Do Soldiers who have fought in unpopular wars, feel like the Government, or the Citizens have failed you most?

Question

If at all? I am digging into the mental mind of the Soldier again. Hope you don't mind, but I might be the most curious American you've seen yet! LOL!

Please tell me what wars you have felt failed in by either American Citizens, or the American government, and why?

Thank you with all my heart for your time. (Also, any wars of the past, like Korea perhaps, or ones you have not personally fought in, and your feelings on them?)

PS: I hope for long answers! LOL Just kidding! NOT!

Answer 1

I don't feel let down by the government.  They are after all who I am working for and you follow orders.  I do feel let down by the citizens.  Especially the ones who pretty much spit on the military and everything it stands for and here we are risking our lives so that they can have the freedom to talk that trash.  I don't expect thanks.  I don't expect respect.  I just wish that people would wake up.  Our families give up a lot.  They don't realize.  They don't realize what we and our families go through at all.  Then you have those who say "Oh, I support the troops but I don't support the war".  Bull shite.  If you are not supporting the cause for which the soldier, sailor, marine, airman, coastguardsman, is fighting for, then you do not support us.  Period.  We are doing what we are told to do - and if they do not support what we are doing, then they do not support us.  That line is the biggest crock of poo I have heard yet.  It just really saddens me.  Especially when I go to drive home every day and drive up to the gates of the base and see the anti-troops and anti-war protesters out there with their little signs (which I mean it's great that they are exercising their freedom of speech, that is after all what we are fighting for them to keep, and far be it from me to take that right away from them), but I wonder if they realize how much that hurts.  Even after it fades into the gray after you've seen them so much, you wonder if they realize what they are doing to the hearts of the people who are fighting and risking their lives and their relationships with their families every day to protect.  It really saddens me.  ~*sigh*~.  I've seriously thought of buying a king-sized bedsheet and painting the phrase "PROTESTORS : You are welcome for your freedom to insult" on it with a big red arrow pointing at the protestor's signs and camping out there in my lawn chair for the day.  Of course I can't, but I have wished.  Anyways, that's it in a nutshell from me.  Thanks for asking, I needed to vent, much appreciated.  Feel free to "dig" any time!  :)   God bless!

Answer 2

YES! I served in Vietnam from April, 1967 to 1968 and from December 25, 1970 to 1971 and every time the people who were demonstrating against the war, my unit was hit and some of my friends were killed or wounded and the US Government did not do anything about it. I appreciate your concern and curiosity. LOL

I hope this helps.  

Answer 3

One of the first things taught in American War Schools is that the objective is not to kill all the enemy, but to destroy their will to fight.

In most unpopular wars, Spanish American, Korea, Viet Nam it was the non military citizens that lost the will to fight. The government had an objective, that the citizens could not grasp or felt like it was a waste of resources.  In Korea when the Chinese came across the border and surrounded American forces, it was the US Marines that bailed them out of being totally defeated. After this event individuals in the United States were afraid of war with China and lost their will to fight.  

Answer 4

I volunteered for the viet nam war not being a soldier tho, we did arms interdiction in the mekong delta, Ibelievedd in the govt's position in 1964 but after the incident in the gulf of tonkin, the political side was a little tough to swallow, burt the reaction by the young people was quitedishearteningg but there were many people that protested during ww2, so one just does what's required, itwasn't thee brightest part of my life, but i never witnessed the things that Sen. Kerry alledged in congressional testimony in 1971, never singled out young people unless they shot at us first, heck from 100 ft away one wasn't able to tell the age of the enemy! don't know why he claimed that, small viet namese fighters all looked pretty young except when they were firing an A.K. 47 at us, got back to the u.s. before the students for a democratic societythrewe w f***s etc. at returning G.I.S