I was never a soldier... but I was young once.

I've just started reading this book. I've already cried twice. Vietnam tears my soul apart.

I remember in 1969 at the age of 16 going to the San Diego Airport with my sister to say goodbye and good luck to her boyfriend - a 26 year-old returned Mormon missionary - now Army Officer. Fresh from OCS, he was wearing his dress greens with a 1st Cavalry Division insignia on his shoulder. He had a smile on his face, sparkling blue eyes and orders in his briefcase - Destination; Vietnam.

It turned out to be more than a "goodbye". The next time I saw him was in a coffin. Same dress greens. No smile. No sparkling blue eyes. A landmine had taken his legs and his life. His name along with 50,000 others are engraved on the The Wall.
http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=44469 (click on "Personal Comments or Pictures" link from this page to see more)

Every time I see Marian's brother Mike I want to give him a bear hug and thank him. He was an Army river-rat, front-line infantry radioman. In his early twenties his Delta House days were traded for the Mekong Delta. Vietnam didn't take his legs nor his life but it took part of his light for many years. As good a guy as Mike is Vietnam took something forever away from Uncle Mike.

War is Evil. War comes from evil. War is darkness not light. There is only one person that smiles when good, young men and women on opposing sides kill each other.