Those of us who were born before 1950 seem to have a stronger spirit of patriotism than our juniors. Perhaps it's because we cut our teeth on heroes from Hollywood? We were taught that the good guy was always the winner - our heroes loved righteousness - God - country - his horse - dog - hardly ever kissed the girl, he only died for her.

Because of high-tech media reporting we are often allerted to the bravery of our troops on the battlefront. Yesteryear we relied more on the printed reports which many times were lost in the shuffle.

I want to tell you about heroes you see everyday and look the other way. I see them everytime I report to the VA hospital for treatment. They are usually alone - most have a distant look in their eye. Many have ponytails and beards. Some are in wheelchairs, some obviously have alcohol and/or drug problems. They are dying off fast!

In years to come the Iraq/Afghan Vet will look a lot more like them... the Vietnam Vet..... Unlike the Vietnam Vet, the Vets of today are honored. Time will do away with that - people forget. As they age and the burden these men and women are carrying with them - which is burned into their brains will begin to surface as mental problems and they will. Many will learn to lean on chemicals, drugs, alchohol, "crutches" to help them get through. They will not be able to explain their feelings. It would be like a person trying to explain to a blind person how the color 'blue' looks. Something happens... nobody talks about it. Nobody knows how.

Right now all the hoopla and popularity of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are promoted by the Bush administration. While this "war president" cuts benefits he glorifies the war... SICK... All of the publicity and reporting by major news networks keeps us all aglow and distracted from the reality of the long term effects of war on our Vets.

There was NEVER any hoopla or popularity for the Vietnam Vet. That soldier of yesteryear was spat upon and called a baby killer. Thanks to people like "Hanoi" Jane Fonda - the "born-again" Christian who is kissing up now! Kiss-kiss Hanoi Jane! Many of us will never forget your real nature.

When I visit with a Vietnam Vet I always thank him for what he did. Many people won't even give them the time of day, much less THANK HIM! What the hell goes on here? Are they stupid, dumb or ashamed of their cowardly position during the Vietnam era that they are in denial? The war was declared and supervised by a bunch of dumb bastards in Washington for all the wrong reasons but it does not take away from the heroic men who fought and died, became handicapped or just living out a quite, bottled-up hell.

Some of the Vets carry it well! They are successful and well-groomed. Support, education, money, amount of trauma they endured, how they are made and many other things determine how these forgotten warriors developed after the fact.

The stories these guys can tell would make you want to puke! Therefore they don't tell them - there's nobody to whom they can tell.

The foot soldier who served in Vietnam won't talk about the blood in his underwear or socks. Blood from bleeding rashes brought about by sweat, filth and lack of clean clothes. These guys used toothpaste to help the rash problem! TOOTHPASTE! That's all they had. No miracle drugs - just toothpaste, insect repellent and any kind of drug they could get their hands on to erase reality and get through the night. They didn't have cell phones - they relied on the mail! Sometimes family members were already dead and buried before they knew it. The insects may have been a blessing in disguise... the bloodsucking little tormentors from hell made it a little easier to face the angel of death... the bastard from hell that lurked behind every bush and in (virtually) every civilian of Vietnamese blood. The American could seldom identify the enemy! Soon, all of them looked like the enemy! The Vietnamese civilians who were not working with the VC could be! How the hell are you supposed to know the difference? "Kill'em all and let God sort'em out" was not an entirely bad idea... given the conditions.

I hope Hanoi Jane finds her perfect, idealogical war in her afterlife! May God forgive me but I have to say it... No... I won't say it... I'll just say, "Hanoi Jane, is a traitor who favored the side that would cut her throat in a heartbeat!" Henry Fonda - I'm sorry for you that you were the sperm donor of that trash.

Most of these guys were teenagers! Now they are 50 - 60 - 70 years old and they still aren't honored as America's Best! These unsung heroes need to be acknowledged before the few who remain die.

I was in the USAF, my job title is more accurately referred to by the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) Aircraft and Missle Electrical Systems Specialist. I was "support." I fixed the aircraft with which the "warriors" used to kill the enemy. Eighty percent of our military is in "support" one field or another - only about 20% of our military are combat troops.

