When I was in Vietnam, stateside demonstrations were at the max. I had actually left from a unit that had been called out for the infamous march on the Pentagon to protest the war. Then it was Vietnam and here we were fighting, doing what we could to survive: the movies, Platoon and Apocalypse all wrapped up into one. We were not isolated from what was going on in the world as we called life back in the good old U. S. of A. We would get the Stars and Stripes, the semi-government produced "rag", but few really trusted much of it other than sports. But, we also didn't talk much about what was going on in the "world." We were fighting for our lives, counting the days and watching each other's back.

We would get articles sent by friends and acquaintances on the demonstrations. We knew what was going on back in our hometowns and our country. Many times I would tell the troops that the demonstrations were nothing personal. Regardless, the GI took it personally. Somehow he needed to believe that his countrymen supported his efforts. He wasn't emotionally sophisticated-most were around eighteen years old-what did they know? They were fighting a war, not of their own making. The country had sent them to war and in a weird twist of life, they were being blamed for the job they were sent to do.

If you look to the reasons why there were so many vitriolic comments floating around on the Internet about John Kerry by Vietnam vets, I think you can trace it exactly to how GIs felt about him trashing them while they were still in Vietnam fighting. No amount of getting vets to stand up for him will undo his betrayal in the eyes of many combat vets.

Now, we have a California mother(why is it always someone from California) who goes to see her son in Iraq. In many ways, quite an amazing story. And, courageous in light of all that's happening there. Think about it-GIs killed everyday almost and some mother travels to the war torn country to see her son. And, this is no ordinary son: an airborne ranger, a jumpmaster-the best of the best. The mother traveled almost 8000 miles to see her son. The son received her somewhat reluctantly, but the bonds of Mom and son overcame or at least from media reports, this appears to be the case. But, why did she really make this trip? True love and concern? Grandstanding? Her motives are a little impugned I think because of some of her beliefs and anti-war stands. This mother's odyssey is complex-maybe a combination of personal and political. She clothes her actions in a kind of universal view of suffering to include Iraqi mothers. I would be hard pressed to speculate how her trip and views affect her son. Not an ordinary GI, you are talking about a youngster who has undergone the roughest training in the American military.

Ranger school is without a doubt the hardest and toughest. Many chase the ranger tab but few achieve. It is close to three months of pure survival. Eating things that would make most of us sick. Being lost, navigating swampland, and facing danger. The basic concept of Ranger School is death before dishonor. The tab worn on the left shoulder of the uniform that says, RANGER, is the "badge of the best."

This is a woman's son who will forever be thinking of his Mom's motives, I would think. I don't think we are talking support the troops here. How about gathering material for a book or a misguided view of the complexities of what we're attempting, rightly or wrongly. This was her second trip to Iraq. Her first was with the antiwar peace activist group called Code Pink.

On a personal basis, I don't impugn her motives. But, I would doubt that her "Ranger" son will be as kind to her as I am.

Kelly Thomas, Vietnam class of 67.