[July 31, 2024] In May of 1970, after I started Engineering classes at Texas Tech University, I turned 18, registered for Selective Service, and received my military draft notice shortly after that. The Vietnam War was still going strong with American and NATO participation, and the draft was in full swing, calling up young men to be part of our military force.
My draft lottery number was 199, meaning I would not be called up that year, but more than 250,000 men were drafted the year prior. I did not yet want to enter the military at 18 because I wanted to finish college and join the Army as an Infantry Officer.
Over the next few years, I would struggle to pay for my college education and living expenses. So, to avoid debt, I voluntarily joined the Army, but as a lowly Private (E-1). My lofty goals of an engineering degree were dashed. Still, with my “above average” entrance exam scores, the Army decided I was to be sent to Military Police School at Ft Gordon, Georgia.
During all my teenage years, I closely followed the Vietnam War, the battles, the strategies, the politics, the protests, and the divisions that pushed and pulled at the emotions of my American countrymen. Politicians did their best to get elected off the terrible state of our country, often siding with those who would criticize America for its perceived wrongs. They consciously opposed a commitment made by America in good faith, making their behavior a form of betrayal.
I saw many of these politicians as leeches and despised their cowardice for not supporting our troops. It was easy to see the pathetic, pandering, pompous, pretentious, puny politicians scrambling for a hot spot on the crowded gravy train to an election.
I was an American Patriot then and have never wavered – nope, not one bit – and I supported the effort to block a growing tide of the evils of a world moving toward Communism. Leftists in America believe that Communism is the only moral way to a modern, peaceful, justice-filled future, despite overlooking the horrific track record of death, starvation, and destruction that followed any country that adopted it.
The Vietnam War was America’s and the Western allies’ joint effort to halt Communism from spreading worldwide. Strategically, this war would be a win for us, given the goal of stopping the scourge of Communism. The Domino Effect of countries falling into the iron grip of Communism in the region, toppling democratic governments, failed to occur.
Unfortunately, our weakened and divided political system at home in America failed to support South Vietnam, and when we pulled out, Communist North Vietnam filled the vacuum with deadly effects.
South Vietnam was lost. However, the allure of Communism failed to capture other governments as the thinking of “experts” thought. I believe it was our war on Communism in Vietnam that mattered, and people began to open their eyes to that evil. A few years later, the USSR collapsed on its own and finally put a stake through the heart of Marxism that intellectuals believed was the wave of the future.
Communism has been tried many times in this world, and in each case, it spectacularly failed its citizens.
One day, we will look back and wonder why anyone would voluntarily submit to a highly centralized government that puts its citizens last, behind the “state.”
The attraction to Communism was understandable because, in their view, to be a “moral and courageous” person, all you had to do was believe in the ideology and espouse your support. I knew just enough at that time to reject Marx and his teachings. I was not popular among my friends for taking that stand because I unapologetically rejected Communism and other Leftist socialist thinking. I knew the track record of Communism was among the world’s greatest evils, and I could see it as clear as day.
Further complicating our American society as Communism was being hailed as the great moral savior, the Civil Rights Movement and the Sexual Revolution was also growing. These together created a swirl of tension for the average citizen. Echoes of those times still reverberate throughout America today, and many of the same issues remain unresolved decades later. The mingling of issues on justice, equality, health care, fairness, the poor, the women’s equal rights movement, “oppressive” capitalism, pollution of the environment, and a way forward without God or religion remain.
Additionally, any religion or even the discussion of the Bible was viewed by modern progressives more as an anachronistic throw-back to ancient times and an impediment to a better tomorrow. Such thinking is far too common and wrong. As they saw it, the “modern world” was there for the taking, and many jumped on the Communist/Socialist bandwagon.
I was unhappy at the time and disappointed in myself that I missed being a part of the Vietnam War. Fighting evil is a common human desire, and I was no exception. I had longed to be part of that war growing up. I’d heard the stories of our WWII and Korean War veterans who brought back to us what they saw and had good advice for me.
These veterans told me the old “war solves nothing” argument is a strong sentiment they strongly disavowed. War solved the problem of German Fascism and Japanese Imperialism in WWII. And war put a damper on Communism with an armistice at the end of the Korean War. This lesson must never be forgotten. War should be the last resort, but it is a solution, a costly solution.
Decades later, and in response to 9/11, I would be part of a war in the Middle East. That war was fought differently but also against another evil, Islamic Fundamentalism, that was spreading terrorism across the globe.
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NOTE: See all my letters here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
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This is another lovely letter to Gen. Satterfield’s granddaughter that makes us remember that the 60s and early 70s were not necessarily good times in America. I do know that the nation came together more under President Reagan than ever before after the disasterous years of Pres Jimmie Carter. Thank you sir for another great letter.
