Withdrawal
April 30, 1975. Saigon. We've been refining the technique ever since with Afghanistan the current culmination of our efforts.
Did they die in vain? Seems so. There's still a burn deep inside; the fire subsided long ago but every once in a while, an ember starts to glow.
I'll not go further other than it's easier to win wars if the politicians that put us into such actually wanted to win.
So, here's to Paul and Randy and Bill and Jim and all the others I knew and didn't know.
To those that didn't come back, to those that did, and especially to those that did but didn't.
No, I'm not a vet. I got picked in the lottery towards the end, got my physical, was 1A, then got my notice - but Nixon got caught doing something and they changed the call-up. My orders were rescinded. I had a low number but it turned out high enough. Doesn't mean I didn't know others my age or so that weren't so lucky - if that's what it is.
On the other hand, while the combat troops were at the pointy end of the stick, I spent many years helping put the stick together.
