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'Thank You' to vets brings thanks in return
To the editor:
I would like to express my deep appreciation for the exceptionally well-written article by Peggy Bakken in the June 11 edition of Sun Newspapers, "A message of thanks to Minnesota's Vietnam veterans."
Indeed, the accuracy of her remembrance was amazing, and as she said, certainly long overdue. My government did respond to the veterans, according to the medals that hang on my wall; the state of Minnesota gave a bonus for my combat service; and the GI Bill paid for my University of Minnesota education and helped obtain my first home mortgage.
Nevertheless, the public scorn that she detailed was very real, and the most awful media reporting was something that I had a very hard time forgiving.
For example, while CBS news and Dan Rather were reporting the TET offensive as evidence that we had lost the war, the U.S. military was achieving one of its greatest victories ever. Most people never knew that the entire Viet Cong and all of its infrastructure was completely destroyed after TET, the joint U.S. and South Vietnam military had complete control of the country, and the long-sought after stability was finally achieved.
Unfortunately, this precipitated a new war as the North Vietnamese army then poured many huge divisions into South Vietnam, (with many containing women and children), and the exhausted military also faced lagging support at home.
The media reporting and political manipulating should be studied in detail to avoid future recurrence. The term, "Welcome Home" has become a somber greeting among my fellow veterans who know that we actually won the war, but were politically forced into retreat.
"Thank you, and welcome home" to you too, Peggy! Please keep up all of the fine efforts at Sun-Current. I'm an avid subscriber, and it's more appreciated than you realize!
Randall M. Omlie
Bloomington
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