"Besides everything else he has done, he has shown me what real patriotism is. He has explained through his words and through his webpages what love of country, and love for your fellow man really means. I am proud to call him a friend (even if it is only an online friend). He has helped me with questions I have had since the beginning of my involvement with OJC. I have learned from him about veterans and what the Vietnam War meant to them. I have learned that there was so much I did not know. I want to thank whatever force was at work the day I got to know Doc and I thank him for serving his country in the Vietnam War."
To learn a little more about Mr. Stewart, do yourself a favor and start at this webpage: Dedication Page Go through his site from there. You will not be disappointed.
And now....The Interview
My daughter's American History textbook, written in 1992, states
that: America became involved in the Vietnam War "to show the world that America was a powerful nation and that it was serious about its anti-Communist policy." What did you know of America's involvement in the Vietnam War before you were sent to Vietnam?
Very little actually. Being only 18, just out of school and my interests
being more in the direction of Cars and Girls (not necessarily in that
order) I never gave much thought to what was going on in Vietnam. I didn't
know anyone who had been sent there so my only awareness of the war was that
which was heard on the news and I must admit that I was not home much to
watch the news. ;-(
What were you told when they said they were sending you to Vietnam?
Actually, we were never told anything. We were given our orders when we
finished AIT and that was that. I can remember feeling a lump in my throat
when I got my orders. We all knew by this time that many of us were going to
ship to Nam but I don't think anyone was really looking forward to it. I
went home for a couple of weeks leave before shipping out. My mother wanted
me to check into the fact that I was an only child and the only one to carry
on the family name. I told her I could not do that and would not do that.
While I had some reservations about going to Vietnam I didn't feel I was
better than anyone else. By this time I was very aware of what was going on
over there and this was the time of the biggest build up of the war. Why
should all these other guys go and not me.
Did you believe what they told you?
I put a lot of trust in what my government told me at that time. I was young
and naive and had no reason to believe otherwise. I was brought up in a very
patriotic little town in New York State and back then we were taught the
meaning of Old Glory in our classroom. Not like the classrooms of today.
Do you feel what the kids are learning about the Vietnam War in
school is a factual report on the actual events that took place?
I really cannot say as my children were raised by their mother in another
state so I'm not really aware of what is being taught in our school systems.
My guess is that they are being taught the very basics of what is known
about the war. I know very few kids around my area are aware of what Vietnam
was all about and when I display my POW/MIA flag I get asked what the 'black
flag' is for. Unfortunately I'm asked that by many adults as well.
Coverage of the Vietnam War included nightly news reports to keep
America informed of our involvement in the war. A reporter is one who
report; one who gathers information.
Do you think that Americans received an accurate description of the
war in Vietnam?
It's difficult for me to answer this as I am not a combat veteran. I wasn't
in the field thus seeing first hand what was going on. I think those who
walked the walk in combat would be much better prepared to answer this. I do
think there were things such as inflated body counts and such but I don't
know if these reports came from the media or our government.
Did the journalists', whose job it is to inform the public, add
things that spruced up their report; did they over-dramatize to make a
good story?
Absolutely in most cases. That is what a reporter does and in most cases
they do it quite well. ;-(
By the mid-sixties, the 'anti-war movement' was in full swing in
America. There were those who disagreed with America's involvement in
Vietnam.> How much of what was going on at home were you aware of while
serving in Vietnam regarding the anti-war movement?
I was very aware as I received the hometown paper in Nam. I was quite upset
to read about all the protesters and draft dodgers. I remember reading in
the Stars and Strips one day that one of my friends who I went through basic
training had been killed. I was both angry and sad. When we got mail call I
read the newspaper and saw all the protesting going on. All I could think
about was 'for what?'. Why did Tony die? To protect the freedoms of these
A-- H---'s? I canceled my subscription to the newspaper after that. To this
day I have no use for those who protested and ran to Canada.
In 1974, President Ford offered amnesty to those who fled to Canada to
avoid the draft. He offered them a 'conditional pardon'. This meant they
would have to 're-pledge their allegiance to the United States.' His
'conditional pardon' also meant they would have to ''serve as hospital
orderlies, conservation workers, etc., for two years.' These conditions
were not accepted by most of them. President Carter, in 1977, granted
them a 'blanket pardon'.
While you were serving in Vietnam, what did think of the men back
home who were burning their draft card or emigrating to Canada because
of their opposition to the war for various reasons?
I felt then as I do now, they should stay there and never be allowed to
return to the U.S. They are cowards and have no right living and enjoying
the freedoms of the country they refused to fight for. Many claim they were
against the war and that is why they refused to fight not because they were
afraid to fight. BULL! I wonder how many of our men and women who died in
Nam didn't wonder about why we were there. I think we all did. But we did
what we felt we had to do. It was our duty and our obligation. That is what
makes the United States the most powerful nation in the world.
What did you think of President Carter's 'blanket pardon' in 1977?
I was very upset by it. To this day I do not think they should have been
allowed back in the U.S.
