Page 152 - Stand Down Vietnam

No one wanted to have a family, and no one wanted to
make any commitments in life. It was like you know
what's around the corner, so you better be ready.
Just, keep it like it is.

I believe morale was low, that is the category I’d put
it in. I don't remember enjoying my military service
from 1967 to 1971. Apprehensive is too kind of a word

to describe our state of mind.

I believe that being an American does not make me
better than people from other countries. It’s the
opportunities of being an American that makes the
difference,

The first time I heard the terms “free-fire zone and no
fire zone” was probably in the 1972 timeframe. We would
discuss it with the guys coming home from Vietnam.
Living in the barracks or whatever, we’d ask them what
does that all mean? That just added to the frustration
of everyone. We had a pretty good idea and it added to
our confusion as to why the United States was fighting
in Vietnam and why the politicians were “handcuffing”
our military.

During my first six or seven years of active duty I
didn't have very many good NCOs, my First Sergeant,
yeah, he was top-notch; a professional soldier. He

looked the part, played the part, was the part.

Everyone was just getting up in the morning making it
through the day, going back to the barracks or back
home that night. Very few wanted to go to school at
night. Very few wanted to better themselves; it was a
“just get through the day” situation.