Hi Colt,

I want to start by thanking you for your History project specific to Vietnam veterans and the idea of making
awareness to younger generations some of our thought process on the Vietnam War. 
 
My active service as a United States Marine was from November 15, 1965 through November 1968.  I
served in Vietnam from February 14, 1967 through March 6, 1968 (two days I will never forget that stay
etched in my memory)-my assignment was in the Marine Corps Headquarters and Supply. This
assignment involved the paying of troops in outlying areas.  First location of my assignment was Chu Lai,
then later in Danang.
 
   In the beginning, the majority of soldiers believed in the debate, believed in the reason we were there to
fight - we all truly believed early on that we left our families, our homes, our children for democracy and
the same freedoms that we enjoyed stateside.  France was already in Vietnam and the U.S. intentions
were honorable at first, but it became quickly evident that the greed on the part of our politicians took
precedent.  Businessmen were making a lot of money from this war and soon, that is what motivated our
politicians.  The money lined their pockets as well, and then decisions were made strictly for the wrong
reasons.  The obvious greed that I saw made me quickly change my mind about being there for the "right
reason.'  I no longer felt like I was fighting a war for Democracy.
 
  The Vietnamese were interested in nothing but U.S. money.  The United States probably advanced
Vietnam monetarily by a hundred years or more.  You couldn't trust any Vietnamese--by day, they acted
like friends and by night, the same people were Vietcong (the enemy).  We didn't know the difference
between North and South Vietnamese.  The Vietcong often were very young men - children to us, but still
enemies, waiting to kill us.  They were soldiers - we never knew who to trust - the Vietnamese women
took our money.  No one was trustworthy. Vietnam veterans today are notoriously known for trust and
paranoid mental health issues - I feel this is the reason why- we spent days and nights for a full year of
trusting no one - because the minute you let your guard down - you could lose your life.
 
  We never once, not one time, heard "thank you" from any Vietnamese for our service.  Soldiers were
often spit on and disrespected- not only in Vietnam, but on our own soil.  We came home to airports and
hometowns of protestors- they all blamed us.  They felt the war was our fault--we were just fulfilling our
duties to our country-we did the best we could and came home to just as much hatred here as we did in
Vietnam.  The worst part of this is many soldiers (Vietnam Veterans) are still paying for it 45 years later
due to chronic health issues, injuries, and mental wounds that people can't see on the outside.  Agent
Orange (chemical warfare) has destroyed the health of many veterans who served.  It took years to show
its effects in most and believe me, the consequences are devastating.
 
These are just my opinions on the Vietnam War. Others may feel differently, but I know a lot of veterans,
who share the same experiences that I had.  Today, the soldiers come home to a lot more respect from
our country and that is the way it should be, but it doesn't change the facts that their wounds exist, as
well.  Some wear them in obvious ways, but the mental wounds of war run very deep.
 
Thanks again Colt for giving me the chance to express some of my thoughts.
 
                                                                    Joseph E Stevens, USMC
                                                                    (Uncle Joe)