Quote:
Originally posted by Bob Potter
1. Macarthur was very sparing of the lives of his soldiers whenever possible.
2. MacArthur constantly admonished American presidents to avoid a war on the Asian land mass.
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Thank yoy Bob! I will buy those two and add it on my positive MacArthur list.
Thinking of Vietnam I remember this rather sad thing that happened just some months ago.
I was sitting in my favourite pub when an old friend living in our block came in and asked for a beer. He served in 1st Cav Regt in Stockholm with the Military Police. Later he served with US Army in Vietnam. After returning to Sweden he was employed as a Custodian for 1st Inf Reg Training Area.
- Stellan, I want you to have these medals.
- But why?
- I was considering throwing them into the waste bucket - but then I thought that you perhaps would like to have them.
- But why?
- In the Swedish Military Police i learnt to exercise my duty in a correct and worthy way. That my brother and I did in Vietnam. I was proud until today. When I now learn what those guys are doing in a prison in Bagdad - I am ashamed and I refuse to wear medals issued by a Government that is allowing such things to happen.
- You shouldn´t blame yourself. You never served in Iraq.
- Hah!
I was never a member of the Nazi party. I have heard that earlier. I tried to keep our Honour clean - but now they have stained not only their own but also mine.
- But still - you qualified for your medals long before that.
- Yes, and I learnt to be a decent soldier even earlier. So accept my medals as a representative for the Army that thaught me to act with humanity and integrety also during a war.
I have vauge ideas of what these medals are. But please tell me a) the correct names and b) why they are issued.