My Father-in-law, who is three years my senior, for point of reference, served two tours in Nam 70-72. He was a forward observer, calling in air strikes and artillery fire missions. He likes to point out. "I was on the first slick in and the last slick out."
He fought with both the 1st Field Forces and the 1st Air Cav during his second tour. Was awarded two Bronze stars and was actively involved in the incursion into Cambodia.
He believes comparing Iraq to Nam is the same as comparing apples to oranges due to the shear differences in terrain. The Iraqis had few places to hide, unlike the NVA in Nam. That said, the NVA would have had faired no better, if fought over the same terrain as found in Iraq.
Any resentment he still carries around comes from being treated as an outcast when he returned home. He heard the baby killer comments on more than one occasion. The welcome home the first Gulf War vets received made his resentment burn a bit brighter. Feeling, he did no less and deserved as much.
There's a pic of him in the bush with the 1st Air Cav. There's also an after action report where his best friend was killed in a blue on blue incident. Pic at the bottom of the page.
http://www.tallcomanche.org/April_1971.htmMrLars, tell the guys for me that I'm damn proud of what they did for our country. Let them know that they have my never ending respect and admiration. It's little to say for all that they sacrificed, for I'm unable to put into words what is in my heart.