Vietnam War movies don't play out very well because the media has portrayed the VC as poor little Vietnamese in black pajamas fighting for their country and these big bad Americans killing them. When in fact, the VC and the NVA were absolutely ruthless toward their own people and toward Americans.

In fact, one incident that I'll never forget shows just exactly how ruthless they were. Operating next to us was this Marine CAC (civil affairs cadre) team. An aside, this has always fascinated me; the Marines have some of the most sophisticated intelligent ways in dealing with war as I've ever seen. This is contrary to their image. In fact, I think they'll operate in Iraq much differently, more subtle, more secretive and do more with the civilian population if that is possible.

Anyway, this CAC team disappeared, literally disappeared! The Marines sent out a company that looked for days-nothing. And, finally all assumed they had been captured.

Our unit was operating in a village and discovered some fresh graves hidden under this big barn which had housed rice. And, because it was scattered all over the floors, nothing was detectable; a fluke that we found it and as I remember had to do with guys sleeping in there at night and being bothered by the rats. They cleaned up the floor to get rid of the rats and found the graves.

You guessed: it was the Marine CAC team; their bodies had been mutilated- arms and hands cut off, eyeballs gouged out; and, the worse thing: they had their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths. Yes, these were good and gentle people we are fighting. Roger Cullen, Vietnam, class of 66-68