THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 1, 1995 TAG: 9504280019
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
I suppose my fellow Vietnam War veterans experienced the same feeling of being kicked in the stomach as I did when hearing about former Secretary of Defense McNamara's book In Retrospect, containing his confessions of ``wrong, terribly wrong'' judgment by the Johnson and Nixon administrations in the conduct of the Vietnam War. Perhaps the unkindest cut was the admission that we were sent into harm's way by leaders who knew the war could not be won.
My sinking feeling, however, cannot compare to the severe pain and betrayal felt by the children, widows and parents of those who never came back and by those who are mentally and physically crippled by their service.
The hurt we all feel is certain to be exacerbated by the protesters and draft-dodgers of the era, who will now claim that they were in the right all along as an excuse for their cowardice.
Well, where do we go from here? Those leaders in Washington who pursued that no-win policy and knew it have their own nightmares and demons to contend with. But all Vietnam veterans should hold heads high with the knowledge that we went off to serve America when we were called. We have nothing to be ashamed about - we proved our love and loyalty to our country.
We do hope, however, that our sacrifices will serve as a reminder to future leaders: The lives of American youth should not be wasted in places not worth fighting for or in wars we don't intend to win.
CORNELIUS T. O'NEILL
Captain, U.S.Navy (ret.)
Virginia state adjutant
The American Legion
Richmond, April 18, 1995 by CNB