Vietnam era memory

With my my " misfit " discharge from the Navy at age 17 , in

    1965 , I guess I was lucky . " We don't want guys like YOU in

    our organization" , I was told . " They'll fuck it up ! ".

           When the Vietnam war escalated, guys like me - and Bill

    Clinton ? - were free to protest its growing horror.

          The Providence Journal published two letters of mine headed

    " My  Draft Card is in Ashes " - which I now think was a little

    dishonest. What chance had  the " misfit " of being drafted ? -

    and a letter with the heading " Dying for a Colossal Lie ".

           I don't regret being in those huge protests in Washington

    D.C against the war - the PEACEFUL ones : " BRING ALL THE TROOPS

    HOME NOW ! "

            I voted twice for President Clinton  just BECAUSE he

    was a Vietnam war protestor. I never thought a " hippie commie "

    could make it all the way to the White House. " Only in

    America ", I reflected when Bill WON the election.

             I only regret that his national health care plan did

    not succeed as well as " OUT NOW ! " did.

          Today I am NOT anti- military - just wary of other Vietnams.

           The Oliver Stone movie " Born on the 4th of July " moved me

    very much. That's how I remember it.

          PEACE !