VIETNAM: A different view

Regarding “We owe huge debt to Vietnam vets,” like other veterans of that era I welcome acknowledgment of our service. On the other hand, I’m concerned about some distortions that continue to emerge. To that end, I object to portions of the article.

First, thousands of women served in Vietnam. Some were killed by enemy attacks, others wounded, exposed to Agent Orange. To not mention their service is disrespectful.

The second item is the portion describing the wounded being spit upon. I returned to the U.S. on an Air Force Medivac, landing at Travis Air Force Base. Travis was and is a very large military base, enclosed by chain-link fencing. Access was and is strictly controlled. Civilians could not approach the flight lines. During the time of Vietnam, the Base Hospital was not large enough to accept large numbers of wounded and ill that arrived there. Patients were transported by bus to larger military hospitals in central and northern California. I went to the Oakland Naval Hospital.

The wounded were not transported on Medivac flights until they were in stable condition. Medivac flights didn’t have the equipment to care for unstable patients. It’s true that generally only the most seriously wounded were flown home, for longtime or extended care.

I was very lucky and returned to active duty. Family and friends did in fact welcome me home. I wasn’t spit on or called Baby Killer by the general public. Nor was I thanked for my service.

JOHN MOORE

Coeur d’Alene