Open Letter To Vietnam Veterans.....

Dear Hero,
I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single mother and, I’m sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest I didn’t care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me…how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played, I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened without my ever being aware. I listened to the protest songs and I watched the six o’clock news and I listened to all people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I’d have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our to our brave men. All we were shown was what they sere doing to the people of Vietnam.
My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation –not only of miles, but also of character. I didn’t understand.
In fact, I didn’t understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had given for us and what we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn’t know what to do.
One day about three years ago. I went to a member of the church I attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam. I asked him if he had been in Vietnam, and he got a look on his face and said, ‘Yes’. Then I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said. “Thank you for going.” His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he said, “No one has ever said that to me.” He hugged me and I could see that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words all the regret of so many years? I don’t know, but when I have an opportunity, I take it so here goes.
Have you been to Vietnam? If so, I have something I want to say to you-Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I don’t know how I could have been so blind, but I was. When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was done, and I don’t know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions, and I will never let it happen again.
Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don’t know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away and you know what? It’s inside us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don’t know what to do so we cheer for our troops and write letters to ‘any soldier’ and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we love America. We love you too, even if it doesn’t feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you.
We failed you. You didn’t fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terrible painful lesson at your expense and we don’t know how to fix it.

From the heart,
Julie Weaver

Taking Sniper Fire

TAKING SNIPER FIRE

I remember distinctly taking my camera out to take a photo of the Rice Patty that we crossing in single file. Then all of a sudden we started taking Sniper Fire from the treeline ahead of us. It was an often harassing tactic to take long range sniper shots of us while we were out in the open. I still remember us having to go DOUBLE TIME (Running) at our enemy and as usual they were gone when we got to the treeline. You know what? After all of the commotion was over, I discovered that I had lost my most prized possession to the Rice Patty while running at the enemy after the incident. I had lost my BOWIE KNIFE. All that I had was an empty Knife Sheath.

My Favorite Song Back In 1967 "PAINT IT BLACK" just click on this title to play the song

Photo Of Me Holding The Head End Of A Dead Burmese Python

Click On The Image To Enlarge

Thanks to Tommy Routh for this photo of me holding the head end of a Giant Burmese Python, one of the largest snakes in the world.

I can not remember the details of how we killed the giant snake. Ordinarily you would think that I could remember the details but I can not. I can't even remember the boys name in the middle of this photo. I remember the boy on the right though because I was with him ever since boot camp. He is George Talton, small because of all the weight that he had to endure caring all the heavy rounds for his M-79 Grenade Launcher

General Vo Nguyen Giap

Born: 1912 Place of Birth: An Xa Vietnam Military University: none
Wars Fought:-World War II-First Indochina War(French-Indochina War 1946-1954)-Second Indochina War(Vietnam War 1965-1972)-Third Indochina War 1979-81Vietnam War:Gen. Giap planned and directed the military operations against the French that culminated in their defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
During the 1960's Giap controlled guerrilla operations against South Vietnam and the United States and planned the Tet Offensive of 1968.
In his book, Giap clearly indicated that NVA troops were without sufficient supplies, and had been continually defeated time and again.
By 1968, NVA morale was at it's lowest point ever. The plans for "Tet" '68 was their last desperate attempt to achieve a success, in an effort to boost the NVA morale. When it was over, General Giap and the NVA viewed the Tet '68 offensive as a failure, they were on their knees and had prepared to negotiate a surrender.
At that time, there were fewer than 10,000 U.S. casualties, the Vietnam War was about to end, as the NVA was prepared to accept their defeat. Then, they heard Walter Cronkite (former CBS News anchor and correspondent) on TV proclaiming the success of the Tet '68 offensive by the communist NVA. They were completely and totally amazed at hearing that the US Embassy had been overrun. In reality, The NVA had not gained access to the Embassy--there were some VC who had been killed on the grassy lawn, but they hadn't gained access. Further reports indicated the riots and protesting on the streets of America.
According to Giap, these distorted reports were inspirational to the NVA. They changed their plans from a negotiated surrender and decided instead, they only needed to persevere for one more hour, day, week, month, eventually the protesters in American would help them to achieve a victory they knew they could not win on the battlefield. Remember, this decision was made at a time when the U.S. casualties were fewer than 10,000, at the end of 1967, beginning of 1968.

General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam Military. The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi. "What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing of Hanoi. You had us on the ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battles of TET. You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it. But we were elated to notice your media was definitely helping us. They were causing more disruption in America than we could in the battlefields. We were ready to surrender. You had won!" General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam -- it was lost at home. The exact same slippery slope, sponsored by the US media, is currently well underway. It exposes the enormous power of a biased media to cut out the heart and will of the American public. A truism worthy of note: Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media far more, for they will destroy your honour.

