THE VETERANS' PRESS: Afghanistan: Last days observations

I remember sitting in front of the in April 1975 watching the fall of Saigon. Choppers leaving the American Embassy. South Vietnamese army throwing away their uniforms and weapons and running away. Vietnamese trying to get through the embassy gates. Handing their children to the Marines on the gate. Running to TanSon Nhut Airport trying to leave the Vietnam. Flat out panic. I remember thinking what a waste of life, and we have nothing to show for it. Nothing at all. The tragic lost life, trying to get the people out of the country. A tragic plane crash killing some 200 orphans. I felt disheartened and lost in it all.

Then some 46 years later, I am sitting in front of the TV watching it unfold all over again. The same Chopper leaving the Embassy, mass panic in the streets. People trying to get to the Airport. The Afghan army throwing down their weapons and uniforms and running away. The Marines killed trying to save a few hundred people. I started thinking back to the time in 1975. Why did we go what did we accomplish?

What do we tell the American public? Most of all what do we tell the Gold Star Families. What do we tell the next generation? We told the next generation after the fall of Vietnam, “it will not happen again” Why did we go? Why did we put our lives on the line? What did we accomplish? Only to see failure. The same failure in Vietnam. Was the loss of life worth it?

When we left Vietnam and Afghanistan nothing changed. Both countries are the same. The way of life did not change. The people did not change. The same governments are in place. Just a county torn apart by war, all that is left is veterans with the same blank look, we Vietnam veterans had. Asking Why. Will this question be answered, a second time? Who Knows? Do you know the answered?