Here in the Military Section, why do so many people believe in a rewritten history of the Vietnam War?

Question

I am retired Air Force and a former B52 pilot. Never set foot in country, thank God. But I sure owe a lot of those veterans a lot of thanks. You saved plenty of my friends who would have been guests at the Hanoi Hilton.

Lately I have seen in this section, that we were not spit on, we were not called baby killers, Jane Fonda is a hero, we should have fought for the North Vietnamese, we went out and purposely shot and killed innocent women and children. What are they teaching the kids in History class now? Maybe it is time for us to stand up and be counted. I am proud to have served. I never wanted to be in a war, I never wanted to be a hero, but I do want the respect of the people I served for.

I am especially proud of the young men and women who are wearing our shoes today. Salutes from an Air Force Officer Puke to the Army (Hoorah), Navy, the Marines (Sempre Fi), the Coast Guard (you have to go out, you don't have to come in), and the Airmen of todays military. Added note, I always wished the Navy and the Air Force had cute sayings like the Army and the Marines.

Answer 1

Like others, let me thank you for your service.

I do not follow this section, so I wasn't aware of this revisionism. Let me say this: I was born as the war in Vietnam was winding down. But my parents, when I was growing up, told me of the mistreatment of veterans coming home. I also have a cousin who served in country. (Actually, his recent book might interest you: I'll put a link below.)

My family were all liberals and still deemed this mistreatment of veterans to have been disgraceful. Opposition to a war is never an excuse to mistreat the people who were sent off to fight it!

And when I discuss the present conflict with my niece and nephews, I do tell them about the mistreatment of veterans. Then and now.

Some liberals do recognize that people who serve our country should not be abused or made pawns in political disagreements.

EDIT

My parents (a bit older than most of the hippies, but still friends of many) knew people who engaged in such behavior and saw a bit of it themselves and were disgusted by it. It's one of the things that made them moderates, rather than embracing the "New Left". I have no reason to question them on this, because they never used it to say, "Liberals are bad, m'kay."

They used it to say, "Never let politics blind you to the responsibility to treat people with dignity."

Answer 2

Several of the answers right here show the misconceptions that you are talking about. It is far to common to alter history in order to validate ones own opinions.
Classic example is to blame everything on the "left". The reality is that the American people elected a Republican to END the Vietnam war, just like they have now elected a Democratic congress to do the same thing in Iraq. The "hippies" of the time supported the Republican view on the Vietnam war, not the Democrats.
Not every returning GI had the same experience when returning from Vietnam. Just because one solder did not have a bad experience, doesn't mean that none did. No different that just because one solder did have a bad experience, doesn't mean that they all did.
I served at Bien Hoa AB in 1963-64 which was very early in the war, so obviously my experiences were quite different than someone that was there in 1967-68.

Answer 3

As an ex-serving foreign national in the Vietnam war (and there were thousands) yes, I'm aware of such events in all branches of the services and the concurrent attitude of all ranks, however, the magnitude U describe while certainly revealing - is not surprising! As in the British Malayan campaign, many UK officers were quietly "knocked-off" by their own men for their arrogance and behavior. This stemming from WW11 i.e. the UK military officer corps a law unto themselves / abusing their rank and privilege to extremes / covering up for each other! It remains much the same today - hence the reason it cannot attract the numbers it requires and many serving ranker's either quit and/or leave after their first period of service. An element of desertion does exist - but its by no means to the extent it was during the days of compulsory service. One day the US Govt will also own-up to having enlisted the help of allied and foreign troops in its ranks during Vietnam.

Answer 4

Bill:
People who have the power of the pen, so to speak, and the publishing houses and the media, have always revised history. The history of the Vietnam War and other wars as well. It's a shame, really. I think some people just do not want to face the truth, or with them the truth is blurred by their projections of what they want to be the truth. In other words, some people see what they want to see, or they judge things according to what they want to be the truth.

Wouldn't it be great if a group (or more) of Vietnam War veterans would get together and write their own stories, memoirs, poetry, photo essays, letters, etc. and publish them in a much needed collection? Now that would be a history book worth reading and teaching. It woud also make a good documentary for film, tv, or the internet.

If I were you, ev. time the issue is raised here in Y/A, I would tell the truth and hopefully enlighten at least those who seek answers here.
Indie

EDIT:
If you were in NY, I would invite you to talk to my college English/Speech students. If you ever write your own account of Vietnam, with your permission, I would share it with my students and my own audiences in poetry/music venues. That's an audience of well over a hundred people. The ripple effect would be tremendous bec. they are bound to share your account with others.

Thank you for services rendered in the Vietnam War, as well as here in Y/A.

Answer 5

It isn't totally hopeless, I am currently a history teacher. My father is a Vietnam Veteran who was injured at Benoit AFB, I also spent 6 years at Loring AFB so since you flew buffs we probably stood on the same ground at some time. My father has helped me design lessons about the Vietnam War. I teach about Jane Fonda and many details that are left out.

I personally want to thank you for your service. Since both my father and I are Veterans we always spend the day together on Veterans Day I hope you will be with someone who knows and understands what a great sacrifice you have made for us.


I don't know if this is possible, but if you have ever considered speaking to history classes it could be a worth while endeavor.

thanks again Brian

Answer 6

First, thank you for your service. Second, I wasn't born until well after the Vietnam War, but my dad and several of my uncles served. My dad was never spit on, but he was called a baby killer many times. I have known friends of my dad who were spit on and treated horribly and they ended up moving near my parents because it's a pretty military friendly area. We had a Vietnam Vet come to our 6th grade history class to talk about his experiences, but that was back in 1991 when they still taught the truth, and not what politicians wanted you to think.

Answer 7

People believe lies because they hear other people say those lies, and they aren't enthusiasticly corrected. People in this country have gotten carried away with the Freedom of Speech. People shouldn't be free to lie or spout treason. Jane Fonda should've been executed.

Answer 8

Sir, first and foremost thank you for your service. To answer your question many schools are not teaching much about the Vietnam war but the ex-hippy parents are filling these peoples minds with garbage. The people who believe any of the things that you put up there are just to stupid to realize teh truth.

Answer 9

To answer you question of why..

it is because users like conned_concerned_citizen aren't reported for spam with almost every question intended more as a rant than a question. Unfortunately, even though it was a democrat who sent us in, a democrat who kept us there, and a republican that got us out, the liberals tend to rewrite the "forgotten war" and conveniently forget we did the exact same thing in Korea except the liberal leadership didn't ruin that one too.

Answer 10

The left isnt interested in the truth. The truth is that the North new they could never defeat the US in battle but that after TET when the American anti war organizers were able to turn a northern defeat into an anti US presence propaganda piece, General Giap of the north realized that they didnt need to win on the battlefield, all they had to do was hold out until the anti war groups became strong enough that the US was forced to withdraw from within. He said they gave the north hope when they had lost it all and thus gave them the will to hold out. FACT whether the left likes it or not