May 2023 Newsletter

Charlie Troop 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry

Thirsty-six Newsletter

May 1, 2023

The following Troopers “Gave Their All” during the month of May 1966-

1972:

Thomas Koch                          5-28-66

James Rickerson                    5-31-67

George Slye                           5-2-70          Trans A Trp

Gary McKiddy                        5-6-70

Tommy Whiddon                 5-6-70

LeLand Chestnut                    5-10-70

Danny Bowers                        5-23-70

David Combs                          5-27-70

Only by us living our lives to the fullest and Honoring these Brave Troopers can their memories and deeds be remembered.

The following Troopers/Troopettes, Gold Star Family Members, Family members, Little Sweethearts, and Little Brothers have birthdays during the month of May:

Gwynn Smith                     May 2

Sarah Johnson                   May 2

Rain McKinnon                  May 3

Carol Bieneman                May 13

Chris Smith                         May 13

Richard Walton                  May 17   Gold Star Family

Dickie Jelich Langworthy          May 21 Gold Sar Family

James Thomas                           May 22

Diane ( Walton) Gleaton          May 23 Gold Star Family

Patricia Norris                            May 24

John York                                    May 25

Janice (Gonderman) Taconni  May 27 Gold Star Family

The following Charlie Troopers. Troopettes, and Gold Star Family members have anniversaries during the month of May:

Dave and Ginny Blouin             5-4     53 years

Pat and Carol Bieneman          5- 12  53 years

Perry and Deb Smith                5-24  49 years

Dan and Kay Rager                   5-27  45 years

Only two months left before our hotel rooms are returned to the hotel. If you are planning on coming to the reunion, reserve your rooms soon. When you call the hotel number press 0 for the front desk.Also. Send in your reunion forms. Let’s make things a little easier for Pat and Carol.

As was made clear to me last year, we have Brothers and Sisters that are Republicans and Democrats. Let’s try to keep our political philosophies to ourselves as much as possible.

God Bless,

The following is my opinion. Agree or not, it is up to you.

I was recently asked by someone as to whether or not I thought the Vietnam War was a righteous war or not. We say that World Wars I and II were righteous because we fought against those who sought to dominate us and then destroy us. We fought against the Third Reich, the Fascist, and of course the Japanese. Remember the Russians were on Hitler’s side until Hitler decided to attack them. We did this only after the rest of the world had suffered great casualties at the hands of these ruthless thugs. We were successful at winning this war because we let our Military leaders run the wars. Yes, the President gives the Generals and Admirals an objective. The Generals and Admirals then come up with a plan. This plan is then presented to the President who gives his okay. After that it is left up to the Generals and Admirals to carry out the mission.  There are very few “No Fire Zones”. A “No Fire Zone” is an area where unless you are shot at first you are not allowed to fire your weapon. Nor are you allowed to fire Artillery into that area. There are no or very few restrictions on bombings. You do what you need to protect your men and win. This is what a War is. You find the enemy and destroy them before they can destroy you.

Vietnam, Korea, Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan these are not wars. These are “Police Actions”. A Police Action is where a government commits it’s Troops with no regard to their safety. It is an action where the Troops are sent to fight, but they must play by rules that the other side is not obligated to play by.

So, was the Vietnam War righteous? Probably not. Or was it? First, it was a war run by politicians and not Generals. Many Generals and such got relieved of their duties while no President, Congressman, or Senator was ever relieved of theirs. Secondly, we were fighting this poor little country who only wanted to occupy the other half of the country. What is one half of a country compared to the World? Oh, wait. This poor little country was backed by the United Soviet Socialist Republic and the Chinese Communist. The United Soviet Socialist Republic just a few years earlier try to put nuclear weapons in Cuba. Thirdly, this “conflict” was only in one country and not the World. Was it the fear of the politicians that the United Soviet Socialist Republic and the Chinese were spreading Communism?

What is wrong with spreading a little Socialism or communism around? Why should that bother us when it is so far away. After all, it didn’t bother us when the Third Reich took Poland, Czechoslovakia, France and other countries? After all, they did it one country at a time. Ya, but this was just North against South.

In my opinion no “War” is righteous when the Country’s leadership is only playing games with its Troops lives. Take Afghanistan. We know we are not going to win this war the way we are going. We have given our Troopers nothing to defend themselves with. We put too many restrictions on them and have made “Protecting our Troops” a low priority.

Now, does this mean I think that we are having our Troops die for nothing? No, I don’t.

I fought in Vietnam, and I am Damn Proud that I did. Did the men and women who died there die for nothing? No, they did not. Each and every one of them loved their country enough to do what it asked them to do without hesitation. Each and every one of them died honorably. Most of them died protecting their fellow soldiers because the government didn’t.

The Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who died in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan are all heroes and should be remembered and honored as such.

When you are in combat, and you are doing what you believe is the right thing to do then you are Righteous. So, was the War in Vietnam Righteous?

Yes, I believe it was. We were trying to stop the spread of communism. Was it fought in a righteous way. Yes, because the boots on the ground fought the best they could with what restrictions were forced upon them. Was the leadership Righteous? For the majority of them the answer is yes. They too fought within the restrictions placed upon them. The highest-ranking Commanders up to and including the President that answer is no. The Generals should have been telling those above them either to get out of the way or to stop the conflict.

In Afghanistan today, the problem still exists. Our Troops are left at the hands of the enemy. Once again, we are losing men and women mostly because they are not allowed to defend themselves. Technology is so advanced these days that there should be some way of detonating these roadside bombs before they are allowed to cause such damage to our Troops.

After Vietnam, the government forgot us. There are a lot of people with severe PTSD because the diagnosis came to late to help them. There are many who received Dishonorable Discharges or are in prison because their PTSD was not identified. We are looking at no better treatment for our men and women today. The government is willing to let civilians come up with ways to help the Veterans ie “The Wounded Warrior Project”. This is a great service, but it should be paid for by the government who sent these Troopers into harm’s way. No, we worry more about the health of the “illegal” instead of these Brave Men and Women.

So, if you think the Korean, Vietnam War, or any that came after them are not righteous that is up to you. I will wear my Vietnam cap or My Cavalry Stetson with Pride.  I will attend my reunions shaking the hand of every man there and I will do it with pride. I will wear the Medals I received on my Stetson with pride. I will remember those Who fought before me, with me  or after me with honor.

I will refuse to let this great country of ours to become a Socialist State. We are a Democracy and we are the best Country to live in because of it.

Everyone may not agree with me but I fought so that they have this right.