As a VietNam veteran who later came to oppose the war, I don't disagree with some of your historical and political perspectives, although it is decidedly one-sided and conveniently omits the historical Vietnamese aggression against other countries as well as the brutality of communism in the region (Pol Pot and the killing fields of Cambodia come to mind) and the inhumane treatment of American POWs (which makes waterboarding look mild in comparison). What I vehemently disagree with, and am insulted by, is your comparison of American troops to Nazi war criminals and your unfounded and false assertion that rape, pillage and murder of civilians was "tacit policy" for the U.S. Military. I too am appalled by Mi Lai and Lt. Calley's egregious actions, which are disavowed by every honorable US soldier, but that was by no means the norm as you state. Since you chose not to serve,
you do not have any first-hand knowledge of how US troops actually behaved or how it feels to be shot at, hunted, hated by the local populous, or watch your friends dismembered or die. You also apparently do not know that the military is specifically instructed in the responsibility to disobey unlawful orders, and the fact that Lt. Calley's men did not disobey his clearly unlawful orders in this instance does not make it the norm. You said you resisted the war (and I do not fault you for this - it may have been an ethical decision) but you did not detail in what manner. Were you a concientious objector, did you flee the country, or did you just avoid the draft? Do you disagree that we need a military for self defense? Do you feel any obligation at all to serve your country in any capacity?

I certainly agree that all wars are the embodiment of man's basest actions and are nothing to be proud of, but there has been and continues to be tyranny and evil in the world that ultimately must be confronted with force until we evolve as a civilization. Do you disagree with our reaction to Japan's attack on the US in WWII or confronting Hitlar's genocide? How about confronting ISIS? Since I presume from your comments that you have never served, you have no idea as to the dichotomy of being placed in a situation of having to kill or be killed and still behaving in a "civilized" and honorable manner. Those in the military, whether they volunteer or are conscripted, willingly subordinate their self-interest and individualism to a higher authority which is ultimately controlled by politicians and political leaders. Would you have it differently? Would you have the military (assuming you agree a military is necessary) be autonomous and control the government? It's an imperfect system, but it's the world we live in and the military that some of us served in.

I have seen both sides. I have studied the war, and I have been a participant. I have read the applicable Geneva accords and the first-hand account of the commander of the Maddox. I know the entire history of the French colonialism and Japenese occupation, and I know the US political history from the Tonkin Gulf resolution to the end of the war. I have also seen first-hand the corruption of the South Vietnamese government and its military. Was it a terrible mistake? In my opinion - yes, but I also do not believe it was entirely motivated by monetary greed or political cowardice. When those decisions were made, it was with the backdrop of the Cold War and the fear of the spread of comunism; and many of the leaders responsible for the war were acting from the perspective of having seen World War II first-hand (Eisenhour and Kennedy).

I can promise you that it is no fun to go to war. I can also state with certainty that every soldier with whom I served behaved in an honorable manner toward civilians, although they certainly did not typically respond in kind. I don't blame them - no one likes an occupier, even if the intent is liberation. I devoutly wish we had not interceded in what was essentially a civil war. I wish I had not had friends who died, but war criminal we were not. We were soldiers risking our lives and leaving our loved ones for long periods of time, being paid poverty wages, but following lawful orders and finally, being insulted concerning our service by those like you that were not there and derive their opinions concerning the conduct of the US military from books and movies rather than first-hand experience. You Sir, are entitled to your opinion, but you are mistaken and misinformed in this respect.

Looks to me like you are still beating a dead horse yourself Mr. High and Mighty Nagy. You and those like you came across then as being better than us and you still do. The war cannot be sanitized and it goes the same for all wars. Every war ever fought was misguided at the least.

As for Ali, he was neither a villain nor a hero. He was just a man that had his own self interest in mind. He was not a coward or a traitor. Right or wrong we did what our country asked of us, what did you do beside run your self important and smarter than anyone else mouth.

Our politicians and our generals did not make smart decisions and the country paid a price for that.

You do not need to answer my reply because I do not care to hear from someone that hates the rest of us that are so much dumber.

I usually do not answer this time of post but you made me very sad because of how you feel about me, who just happens to be some you do not personally know.

I returned From Vietnam a week after the TET offensive in '68. A tour and a half. I was totally confused about how I felt about the war. This was the height of the demonstrations. In full dress in SF INTL airport, I was spate upon by a fellow in a tuxedo with tails and a stovepipe hat and I couldn't even react. I had no political opinion and when Cassius Clay changed his name, I was paying attention. I thank him for his part in reshaping my outlook on the war. When I arrived in Vietnam , my feeling was that someone felt that I owed this to my country. It didn't take long to figure out that the only allegiance I had was to the men in my squad, platoon and company. Because my country couldn't care less about my well being.