Sunday, 11-11 was Veteran's Day.  The Vietnam War touched everyone in my generation.  It was an unpopular war and the soldiers came home to angry mobs and demonstrations.  Most of those who fought in Vietnam were draftees and "We Got to get outta this Place" by The Animals was a common anthem for them.  Counting down their one year commitment, was a common question.  "How short are you?"  I'm so short, I can dangle my legs off the edge of a dime." 

The most common symbol of the Vietnam War is the helicopter, seen often in this video.  Platoons of troops would be air lifted into areas to patrol and search out the enemy.  Once attacked, they would call in artillary and attack helicopters and hope to get air lifted back out in one piece. 

I remember going down to the Chino city hall and signing up for the draft when I turned 18 years old. In the draft the following year (1971) my number was 123.  I thought sure I would be going.  As it turned out, they only got to 112 or something like that in my draft year. 

In May of 1974 I joined the Army and went off to Fort Ord, California, for basic training.  From there I went to Fort Gordon, Georgia, for military police school.  I had never been in the South before, and was surprised to go into town in Augusta Ga. and find separate drinking fountains  and bathrooms for blacks and whites. I ended up in Fort Hood,Tx, in September of 1974. 

Fort Hood is the home to the 1st Cav and 2nd Armored Divisions.  It was a common destination for soldiers coming home from Vietnam.  As military policeman, we spent a lot of time going to the local bars and breaking up fights, often involving returning soldiers.  War has it's own set of demons which often haunt soldiers their entire life.