I blame Kissinger and McNamra for the mess from the beginning to the surrender. I also blame the Viet people for not standing up and fighting. Then in reality as in all wars the majority just want to be left alone by the government and live in peace. Only a tiny group of assholes wanted this. The grunts and the common Viets paid the price.
Plenty of blame to go around. I was there from '67 to '75 except for '71 and '72. Many of the forces of the south had been fighting for 30 years and when the PTB signed the Accords leaving the Commies in South Vietnam most all knew that it was just a matter of time. The worst day of my life was April 30th 1975. See A Decent Interval by Frank Snepp and "Ride The Thunder" Honour & Triumph In Vietnam. http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=274&highlight=evacuation Many more stores at NamSouth. Thanks. http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=21&highlight=evacuation
I was the DAO's Fund Manger for the South Vietnamese Air Force at Bien Hoa from 1973 until the end. The Democrats gave us $700 million to fund it at the end and there was still ammo and fuel but it would have been gone in two weeks.
I've read Botkin's book. I'll get Snepp book and read it. I apologize for the way I worded the sentence ".. not standing up ...". I know the Viet soldier has fought for decades. Much like the U.S. soldier today. As a Marine 68-72 I felt the heartbreak of walking away while politicians patted themselves on the back.
4 years in-country with the Marines. Lucky you made it, Sir. I imagine you were up north, correct? Snepp's book came out in 1982 and a few of many I thought were good:About Face,Tears Before The rain, & Bright Shining Lie.(http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=2176&highlight=bright+shining+lie)I saw a Vietnamese version of the latter in Can Tho in 1972 which had been altered to the Commie's point of view. :)Thanks.
No I didn't serve 4 years in Nam. I served from 68 to 72 in support, closes i got was Panama (jungle training) and Hawaii. Staged 3 times but never loaded. Sad but that is crap that one is handed. My brother served in country from 65 to 68. 2 tours Marines. Made it out alive as an amtrack driver. He was the reason I joined the Marines. Apology again if you miss my understood my msg.
Not at all and in case you haven't seen the story below. http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=222&highlight=marines+leave+own
One of the saddest stories of the war. https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-pregnant-lady-abandoned-by-her-lover.html By the time that the last straggling men, women, and children had reached Tuy Hoa on the coast; 300,000 civilians, 40,000 ARVN, and 6,300 Rangers were missing, never to be accounted for.
The Razor’s Edge
By noon on March 16, a mass of humanity; troops, dependents, civilians, and deserters; was clogging the old road. Some 400,000 civilians, 60,000 ARVN, and 7,000 Rangers began the attempted escape to the sea.
I blame Kissinger and McNamra for the mess from the beginning to the surrender. I also blame the Viet people for not standing up and fighting. Then in reality as in all wars the majority just want to be left alone by the government and live in peace. Only a tiny group of assholes wanted this. The grunts and the common Viets paid the price.
ReplyDeletePlenty of blame to go around. I was there from '67 to '75 except for '71 and '72. Many of the forces of the south had been fighting for 30 years and when the PTB signed the Accords leaving the Commies in South Vietnam most all knew that it was just a matter of time. The worst day of my life was April 30th 1975.
DeleteSee A Decent Interval by Frank Snepp and "Ride The Thunder" Honour & Triumph In Vietnam.
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=274&highlight=evacuation
Many more stores at NamSouth. Thanks.
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=21&highlight=evacuation
I was the DAO's Fund Manger for the South Vietnamese Air Force at Bien Hoa from 1973 until the end. The Democrats gave us $700 million to fund it at the end and there was still ammo and fuel but it would have been gone in two weeks.
I've read Botkin's book. I'll get Snepp book and read it. I apologize for the way I worded the sentence ".. not standing up ...". I know the Viet soldier has fought for decades. Much like the U.S. soldier today. As a Marine 68-72 I felt the heartbreak of walking away while politicians patted themselves on the back.
Delete4 years in-country with the Marines. Lucky you made it, Sir. I imagine you were up north, correct?
DeleteSnepp's book came out in 1982 and a few of many I thought were good:About Face,Tears Before The rain, & Bright Shining Lie.(http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=2176&highlight=bright+shining+lie)I saw a Vietnamese version of the latter in Can Tho in 1972 which had been altered to the Commie's point of view. :)Thanks.
I screwed upL Can Tho in 1972 S/B Can Tho in 1992.:(
DeleteNo I didn't serve 4 years in Nam. I served from 68 to 72 in support, closes i got was Panama (jungle training) and Hawaii. Staged 3 times but never loaded. Sad but that is crap that one is handed. My brother served in country from 65 to 68. 2 tours Marines. Made it out alive as an amtrack driver. He was the reason I joined the Marines. Apology again if you miss my understood my msg.
DeleteNot at all and in case you haven't seen the story below.
Deletehttp://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=222&highlight=marines+leave+own
One of the saddest stories of the war.
https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-pregnant-lady-abandoned-by-her-lover.html
By the time that the last straggling men, women, and children had reached Tuy Hoa on the coast; 300,000 civilians, 40,000 ARVN, and 6,300 Rangers were missing, never to be accounted for.
The Razor’s Edge
By noon on March 16, a mass of humanity; troops, dependents, civilians, and deserters; was clogging the old road. Some 400,000 civilians, 60,000 ARVN, and 7,000 Rangers began the attempted escape to the sea.