– Vietnam War Politics -The Chennault Affair Over three decades ago the famous Pulitzer Prize winning historian, Barbara W. Tuchman made cogent observations on the role of political influence regarding the decisions to go to war, the strategy to conduct the war and how to end the war. In her book The March of Folly: […]
Unsung Heroes of the Vietnam War – The Bird Dogs
– Vietnam War Bird Dogs – That unusual title should kindle some interest if you are not acquainted with this critical aspect of the Vietnam War. “Bird Dog” was the nickname given to the Cessna L-19 / 0-1A fixed wing aircraft employed for spotter plane duty from 1962 to 1975 in South Vietnam. That appropriate […]
More Vietnam Myths – Fate of the Draftees
Like many issues regarding the Vietnam Era (1964-1975) misconceptions persist. Some are actually perpetuated to promote an antiwar agenda or ideology. Others represent just plain myths – Hyperbole to support a viewpoint. A case in point, the draftee issue became a major factor in LBJ’s failure to run for reelection in 1968 and contributed to […]
Vietnam Recollections
A good friend who flew close combat missions in A-4’s out of Chu Lai in 1967 and 1968 recently sent me a copy of a fellow Marine’s recollections of Vietnam which I wanted to pass along to you with my recall of that experience. His descriptions offer a capsule summary of an aspect of the […]
Vietnam Amnesia
VIETNAM AMNESIA 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s turning point – A conflict that few recall firsthand. Half of our population was not even born during that fourteen year war starting in 1961 with JFK’s introduction of American military advisors to prevent the spread of monolithic communism in Southeast Asia. The “Domino […]
Is the World Less Chaotic Today than Fifty Years Ago? Comparing 2018 to 1968
Comparing Today’s World to 1968 I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and as timing would have it, CNN is airing a four part documentary this weekend on the pivotal and chaotic year of 1968. Think the world is a mess today? Facing existential threats- Iran and North Korean nuclear ambitions? Continuing wars […]
