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In the Summer of 1969, while Army National Guard and Army Reserve Units were deployed in Viet Nam, my late Dad, then a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Guard volunteered to do a 6-month tour as a Public Information Officer in-country. He was a WWII and Korea Navy Vet who also served during the Berlin Crisis. Mom was pretty mad at him for going in Harm's Way again, but Dad was a Warrior. Some PIO, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and nominated for a Bronz Star for Valor and a Silver Star!

One day, he walked into a Bureau Chief's Office in Siagon. The chief said, "Hi Jack! What's today's body count?" Dad told him he didn't know.

Then the chief asked, "Do you have any good stories about American commanders screwing up and getting their units blown away?" Dad said no, but he had some interesting articles about Guardsmen and Reservists spending thier time off helping the local villagers by building clinics and schools and digging wells.

The chief then asked, "How about some pictures of bodies hanging on barbed wire?" Dad told him no, but he had some great photos to go along with the stories he had.

The chief said, "Let me see them!" Dad handed them over and watched as the chief quickly looked through them. The chief then threw them back in my Dad's face and stated, "I'm not gonna use any of this shit! It gives the wrong impression of the war!"

Dad said, "You know, I think you are a Communist!" The chief responded, "You may be right, but as long as I am bureau chief, the American people are only going to see this war the way I want them to see it!"

With that, my Dad bent down, picked up the articles and photos, turned his back and without another word, WALKED OUT OF DAN RATHER'S OFFICE!

And that, Fellow Freepers, is why we have just got to win this war!