This is What I Ate 3 Times a Day Per 365 days

C-RATIONS
Commercially prepared meals were used in the field and at times when hot meals were not available. These meals came in a case containing 12 meals. Each meal was in it's own cardboard box, which contained the individual items sealed in cans. A can opener (called both a "John Wayne" or a "P-38") was needed to open the cans. The accessory pack with each meal was sealed in a foil pouch.
This is the official Quartermaster's description of C-Rations used in Vietnam
"The Meal, Combat, Individual, is designed for issue as the tactical situation dictates, either in individual units as a meal or in multiples of three as a complete ration. Its characteristics emphasize utility, flexibility of use, and more variety of food components than were included in the Ration, Combat, Individual (C Ration) which it replaces. Twelve different menus are included in the specification.
Each menu contains: one canned meat item; one canned fruit, bread or dessert item; one B unit; an accessory packet containing cigarettes, matches, chewing gum, toilet paper, coffee, cream, sugar, and salt; and a spoon. Four can openers are provided in each case of 12 meals. Although the meat item can be eaten cold, it is more palatable when heated.
Each complete meal contains approximately 1200 calories. The daily ration of 3 meals provides approximately 3600 calories."

There were 4 choices of meat in each B group. Because there were several "vintages" of C’s issued to the Marines in Vietnam, more than 4 items may be listed in the B groups as well as the brands of cigarettes included in the accessory pack.

B-1 Units
Meat Choices (in small cans):
Beef Steak
Ham and Eggs,
Chopped Ham Slices
Turkey Loaf
Fruit:
Applesauce
Fruit Cocktail
Peaches
Pears
Crackers
Peanut Butter Candy Disc,
Chocolate
Solid Chocolate
Cream Coconut
Accessory Pack*
*Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee,
Instant Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum,
2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike Kool Matches, Moisture Resistant Toilet Paper

B-2 Units
Meat Choices (in larger cans):
Beans and Wieners
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Beefsteak, Potatoes and Gravy
Ham and Lima Beans
Meatballs and Beans
Crackers (4)
Cheese Spread, Processed Caraway Pimento
Fruit Cake Pecan
Roll Pound Cake
Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee,
Instant Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum, 2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack: Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike or Kool
Matches, Moisture Resistant
Toilet Paper

B-3 Units
Meat Choices (in small cans):
Boned Chicken
Chicken and Noodles
Meat Loaf
Spiced Beef
Bread
White Cookies (4)
Cocoa Beverage Powder
Jam: Apple or Berry or Grape or Strawberry
Mixed Fruit
Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee, Instant
Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum, 2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack : Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike or Kool
Matches, Moisture Resistant
Toilet Paper

How to make a C-Ration Stove:
The small cans included in the meal were ideal for making a stove. Using a "John Wayne" pierce a series of closely spaced holes around the top and
bottom rims of the can. This stove was satisfactory, but did not allow enough oxygen to enter which caused incomplete burning of the blue Trioxin heat tablet, causing fumes which irritated the eyes and respiratory tract. A whole heat tab had to be used.
A better stove was created by simply using the can opener end of a "church key" (a flat metal device designed to open soft drink and beer containers with a bottle opener on one end and can opener on the other commonly used before the invention of the pull tab and screw-off bottle top) to puncture triangular holes around the top and bottom rims of the can which resulted in a hotter fire and much less fumes. With this type of stove only half a Trioxin heat tab was needed to heat the meal and then the other half could be used to heat water for coffee or cocoa. A small chunk of C-4 explosive could also be substituted for the Trioxin tablet for faster heating. It would burn hotter and was much better for heating water. . A stove was usually carried in the back pack or cargo pocket and used repeatedly until the metal began to fail.

How to Heat a C-Ration Meal:
1. Choose the meal to be consumed
2. Open the can lid leaving at least 1/4 inch metal attached
3. Bend the still attached lid so that the inside of the can lid is facing 180 degrees from it's original position (inside up).
4. Bend the edges of the can to form a handle
5. Set meal on stove and heat to desired temperature, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

"Outstanding" Ham & Mothers:
1. Open and heat a can of Ham and Lima Beans
2. When hot, add one can of cheese spread and stir until all cheese is melted.
3. Crumble 4 crackers into the mixture and blend thoroughly.
Eat when the crackers have absorbed all excess moisture.