I was born in 1956, a year after this writer. Like a lot of folks in my age group, the draft was still a scary possibility, although becoming more remote. Also, the lib media continually portrayed Vietnam as "Nixon's war" and made him out to be a demon, and I bought into that. But only between ages 14 and 16. And even then, I could not bring myself to feel anything but admiration for those in uniform. By late 1973 and early 1974, I was actually participating in several "Freeps" in support of a beseiged Nixon.
A few years later, I had the opportunity to wear the uniform myself (Ronald Reagan was president, and it was a whole different atmosphere by then, of course).
I really think you two should read this PING!