Posted on 07/29/2005 2:55:10 PM PDT by Steve Newton
The old sergeant was walking across the compound during mail call when he heard a heated engagement between two members of his platoon. As temperatures rose, sometimes so did tempers and he usually left things alone to be worked out by the squad leaders. However this time he heard a name that brought him to a halt. Someone actually said, “Jane Fonda.” Brought back bad memories for the sergeant.
As the sergeant walked over he found that one of the younger men had received a newspaper that related something about Ms Fonda “coming out” against the war.
An older squad member had taken great exception to even hearing the name.
“Look”, the younger soldier said. “All I’m saying is that she has the right to do whatever she feels like. That’s why we’re fighting.”
The older soldier looked over at the sergeant and said, “Pappy, maybe you can talk some sense into the kid. I give up.”
The old sergeant’s eyes turned into steel. “Why? He’s right you know. We ARE fighting so a few unorganized, uniformed idiots can do or say anything they wish. However if you guys will meet me in my office at say, 1800 hrs, I will tell you a story you all should know.”
Well, at 1800 hrs the whole platoon had shown up along with the Lt. And the Padre. They had to open the old warehouse adjoining the sergeant’s office to accommodate everyone. The old sergeant didn’t tell too many stories.
Everyone was sitting around and the old sergeant moved to the center of the room and lit a cigar. Smoke curled up in a blue cloud over his head. He began:
“I wanted to take this opportunity to tell some of you younger kids why some of us feel so strongly about Ms Fonda. I know some of you think I’m older than dirt but the 1960's was just a little before my time. At least in the Army. The Vietnam War was raging and the social fabric of America was changing at the same time.
As a student of war history, I have always been saddened by two conflicts. The Civil War and the Vietnam War, each for different reasons. Let me make a few comments here about why I think we won the Vietnam War.
The United States Military never lost a single major engagement in Vietnam. Not one, including the famous “Tet” offensive from the North. The enemy got their noses bloodied so bad during that time that it took them months to recover. But it wasn’t reported as a victory in the American media. It was reported as a major loss.
Also, the United States sadly lost over 58,000 American hero’s. But the North Vietnamese reported losing over 1.5 MILLION. We had the war won and on Jan 27th, 1973 we signed the Paris Peace Agreement with the North Vietnamese. Prisoners were exchanged and all our soldiers were ordered to leave by the end of March.
Now, for a number of reasons, including the anti war movement and the loss of political will, when the North violated the treaty and invaded the South we no longer had the stomach to re engage the enemy, thus we lost the South.
Why did we loss our will to fight? Because of people like Ms Fonda. She was grab assing with the enemy when our people were fighting and dying. My father was there and of all the people in this world I have never seen him dislike a person more than Hanoi Jane.
To me and many others Ms Fonda represented an anti American view that persists to this day. What ever problems the world has it must to be OUR fault. Many years ago I blamed her treasonist action on youth or naivety. No more. Not only is she not repentant but she is again fermenting anti Americanism. In many people’s eyes her actions were treasonist:
CHAPTER 115--TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES
Sec. 2388. Activities affecting armed forces during war (a) Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully makes or conveys false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies; or Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or willfully obstructs the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or the United States, or attempts to do so-- Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
But here’s the main problem I have with Ms Fonda and people like her. As she was protesting our involvement in the Vietnam War and everyone was calling us “baby killers” she and the war protestors never said a world when the real atrocities started to take place.
Fear of persecutions caused many highly skilled and educated South Vietnamese connected with the former regime to flee the country during the Fall of Saigon and the years following, severely depleting the intellectual population in Vietnam.
The new government promptly sent people connected to the South Vietnam regime to concentration camps for re-education , often for years at a time. Others were sent to so-called new economic zones to develop the undeveloped land. These were really slave labor camps. Furthermore, the victorious Communist government implemented land reforms in the south similar to those implemented in North Vietnam earlier.
Persecution and poverty prompted an additional 2 million people to flee Vietnam as boat people over the 20 years following unification. The problem was so severe that during the 1980s and 1990s the UN established refugee camps in neighboring countries to process them. Many of these refugees resettled in the United States, forming large emigrant communities with a decidedly anti-communist viewpoint.
