That is all I can say. You have shown that there are truly more good
people on this board than the other kind.
I honestly did mean no harm or offense to anyone. As to my reference to
Korea being a "little police action", I am fully award that when bullets
fly in your direction it is serious and this was nothing more than an
expression of my disgust for the way the media and our politicians have
handled this war ( they didn't do a whole lot better for the guys who
went to Vietnam I know) as a little side note. That is wrong. I
personally believe that EVERYONE who served or serves in peace time or
conflict deserves to be respected and treated better than we have done
in this country for a long time.
I know about disrespect to those in uniform. In 1981 as an 18 year old
cadet home from the Military Academy at a holiday dance, I ask a young
lady to dance to have her spit in my face and call me a baby burner. The
young lady was far to young to remember Vietnam. As her and her friends
laughed I rather calmly stated, " It is because I am willing to do what
I might have to do, you have the freedom to do what you just did. I
Russia you would have probably been shot."
It is sad that we have to face that mentality but it is out there. Isn't
that why we are having to face some of the laws we are having to face
regarding the destruction of our wheeled veteran friends? We have people
in positions of power who protested against the establishment in the 60'
and the easiest target of that establishment was our military. In my
generation and younger we got a bunch who here of the peace protests of
the 60's and what fond memories Mommy and Daddy have of them, and they
want to live that experience too. Tell me that wasn't a little of what
we saw at Woodstock a few weeks back.
It is the people my age and younger who need to see living history
displays with vehicles and weapons too ( AND I AM NOT trying to get
ANOTHER 2nd Amendment thread going here) to understand the Korean and
Vietnam Wars were not "Police Actions"
I want to portray my vehicle in that light that is all. One of the
things I have learned from this is that there is a genuine interest in
these two periods, its not just me. A lot of us just aren't quiet sure
how to deal with these periods of our past in a tasteful and acceptable
way. I am not sure if that way will ever be found but I for one shall
keep looking because somebody has to. I have a lot of friends who served
in both of these little wars and they deserve some recognition. And the
guys who didn't make it back to see these vehicles turn into collectors
items deserve it too.
Now again Thank you for the kind words of support and encouragement. I
think it only fair to tell you that one of the guys that flamed me the
hardest did send an apology for what he said.
Arthur, thank you for your patients with this post. Now I have a manual
on an M-43 to read and to pack my stuff for my Reserve Drill this
Weekend. I look forward to hearing from you all.
Best Wishes to ALL
Gordon
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