Pilot, Artilleryman, Rifleman, Sniper, Grunt, just a few of the job descriptions and titles that come to mind. Too many specialists to give credit here... there are jobs that are specialized, rare and do not readily come to mind... For instance, I have one good friend who would lie camouflaged, quietly for hours, kill "Charlie" ... take him back to base where they would open his stomach to see what he had been eating... in this way they could get a picture and some insight on who was harboring our enemy... What job title do you give that good man? I just call him my friend and I tell him "THANKS!" I never fail to call him on Veteran's Day and say THANKS! Mr. Bush's policies have been responsible for his medical benefits being cut! No more dental! Give me a break!!! At age 60 he has been diagnosed with that psychological disorder... Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He's carried it well and has carried it all of his life since Vietnam. Mr. Bush may one day be diagnosed... of what? Cowardice?

As of late, the elite Navy Seals are getting a lot of well deserved attention! Very few GOOD MEN can make the grade! Thanks men! Our country owes all of you more than words can express. Nevertheless... think back when the chips were down and you just had to call in air support... remember, there was an electrician, a mechanic, an instrument man... lots of men behind the scene who kept those flying vipers and killing machines razor sharp and ready to bail out your fearless, (red-white & blue) butts! Behind the stick of that screaming, fire-spitting "eagle" that streaked in at "tree top" was a pilot! Pilots will always be near the peak of my admiration! Perhaps it's because I (almost) understand what it takes to perform their combat mission... the technical flying skills that come second nature while they concentrated on dropping deadly ordinance with pinpoint accuracy... right on top of "Charlie" or an enemy by any other name. Damn! Don't it make you proud? That's our American Fighting Man coming to the aid of his brothers, more American Fighting Men! They all did it well and they live in our hearts for as long we have a heartbeat.

Back to today's grim reality...

When you see a Vietnam Vet, try to guess what skills, grit and bravery he contributed. How much of himself did he leave on foreign soil that he can't or won't talk about! Now look at him again... how much do you owe him? Is Mr. Bush's policy serving him as well as that Vet served Mr. Johnson or Mr. Nixon??? HELL NO! TELL MR. BUSH TO PAY UP! YOU OWE THAT VET TONS! He fulfilled his part of the contract - now it's time for Congress and Mr. Bush to live up to their part of the contract! It's not his fault that the charlatans who brought on the war were cowards and chickenshits - the American Fighting Man did his part with valor and honor!

Vietnam was - for the most part - a covert operation in the early years. They quietly rotated guys out of my station (definition of "station" - too small to be a base) to man-up the upcoming war. Some went to train the South Vietnamese, some went TDY (temporary duty assignment) some went for a full tour. American citizens were not even aware for many years as to what was going on, it was a well kept secret. Cambodia was a common point of deployment in the early years - a good place to send a TDY Airman to help the South Vietnamese learn how to organize and fight the insurgents. Many of our guys were there as instructers / teachers. Some in technical areas, some in combat training.

Our mission was known as 'Counter Insurgency' - the more elite and highly trained were accomplished Air Commandos - the USAF equivalent to the Army Green Beret. No fancy names, no fancy titles, just a well camouflaged, covert support. In the early going we were led to believe that we could teach the South Vietnamese how to war against the Insurgents - Viet Cong (VC).

There are those of us who have seen it. I have tried every way I know to awaken people to these truths. Some of you may remember my e-mail messages to you a year or more back... (2003) I told you this (IRAQ) was another Vietnam in the making. I have lost many friends over this Iraq war which was for money, power and Mr. Bush's desire to be known as a "WAR PRESIDENT." Now that's the best joke I've heard in years... An AWOL, Texas National Guard pilot whose rich, powerful daddy pulled strings and conveniently lost his military records. PHEW! STINKS LIKE HELL!

Makes no difference if the crooks and chickenshits who start these wars do it for money and power, the Vets who served are brave, beautiful and what made America the HOME OF THE BRAVE.

One day on the golf course I had a hard time remaining civil when a man in our group made the statement, "Those damned Vietnam Vets think we owe them everything." I came real close to introducing him to the business end of my 5 iron - which I had in hand. I nicknamed him "LUCKY" and to this day he doesn't know why.

Think about it,

Darryl