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BOOK REVIEW: THE THINGS THEY CARRIED BY JEREMIAH LEIGH
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The Things They Carried. This is an old book, ten years or so, but I recently discovered it in a Goodwill Store when I was looking something to read while I had breakfast. Good book and not at all what I thought. I had heard about it and taken the title literally, the things they carried. Well, here are literally the things we carried: p38 can openers, heat tabs,c-rations, dry socks, MPCs (military pay certificates), ammo, our weapons, canteens of water,etc. Need I go on. But, there were always the individual things: the letters, the photos, and other mementos. But, sometimes, what we carried determined our own psyche: who we were, how we saw things; and, what we carried was often in the later years, the problems, the difficulties, the memories.
This is a great statement from the book, "The war occurred half a lifetime ago and yet the memories make it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story.
Here's a statement that sums up Vietnam and is sounding more and more like Iraq, talking about soldiers, "They had no sense of strategy or mission. They searched the villages without knowing what to look for, not caring, kicking over jars of rice, frisking the children and old men, blowing tunnels, sometimes setting fires and sometimes not, then forming up and moving on to the next village, then other villages, where it would always be the same."
Good read and one of the best books in understanding why Vietnam remains such an incomprehensible emotional burden to the Vietnam vet. And, in light of the present political debate, especially relevant.
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BOOK REVIEW: LOVE, HONOR AND CHERISH BY KELLY THOMAS
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Love, Honor, And Cherish.
Letters tell stories like few things can do. And, in Love, Honor, and Cherish, Dr. Sandra Thompson has used letters from her Mom and Dad to retell their incredibly compelling love story. I was greatly moved.
But, I will have to be honest, I was more moved by the story of Sandra Bonilla Thompson. I think it was because honestly, I had never thought of all those orphaned war kids who never knew their Dads. I surely never thought of the sadness and the totality of its effect upon sons and daughters forever. The loss is a tragedy beyond comprehension to most of us. Love, Honor and Cherish brings it home.
I have bought and given out several copies to friends and inevitably one will say, "I cried and cried for that child left behind." I have to smile.
The child left behind(Sandra)whom the Dad never knew has accomplished mountains in her own right; and, if her great loss has effected her, it is through a type of nostalgic sadness-the type most of us Vietnam Vets experience. Vietnam Vets never really got the chance to process our war. Just like Sandra, a war orphan, never knew her Dad; he was a memory of her Mother and she could only experience him through memories. One "gets this" by reading the book.
I've suggested to those I've given the book to start with Sandra's story and then read the book. I think the author probably put her story at the end so as not to detract from what she viewed as the real story. But, I think that she's also much of the story. A terrific read and I know what I'm giving to my family, friends, and acquaintances for Christmas. Get this book!
You can find out more about the book, Love Honor and Cherish and the author,
Sandra Bonilla Thompson, by clicking on Airbornebooks.Com.(Airborne Press
does not profit from the sell of this book.)
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THIS BASHING IS GETTING ON MY NERVES BY JERRY DAVIS
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I occasionally get so much negative stuff about the President or Kerry that it makes me want to have a permanent delete key. For instance, I think Whoopi Goldberg went over the top in her remarks the other night at some Kerry fundraising on the President. If I was inclined to vote for Kerry, her bashing the prez might tip the scales in the opposite direction to me. There are, on occasion, some people who can be so obnoxious that it totally turns me off. She is one of them.
And, what about all these emails that simply lie about what the president says or his gaffes, come on: he misspeaks, but some of the things can't be true; he did not say, feces in place of fetus as one email writer wrote. It is bashing the Prez and disrespecting the office and I don't like it.
Sometimes, I think we have to go back in time and take a historical look at what has happened to us. We had 9-11. We were wounded, we made a response. Then, as terrorism became our occupation, we've about come to the point where most honestly concede that George W. was determined to get Saddam regardless. But, here is where it gets murky.
A person would have to be an idiot to think that George W. did this for oil or for his political future, to insure his election. From the beginning, he appears to be guided by a deep seated belief that Saddam had to go, his departure would bring about a free and democratic Iraq, the Middle East would settle down and the world would be a better place.
The fact that it has not worked out that way means that George has used a bold vision which he has to be stroked for his leadership--atta boy, George!. However, at this stage, at least, it has not worked. Will it? I don't know. But I do know that the man has been a leader--agree or not agree, those of us in the middle will decide in a few months. The minds of the right and the left are not going to be changed. I've quit trying. I am tired of the Bush bashing constantly, however. Hit the delete key.
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BOOK REVIEW: AMERICAN SOLDIER BY GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS
Jeremiah Leigh-VietVet Webzine
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Tommy Franks was the commanding general when we went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. I always kind of liked, him but a typically political general in many ways. I'm a little skeptical of those who get to that position, even in the military-very hard for them not to lose perspective. And, what few will ever admit is that dozens and dozens of military officers could easily have commanded the Forces.
Politics, of the military variety, brought him to the point of Iraq. If you don't think politics plays a part, think General Sanchez, his replacement in Iraq who recently lost his job to another general(General John Abizaid). Sanchez's follow-up job after Iraq went to a Rumsfeld crony. I digress, sorry. The best leader I've ever known retired as a Lieutenant Colonel who would never play politics.
From what I've read, I think that the good old country boy from Oklahoma, Franks, was good at the political game. I personally always thought he was a little too cozy with Rumsfeld and one of the criticisms of Franks was literally that he wanted to please Rumsfeld too much.
This is not to diminish General Franks accomplishments and I think the book is very insightful. It gives some insight on how the decisions were made to go to war. In light of the 9-11 Report, which I am also reading, the good general discusses our intelligence failures and pulls no punches: why should he?
Franks is already on the speaking circuit with a $100,000 a pop for one speech. I don't know why this sort of thing diminishes a person with me. All of them do it. St. Reagan got a million out of Japan. All these retired generals and public officials are drinking at the financial bennies(benefits) trough constantly-why should Franks be any different.
For once, I would love to see somebody like Franks leave public service and turn his back on this sort of stuff: there's got to be someone: well, maybe Jesus. Or, get this, at least give all to charity, now that would be a great switch.
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