzed all peace movement-related stories from 1965 - 1971 in the NY Times, LA Times, and SF Chronicle (495 stories). They found no instance of any spitting on returned troops by peace movement members, nor any taunting. Indeed, they found few examples of negative demonstrations involving returning troops of any kind, or even of simple disapproval of returning soldiers. Three years later, sociologist Jerry Lembcke conducted a similarly exhaustive study for his book, The Spitting Image, with like results. He discovered war protesters being spat upon by war supporters, and hostile acts toward Vietnam veterans by conservative, pro-war groups like the VFW, but no taunting or spitting on returned veterans by peace movement members. Returned veterans and in-service GIs were welcomed in the peace movement, and many assumed leadership roles. Yet the myth endures
After the war everybody wanted to forget it, even liberals went back to their own lives, everyone failed to provide vets with the support they needed. However, veterans couldn't get back to their lives they still carried the emotional and physical scars of war. While the Republicans didn't do anything to the help them either, they exploited that pain by implying a revisionist history that tried to lump all protestors with Jane Fonda and spread the anti-vet mythology. They reinforced the idea that the defeat in Viet Nam was not a product of failed foreign policy but caused by lack of public support produced by protestors. It was necessary that they make people forget that they continued to expand the war and send U.S. Troops to Viet Nam for seven years after they promised peace with honor. This cynical exploitation was for one purpose to divide the public and gain votes.
Ultimately those who were against the war had more in common with those who were drafted to serve then those who were for it but avoided service or protest. The affluent that "supported the war" but used their influence to get in the National Guard, or other wise avoid the draft without making any real commitment for or against the war are the ultimate hypocrites. These are the same people who now hope to divide veterans and others for their own agenda where they enrich themselves on the sacrifices of a whole new generation of soldiers drafted by economics. They learned from Viet Nam, that is why they tried so desperately to divide protestors of Iraq and soldiers and their families by equating support for the troops with support for the President.
It is time for veterans and anti-war groups to join arms once again and say, "no more". No more lies, no more draft by either economy or law, no more blood for profit, no more empire building, no more neglect of returning veterans, no more divisiveness between good citizens for the benefit of corporate war mongers. Every veteran who served needs to be honored for his or her sacrifice. That honor should be doubled for those who have been used for means other than the defense of our country, for their sacrifice is even greater.
As the Republicans look to expand their war shipping our young people to Syria, Iran, Haiti, Columbia, Venezuela and Africa, we must let those in power know that we remember the lessons of Viet Nam too. The swing of public opinion is moving back towards the anti-war movement, sooner this time. People remember after Viet Nam that sometimes those in government will lie for their own ends at the cost of our brave young men and women in uniform.
Veterans Day is for remembering. On this Veterans day I remember friends who died in Viet Nam and those who died afterwards from the other wounds of war, of those who lost their ability to participate in large parts of their own lives, of those who I marched with against it. I remember my father who fought for his country not his government. Today I remember it is my duty to fight against politicians that would exploit our military brothers and sisters for their own gain. I thank them for their sacrifice to protect that freedom and know that they expect me to do my job of questioning their orders when they are prevented by circumstance or law from doing so. We must remember not to be divided again by those who would send others to serve for their gain. I remember it every time I see George Bush on television.
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