What do you think about the 'draft dodgers' now?
Hated them then, Hate em now and will hate em when they plant me six feet under.
Memories of the Vietnam War for a Vietnam Veteran are something that
will probably never fade away.
I think this holds true of veterans of every war... not just Vietnam
Veterans. I don't think Vietnam Vets were as prepared emotionally for the
horrors of was as were veterans of other wars because of age. The average
age of a WWII vet was 26 or 27 whereas the average age of a Vietnam Vet was
19. We were all just damn kids. Also, veterans of other wars knew what their
enemy looked like. It wasn't like that in Vietnam. You didn't know your enemy.
Is there one memory that stands out among the rest of your time in
Vietnam that you would like to share with others? Something that you
want people such as myself to know, that could never imagine without
actually being there.
Not really with me. As I stated I was not a combat vet so I didn't see
things that others in the field saw. Probably the most gruesome thing I saw
was Koreans coming into our area with requisitions for ammunition with
necklaces of ears and noses. They were from the Tiger Division of the ROK
Army. These guys were guerrillas!
This next question may sound stupid, but:
Did anything good come from your time in Vietnam?
Yes, yes, yes. I grew up in Vietnam. I met some of the most wonderful guys
and gals and I developed a true love for my country and my fellow man.
Something I feel I didn't have before I went to Vietnam. I'm one in favor of
the draft and feel that every American should serve their country and I feel
that you should have to have served in the military in order to run for
public office... especially Congress and the Presidency. I wouldn't trade my
military experience for anything in the world.
I remember hearing stories years ago and from what I have been
reading lately, that Vietnam Veterans were treated differently when they
returned home from the way veterans in previous wars were treated.What do you remember of the way you were treated when you returned
home from Vietnam? (By your fellow veterans, the American public, the media)
I wasn't treated in any way. I didn't see protesters when I landed in the
U.S. either time. I also was never once thanked for my service to our
country. I wore my uniform quite a bit when I returned and was going back
for another six months and don't ever remember being scorned or thanked. Was
only told how good I looked in my uniform. I was rarely asked any questions
of my service in Vietnam.
Did you have trouble adjusting to family life upon your return? Did
your family have trouble adjusting to you?
I had a lot of trouble adjusting. I jumped from job to job. I guess the
military way of life was still in me. I kept wanting to move and do
something different.
In your opinion, why were Americans so hostile toward Vietnam
Veterans upon their return home from the war? What can you say that
would help to ensure that veterans are never treated that way again?
I think it was just a rebellious time in our country's history. It seemed
like the thing to do on campus' across our country. Young people found this
was a way to get recognition and present their statements. I don't think we
will ever allow it to happen again and I hope I am correct. No serviceman
should ever be scorned for serving their country. But it's because of the
serviceman that our citizens have a freedom to scorn.
What do you believe are the most common long-term effects of the
Vietnam War on Vietnam Veterans? What do you think is the best way to
help those who suffer from these effects?
Again, not being a combat veteran, this one is difficult for me to answer.
The only way I can think of how to answer this is to put yourself in the
shoes of the combat veterans who was faced with booby traps, death of
comrades and all the horrors of war on a daily basis for the period of a
year or more. Not to mention that these combat veterans averaged in age of
19 years old. I think it's easy to understand why so many came home with
emotional, physical and psychological problems and continue to have these
problems 30 years later.
Why do Vietnam Veterans suffer from long-term effects that differ
from effects on veterans of previous wars?
This gets back to my previous answers... they were much younger, they were
fighting an enemy who in most cases they couldn't distinguish as the enemy
and seeing such horrors at a much younger age has to inflict long-term effects.
Since joining OJC, I have learned a lot about American POW's and
MIA's. I know that you are a member of OJC and that you believe people
were left behind at the end of the war.
In the same history book I mentioned earlier, the only mention of POW's
is President Nixon agreement to 'withdraw American troops from Vietnam
in exchange for the return of American POW's'. It does not mention the
over two thousand that were left behind.Have you believed since Operation Homecoming that we left people
behind in Vietnam?
Yes, I certainly have. I believe there is the distinct probability that
there are still live American POW/MIA in Vietnam and Laos.
If you have believed it since then, in your opinion, why did our
government and the American public accept this as the truth?
I don't think the American Public accepted it as much as our government has.
Our government knowingly left POW/MIA's behind in every war. I think with
the help of the internet the American public is becoming much more aware
whereas they had no way other than the media before this.
What would you like to tell this generation about the Vietnam War and
about your time there, which you feel they will never find out from
parents, teachers, and history books?
Because I was not in combat I can't really tell them much about the war but
I would like to tell them that we were there, we were young and we were
doing our duty to our country. We did that duty with pride. Many did not
return. Their lives were not given in vain. We have an obligation as the
most powerful nation in the world to step into situations which many might
feel we should not be in. For whatever reasons... we, the military forces of
the U.S do what we are told to do. We do it with pride and we do it without
reservation.