I Was a Veteran Who Opposed the War

I didn't have much to do with the anti-war movement, actually. I was in the U.S. Army from 1961-1964, and participated in some of the preparations (training, education, indoctrination, etcetera) for the war. When I got out of the Army, I was concerned with the intent of these preparations (as were a number of people I knew in the Army, including officers and lifer NCOs). I attempted to communicate these concerns to the public via private conversation, letters to various publications and prominent persons, and some very light demonstrating. After a few years of this I concluded that nothing would make any meaningful impression on the public, and gave up attempting to influence it. I think subsequent events proved my estimate of the situation to be correct. Eventually, I went to Canada. During this period I was only peripherally involved with the anti-war movement.

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Although I thought the war was a foolish one at the time, and the result proved me right, I was a retiree from the Air Force and fought for my country in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. I retired in 1969 after 20 years of service and am proud to have served. I am not responsible for the things presidents and congressmen do, but as a member of the armed forces, I had a responsibility to follow the orders that were given me at the time. I may not agree with everything my government does, but if my conscience cannot stomach the job they give me, I will resign. In those years the Vietnamese believed in what they were doing and we believed in what we were doing and neither of us was right or wrong. We were just foolish in the way we went about it.

You have an unusual perspective about the war. You served in Asia for so long, were a "lifer" in the Air Force, and yet you thought the war was foolish. Why?

You will find my answers unusual because I have spent half of my life in the Far East and I am Buddhist by nature. I believe that every man has to seek his own path and has to accept the consequences of whatever choice he makes. Therefore, I do not condemn anyone for what they choose. If their choice causes them suffering, I pity them. If it causes happiness, I rejoice for them. And, finally, I do not blame anyone for the results of the choices I have made in my life, although there is little reason to blame anyone because it has been a long and happy life and I have very few regrets.

That about sums up the philosophy that influences my feelings about the Vietnam War and everything else that I have been involved in over the past sixty years.

I just did whatever job was given to me and did it as well as I could.

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