In neighboring Cambodia in 1975, the Khmer Rouge took power and killed 1.7 million of its own people. One fifth of its population. During all this, not one word did I hear from any of the “war protestors.” The only conclusion I can come to is that they don’t like AMERICA to engage in war. Everyone else can kill them selves or their neighbors as they please, or at least that’s the way I see it.
It’s hypocritical to protest one nation defending freedom while remaining silent when other nations commit genocide. I never heard Ms Fonda protesting the torture chambers of Saddam Hussein. And I wonder why she is not protesting the terrorists who are killing innocent men, women and children who have actually voted for freedom?
The morale fabric of America has started to become degraded by organizations such as the ACLU and other extreme left wing societies. So, as I said, the only conclusion I can come to is that there is nothing to which they would stand up and fight for. A hero of mine once said this:
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: The decayed and degraded state of moral thinking, which thinks NOTHING is worth war, is much worse. a man who has NOTHING for which he is willing to fight and NOTHING he values more than his own personal safety is a miserable creature who will never be free unless made and kept so by the efforts of better men than himself.
I see her “coming out” against this war as just another attempt to weaken the morale of the American fighting man and of the American public who supports him. To me, that makes her the enemy. And this time it’s affecting my war and my soldiers. My recommendation? Fight against people like her and organizations that espouse an anti American view.
So, that’s the way I feel about Ms Fonda and WHY I feel that way. Yes, we fight, shed our blood and die for her just like we do for every other American. But given a choice, in Ms Fonda’s case, I think I would rather not.”
The old sergeant walked away. As the men were leaving the young soldier stopped at the sergeants desk and said, “Pappy, I never knew.”
“I know you didn’t kid. And I still say you were right. I just wish you weren’t.” As the kid walked away, his head hanging down in thought, the old sergeant thought: The bitch is at it again. But this time it will be different. This time she will lose. No way will my boys ever be treated the way the Vietnam Vets were. Not unless it’s over my dead body. The real American people will not stand for it.
Steve Newton
The Old Sergeant is fictional and in this case editorial.
Steven.newton1@att.net http://steven.newton1.home.att.net/
The leftists learned one lesson from the Vietnam war,
that they could destroy the will of the people to fight
in defense of freedom.
Now they are attempting the same thing.
Happily for us, we learned a lesson too, and we will not
allow them to succeed AGAIN.
My Friend
I believe you are right. No, I know you are right. We can NEVER allow such a thing to happen again.
And God bless you my friend for your service. You did good.
Steve Newton
NOT fonda' Fonda Bumpuss
As I live and breath.......this will not happen to my Warriors on my watch...........
Even if they force us to a bloodbath on OUR streets..
This time, the consequences of refusing to fight the enemy - brings death into the homes of THIS nation..
Semper Fi
he, he, he.. I almost posted that one. Great minds and all that.
You know. I believe you. This time ALL people and veterans must stand up.
Never again
Steve
Ain't it the truth. But sometimes, I wish she would quit giving.
Steve
I would love to hear your story. Why the change and what caused it.
Whatever it was good for you.
Steve
This time many people know what Fonda is about.
I figure she will be ducking water balloons and eggs at the least and worse if more zealous people take a crack at her.
She is not wanted out in public talking like this except for by the communist, anarchist, progressives and most liberal.
I predict problems for her in this venture of hers.
Every time I read Old Sarge, it never fails I cry. In less then 3 weeks I will head for Germany to help bring the Wounded Warriors home. I love these guys and they are my Heroes, they are the life blood, that keeps our country strong. They are amazing......... I mean it when I say that it won't happen on my watch......
Aww River Rat
Once a Marine---well you know
Semper Fi brother
Steve
Agreed
And I think she knows that.
Steve
I was young and I believed the ACLU stood for Constitutionally protected civil rights. I found out it was a virulently anti-American, anti-Christian hate group, dedicated to the destruction of the USA. The ACLU is actually the most successful of the old Stalinist front groups, along with the evil National Lawyers Guild.
Oh yes
I remember now. I want you to know that all the FReepers and most Americans will be praying for you. I have a feeling your touch alone will be a comfort to our honored wounded.
I wish I could get you some Silver Star Banners to give to them.
Be careful. And the "OLD Sergeant" says, Take care.
Steve
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