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Sure enough, a pleasure to come to this site and read such letters of love and endearment.
loving letter
A throwback in time, for simpler times and times of good. Compared to today, Gen. Satterfield lived in a time where good and evil were easy to distinguish. Not so much today.
Yusaf, yes and I do appreciate your comment. However, I’m not so convinced that is correct. The times I grew up in certainly contained its dangers and folks of those times did not necessarily have a clear understanding to distinguish between good and evil. Many accepted things because “that is what they are.” This mentality of not knowing was not good. Does that mean we have progressed intellectually? I’m not so sure. Only time will tell. But I do know that we need to better understand and be able to distinguish good from evil. And, that is an important task of all adults and leaders.
Today’s evil disguises itself as good. And our politicians support the evil and do so publically and openly.
Good points, Gen. Satterfield. Studying evil will help. Giving examples will also help. Let us never stray away from an understanding of evil in all its forms.
🙏 I know that I’ve written this before, but I do want to thank Gen. Satterfield for his letter to his granddaughter today but I also want to thank him for highlighting the very experiences that kids from those decades experienced. The fun, the tragedies, the hopes and dreams, the fall from goodness and redemption, and salvation. And, I do wish and pray that others take the time to read these letters for what they are meant to be; a look into the early life of Gen. Satterfield as a child and young adult so that his granddaughter – and all his grandchildren – will understand him and know more about him. As Gen. Satterfield personally noted, he never knew much about his relatives and those few stories will be gone forever. 🙏
Another letter of love. ❤️
BEAUTIFUL letter, love it. ❤️✨🥰
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Hi Ron, YEP! Great and beautiful letters. Go to this link to read them all continuously.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
I know some of the new readers to Gen. S’s blog will appreciate that he put all the letters here to make it easier. Now, I think all of us will agree that it would be beneficial if he put all his letters into a book format. I know that I would get a copy or maybe lots of copies to give away. What a great Christmas present that would be for my kids.
I just recognized that Gen. Satterfield is writing more about his life as a teenager. I’m looking forward to it. The big question is whether he will write about his adult life and his time in the US army.
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Great letter, thanks.
(◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*。
Yeah, I believe that is what most are writing. However, I know there are some here who would Gen. Satterfield write about “international affairs” or something along those lines … and he does occasionally … but Gen. S. only posts once per day. I know, many of us have asked that he post more than once but his time is taken up by other things like helping his family and other veterans. Let’s give Gen. Satterfield a big hand and thanks for what he does for us all.
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Looks like Communism was wildly popular in the 1960s in America.
“The attraction to Communism was understandable because, in their view, to be a “moral and courageous” person, all you had to do was believe in the ideology and espouse your support. I knew just enough at that time to reject Marx and his teachings. I was not popular among my friends for taking that stand because I unapologetically rejected Communism and other Leftist socialist thinking. I knew the track record of Communism was among the world’s greatest evils, and I could see it as clear as day.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield
Well, hard to not repeat what others have said, but thank you, Gen. Doug Satterfield for another wonderful letter to your granddaughter and helping us understand you.
Letter #86. It is hard to believe that we are already at that number and Gen. Satterfield began this letter writing campaign over a year ago and he is still going. it is obvious, I think, to us all that this is the most successful series in his website so far. I do hope he goes beyond 100 – which is what he promised his granddaughter in one of the first letters – and so we can learn more about what made Gen. Satterfield who he is.
I’ll agree to that, Jerome !!!!!!!!!!
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It is easy for us to thank Gen. Satterfield for his letters but let us help him more by getting the word out to others to also read them. At work, whenever I can , I will post the latest letter on our bulletin board for my co-workers to read. Now, I admit that they are all women like me, but we appreciate strong, good, generous men and it is clear to me over time that this is exactly what Gen. Satterfield has as his main traits and why he was and still is so great at what he does.
Got that right, Audrey. I’ m in!!!!!!!
Xerces II, I think we all agree that Gen. Satterfield should go beyond 100 letters. We can only encourage him. I find these letters funny, happy, challenging, helpful, and takes me back to my childhood too.
Another wonderful love letter. Note that Gen. Satterfield’s letters to his granddaughter are slowly progressing through his life and how we are getting to the time he goes to college.
WOW WOW WOW …. every day when I log onto your blog, I look for another letter. This entire and very successful blog on your life growing up and experiencing those things that helped make you a better man is great. I want to recommend to others who are new to your website that they get a copy of your books. The one that is most applicable to these letters is “55 Rules for a Good Life.” In that book you lay out those things that make for a good life and these letters are a build up to them. Perhaps one day, you will help connect the dots on this and link your letters to your granddaughter to those 55 rules.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
Thank Colleen R. for the recommendation. I’m new here and would like to note that I am impressed with the comments section too and with those like you that help me see more than just one article.
❤️❤️❤️ A lovely letter again and thank you Gen. Satterfield ❤️❤️❤️