It is being reported that President Obama's visit to Vietnam is focused more on the future than on the past. If that's the way the White House wants to play it, this small voice can't stop it.
But some of us lived through that era in the service of our country, some were in active opposition to that war, some in anguish over losses that were sustained and that even to this day can bring pain and tears. For them--for us--Vietnam is not a conflict that can be relatively quickly left behind, not now, not ever.
Go to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Obama. Exchange pleasantries, grip and grin. But dammit, don't forget what got us to this place. More than 47,000 Americans died in that horrible war.
Try quickly leaving this behind: 61 percent of the men killed were 21 or younger, 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20, 17,539 of those killed were married,
The average age of men killed was 23.1. More than 50,000 men killed were in the enlisted ranks (average age 22), nearly 6,600 officers were killed (average age 28), five of those killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old, the oldest man killed was 62. More than 300,000 were wounded and 75,000 were severely disabled. Amputations or disabling wounds to the lower extremities were 300 percent higher than in World War II and 70 percent higher than in Korea.
And yes, most of the men sent to Vietnam--76 percent--were from lower-middle and working-class backgrounds. And 97 percent were honorably discharged.
Clink those glasses, style and profile, don't pass up a good photo-op. But don't you dare forget those Americans who did Washington's bidding only to return home in body bags or in ambulances--and to a country that now just can't wait to move on.
Editorial on 05/24/2016