Goes out to the hearts of men

[Adminstrator's note: Due to a disk problem, this message was
not posted when originally submitted.  It was received by
e-mail, and has been posted here by hand.]

  Jade, your uncle WAS a hero. He fought when his country
called, paying the ultimate sacrifice.  It is no small thing
to go into combat because you are required to by the law of
your land. To go willingly into harms way is heroic --the
essence of bravery.
     Do not take much heed at the angry voices on these pages.
I have no respect for those who would call my comrades in arms
anything but honourable because THEY did not approve, (worse
yet) or only think they do not approve, being too young to have
lived through the era, but yet are wise beyond their years and
experience. Pay these people no heed.  Also do not pay overmuch
attention to the voices on these pages that say the Americans
were the villans.  The truth is in war young men die.  In a
guerilla war civilians die, too. But anyone that says brutality
was only an american commodity simply wasn't there in the
killing zones.
   I will always maintain that the American toops conducted
themselves as with no less honor than any army in this century.
War is a nasty ugly thing. A big reason the "Nam was seen as
"brutal" was because it was seen by more than the combatants--
it was in the living room every evening for mom and the hippies
to see.
                        Judge C.B. Jones,  formerly doorgunner 71st
Assault
                        Helo Co., Americal Div.