Page 128 - Stand Down Vietnam

When I look back, I don’t think we should have been
there; it was not our country, not our war. That’s the
problem America has; we’ve got military bases
everywhere. We feel like we have to protect everybody.

We don’t need military bases in other countries. I’m
pretty adamant about that. Why do we have to go clean

up somebody else’s mess all the time? We haven’t
learned anything anywhere we’ve fought. Go back to the
thirties, the Banana Wars, that was none of our
business.

As for a lesson learned; stay out of the Marine Corps,
lesson number one. Now, I liked the Marines and would
have stayed in, but I would have been right back in
Vietnam. Force Recon was in heavy demand, they did
everything trying to get me to stay.

I know it doesn’t make any sense, but I’d recommend
kids join the military. Like I said, I grew up; it
made a huge difference in my life.

The question has been asked; what did you do when you
got out of the Marine Corps. I got drunk. Then I got
a job and started college. I have three college
degrees including Abnormal Psychology, Education and
History. I taught school for thirty years. I taught

sixth, seventh and eighth grade and college classes. I
taught at Western Kentucky University. I taught high
school in New Jersey and Middle School in Louisville,
Kentucky.

I just think I had to make something of myself for the
guys that didn’t get a chance to make something.

I’d like to go home. I don’t want to stay here. I’ve
lived here for two years and I want to go back home.
But my wife can’t take care of me.