The Vietnam War-From Those Who Were There

Bryce- Thank you not just for speaking to us today but also for serving our country and your work on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. With Katherine, Mr. Don Northcutt (L) and Mr. Bob Coffin. This discussion took place June 12th, 2015.

Quoc (2nd row back)- How did such a military defeat for North Vietnam in the Tet Offensive turn into something negative for the U.S.? ANSWER- Don-  The media changed everything. When Walter Cronkite came out against the war a lot of other people did too. Bob- A lot of it was the media.  We killed 40,000 but all the media made it seem like we had lost a major battle. The North Vietnamese convinced the American people to give up the war.

Bruce JR (2nd row middle)- Considering how dangerous the world is now would you recommend us joining the military? ANSWER- Bob- Peace and prosperity comes at a price.  Somebody has to volunteer to maintain it. 33,500 die in the USA from traffic accidents. Military combat deaths are 127. Don- If you have the courage, yes.

Bryce (first row middle)- What did you think of the “loving our country but loathing the military” letter Bill Clinton sent and your view of the anti-war demonstrators in general? ANSWER- Bob-I loathe the perjurers and liars and as an English major I know the meaning of "the", "it" and "sex." As to the anti-war demonstrators, I spied on them and tried to controvert their actions. I despised the Kent State rioters and the role the media played in fanning the fires against the military following that incident.

Kalia- General Colin Powell wrote that when he was first sent to Vietnam he was a true believer in the cause of stopping communism and saving South Vietnam.  Did you feel the same way when you went to Vietnam?  ANSWER- Don- I volunteered but was not very aware of the politics behind Vietnam. Bob- I agreed with the containment policy but wasn't specifically passionate about the cause of saving South Vietnam. I would follow General Powell wherever he told me to go.

Jennifer- When you were in high school did you learn about the French losing at Dien Bien Phu and did you ever think you would end up in Vietnam? ANSWER- Bob- I do recall learning that Eisenhower made a statement about the Domino Theory probably just before Dien Bien Phu fell. Vietnam was on my radar when I went to UMass in 1960.  I chose Advanced ROTC because I was pretty sure I'd end up there on way or another and I preferred to go as an officer. Don- I knew about the French.  I enlisted and thought I was going to Germany.

"We were winning when I left!!!" 

That's what a lot of us said.

Lisandro- What do you want us to know about the Vietnamese people?  ANSWER- Don- Vietnamese people are very nice and I'd like to see it again. Bob- They were an attractive, friendly intelligent people. Vietnam was beautiful without the destruction.  They had good food besides monkey brains.

Anna (right)-  Here’s a What If question for you- How do you think the war would have been different if President Kennedy had lived, especially considering NSA memo 263? ANSWER- Bob That memo did lay out plans for Ambassador Lodge to pressure South Vietnam President Diem to change a variety of policies and let up on his autocratic police powers and brutal enforcement edicts. Don- Tip O'Neill said JFK told him he was going to withdraw troops. I don't think that would have happened.

Xander (3rd)-  Your first day in Vietnam and your last day in Vietnam.  How did you change between those days? ANSWER- Don- My first day was way different than I expected. Everyone had different uniforms.  It looked like an Indiana Jones movie. My last day it was nice to know I was going home. Bob I got a little jumpier, more concerned with my personal safety and wary of anything behind me. I really learned to appreciate how lucky we are to live in the USA.

Kaelyn (2nd)- Did you ever have a conversation with the enemy?  ANSWER- Bob- Does an interrogation count?  Yes.  Does co-opting a local Viet Cong to work for you count? If so, yes.  Don- I never had a conversation with the enemy.

Dina-   Is it possible to describe what combat is like?  ANSWER- Bob Yes, but the description will vary greatly based on the individual perceptions.  The closer you get to blood, gore, death and destruction, the personal observations get more biased.  Don- I was flying missions and had to deal with anti-aircraft fire.  It's hard to describe. 

Yessi- We read letters sent from soldiers in Vietnam back to their families. If we were to read letters you sent, what sort of things would we read? ANSWER- Don- It's hot!  And it's boring here. Mail was important and cassettes were the social media of the day. Bob- I miss you stuff. A fair amount of humor. An appreciation for the beauty of Vietnam- particularly the vegetation (flowers) and colorful female attire (Ao Dai's).  A little irritation at the protestors back home.

Henry- South Vietnam President Thieu said the U.S. “stabbed us in the back” when we did not send bombers or troops back to Vietnam when North Vietnam began the attack which finally won the war. Do you think he has a point since President Nixon did make that agreement?  ANSWER- Bob- It didn't matter. Congress wasn't buying anything anymore. We should have bombed the Hell out f North Vietnam a lot earlier-and gone North. Don- When the U.S. promises to protect a small country it's usually not true. The North Vietnamese were bound to win but I can see why South Vietnam felt betrayed.

Clarissa- Were you mad when President Carter pardoned the Vietnam draft-dodgers or did you see it as a way to forgive and help heal the nation? ANSWER- Don- Not really.  Bob- "Mad" would put it mildly. I can understand the need to "heal" but I did not appreciate the draft-dodgers and still consider them largely cowards.

Wilbur- President Obama has so far refused to send ground combat troops back to Iraq.  President Ford decided not to send troops back to Vietnam.  Do you support Obama? ANSWER- Bob- Iraq should go back to being 3-4 different countries, democracy won't take there. I did support invading Iraq and disposing of Saddam Hussein.  He made a habit of defying UN declarations. Don- Iraqi's need to buckle up and do it themselves. My son was in the Marines and fought at Ramadi. Not sending our forces back there is bittersweet considering what my son went through.

Allison (left)- Many Vietnam vets including former Virginia Senator Jim Webb were not happy with the design of the Vietnam Memorial in DC.  Do you approve of that memorial? ANSWER- Don- It was simple.  I liked it. Bob- I dislike it intensely. It feels like a hole dug in the ground to memorialize a war we want to bury and forget.

Abdul (not pictured)-  In early 1968 did you support George Wallace, Eugene McCarthy, Robert F. Kennedy or Richard Nixon? ANSWER- Bob- Nixon.  I never liked Wallace.  McCarthy was, to me them a pinko, far-out liberal and anti-military. Bobby Kennedy was OK, but more liberal than my politics at that time.

Mr. Northcutt shows pictures of his experiences in Vietnam.