"WHAT DID YOU DO DURING THE WAR DADDY"?

Those were the days my friend, let me run down the list; Civil rights riots, protests for everything and college sit ins. There were Black Panthers and weathermen SDS (Students for a democratic Society) and the Hells Angels.  We had Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, Billy Graham, Timothy O' Leary, Hugh Hefner, John, Paul, George and Ringo, topped off with a little Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi. Throw in the entertainment provided by The BEATLES, Jimi Hendricks, The Rolling Stones, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin, Aretha Franklin, Bev Shea, Janis Joplin and of course the BEATLES.  T.V. had Lucy, Andy Griffith etc.

Every night the news showed pictures of soldiers fighting. We heard of POW's and hot landing zones.  They called it a Conflict,  some wanted to call it a War. Whatever it was, it was VIET NAM !   Our soldiers were armed with superior firepower. Artillery, tanks, Napalm, Fighter Jets and a bomber called "Puff the magic dragon".  The now famous Huey helicopter of the Calvary transported grunts and jarheads.  Once again the times had a cast of thousands led by JFK, Lyndon Johnson, Nixon,Throw in the entertainment of Bob Hope, Jane Fonda and the draft dodgers. Politicians were the top of the show.

The Viet Cong supposedly won using; tunnels, snipers, booby traps, bouncing Bettys, children , villagers, The Jungle, AK47s and  Chinese weapons.  The young men that were drafted experienced all of it.  Someone's son, after tossing in a grenade, went into the tunnels headfirst with a pistol. You can bet death by booby trap, made from bamboo, some with explosives, made the toughest shake a little when made to walk point.
I'm sure an enemy that remained invisible created a mindset that continued long after the "war" was over.

Kids. I spent the war at pep rallies and the High school library. Before the news came on t.v. from Viet Nam I had played a little street football.  Before going to bed I would listen to my A.M. radio playing "Stop, in the name of love."

By the time I graduated High school, the draft for soldiers was ended. The war was over. I volunteered to go into the Army four years later.

Thank you who have gone before me and since.  Thanks to those that prepared to go and those that went. Thanks to those who go and "never return."  Thanks to those that are fighting to protect our nation and the world.