Apology

[reeb]

I reeb, want to apologize for all I have said about Gulf Storm Vets.

I have been watching alot of the tube lately, and I found out that it wasnt JUST WALKING UP AND SURRENDERING.

I am at a loss for words, but that is me, but anyhoo, you all went and done your duty and with pride, and that makes me proud.'

It sure wasnt Viet Nam, but then on the other foot, Viet Nam wasnt any Korea, WW1,WW2.

Viet Nam will stick in our heads for a long time to come, and that being when this damn war with Iraq, and Bin is over, then it will take its due cause.

To me (personally), I wish it would be like Nam over in Iraq. Go in there and get the job done, but with very few deaths ( for no reason), and get the hell out.

10 or 11 years is a long time for our children to go through this bull, but it will be printed in the history books.

My last couple of lines is that:

WE DONT BACK DOWN NO MATTER WHAT
WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
WE WILL BRING BACK OUR TROUPS ALIVE AND WELL
WE WILL TREAT THEM AS HEROS

AND FINIALLY::::::::::::::::

NO MORE WARS, GET BACK TO THE USA THAT WE ALL WERE GROWN UP WITH AND ENJOY.

enough...................

[catman]

Reeb...no apology needed. GW I was not like any other war.

In WWII you had millions and millions of vets returning with stories and news real footage to show and tell the public what was happening in Europe and the Pacific.

Vietnam you had reporters and newsman going on patrols and sending back films of the fighting and rocket attacks on Fire Bases.

In the Gulf what the American public saw was thousands and thousands of Iraqis surrendering in mass. What that footage failed to show was the armorer, infantry and artillery 15 - 20 miles out in front pounding those soldiers into submission. The reporters made a real big deal about all the new technology, never mentioning the men on the ground with lasers guiding all those smart bombs, calling for fire and clearing the bunkers and trench lines.

One thing is for sure, for those of us who have crossed the big pond and seen the pink elephant be it for 100 hrs or 2-3 years have sacrificed more than anyone who did not go will ever understand or realize. A bond was formed between us that even generations can not break. A brotherhood that has a very defined and chaotic right of passage.

Thank you for your service and welcome home, Brother.

Trav

[9th Inf. Doc.]

I would also like to add my apology.On at least two occasions I have let my mouth run off before engageing the brain.I am deeply sorry.One should NOT make dispairageing remarks about his brothers.Not ever.

I very much hope you GW I vets will take us old farts with a grain of salt.There are some very serious envy issues that try to come up.Where you guys had thousands of folks crowding your route of march to cheer you on, displaying yellow ribands, and waveing the American flag,many of us still vividly remember thousands showing up to spit and curse and wave enemy flags.Hate-especially from the people you love-can kill or maim every bit as well as a bullet.

TV coverage is a double-edged sword.Whenever we could get to a TV (R&R,between tours,etc.)we saw the same people noted above still doing their thing.My Bn. lost a track and all on board.Eight buddies blown to tiney shreds in the blink of an eye.Back in the world their passing was not noted or commented on as the media was busy hashing over Kent State.

One of the medics I worked with went out on an AP.After setting up 2-3 mech. ambushes they began to set up for the night.My buddy's malairia had come back on him and he was running a high fever and was pretty miserable.A couple of the guys decided to geather some dead grass for ole Doc. to rest on.Somehow they walked back into their own claymores.They were standing almost on top of the one that got them which is the only thing that gave them a chance to live.Both men lost both legs.When the medic got to them the man who had lost his legs above the knees was unconscious while the man who had lost his at and below the knees was attempting to dress the other man's wounds.When the dust-off came in there was a cameraman standing in the doorway of the slick intending to tape the process and did not move when told to do so.In the attempt to load the first man through the small space left in the doorway the first man had the stump of one leg rammed into the body of the chopper.At that point one of the men in the party jacked a round into the chamber and told the newsman to move or die.There is no doubt in my mind that if he hadn't,he would have.Don't be too quick to want to have the media forward with you.

Sorry, didn't mean to get so long winded.The bottom line is:don't ever feel that you aren't accepted or that your awesome accoplishments aren't known and deeply appriciated.They are.It's just that some of us old farts are still really pissed-off in general and sometimes that pops out at other than their true targets.Sorry.

Hal

[catman]

Hal...first and foremost i would like to thank you for your service and say welcome home. I grew up in the house of a Korean and Vietnam vet, my father. I know all the problems and concerns of that generation second hand. Strangely as it seems, i feel more at home among Vietnam vets than those of my own generation. I often find myself awestruck at your guys accomplishments and absolutely love to sit and chew the fat.

As far as cheering people and the welcome we received, i think it was more the country trying to heal itself than anything that we did.

As for you, no apology needed. We are both products of our time. Right or wrong. My older brothers from Vietnam were wronged and let us all work together to never ever let that happen again.

Trav