[December 24, 2017] Army Vet writes today about how the U.S. military faired in VIETNAM on CHRISTMAS in 1967
Know yourself, dummy! People who study wars know that the best times to attack are when it is least expected and if you don’t know that already, then you are beyond my help. As a nation of soldiers, we tend to forget who we really are without war. Yep, war brings out the real man in mankind; a psychologist’s wet dream to study real men doing real manly stuff. For those who never fought in Vietnam, you will never understand but I’ll try to get you there with a few good words and advice from a grizzled old man who spent too much time in the trenches of warfare. The BLUF, know yourself … or else!
Yep, that’s right, know yourself or else! Knowing yourself and the basics of other people’s personalities are what will get you places as a real leader. Forget all the PC stuff you learned in college (or at some pantywaist job stocking shelves with women’s underwear) and don’t forget to toss out your so-called friends who want to fill your head with a bunch of nonsense like the idea that war never solved anything. Vietnam solved a bunch despite the weenie politicians who abandoned the fighting men and the Vietnam people. I wouldn’t waste a bullet on them if I had the chance because there is a special place in hell for traitors like that and they are worse than the Hollywood airheads who egged everyone to protest like Jane Fonda.
Christmas in Vietnam in 1967 was special. Yeah, very special. It didn’t register on the scale of a big attack that made it into the newspapers but our little unit came under fire anyway. Small stuff really, mostly small weapon’s fire, a few mortar rounds, some RPGs, and an occasional grenade thrown by a VC who wanted to die that day. We had our turkey dinner (actually lunch) and although the meal was cold it was better than the canned stuff we normally ate. You see, the big guys never came out to visit us because it was too dangerous and getting supplies was also a challenge so we didn’t get the good stuff … except for ammo. Ammo was King! You have plenty of ammo and even the bravest VC is not retarded enough to attack.
Our little outpost was positioned at the crossroads of a very important supply area for the bad guys. They attacked us every day; mostly harassing stuff that would kill you only if you were unlucky that particular day. It was the cold, insects, and rain that stiffened a man’s nerve for the coming battle more than anything our officers could do. Men at our outpost were real men and I liked that way. You could depend on every one of them to protect your back, literally – none would run out like the pinko bastards you find at most colleges. Nah, I don’t hate them, I pity them for their weakness and blind obedience to the next fad and PC minds. I’m free while they’re in a mental straightjacket.
There’s a message here for those who want to be a real leader. Know yourself and know your enemy and you’ll never lose a battle or fail in what you do. I know, someone else famous said the same thing. Well, hey aren’t stupid either ‘cause that’s good advice from someone who has been there and came back a better man.
Frig! Have a Merry Christmas from those of us far away 50 years ago.
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