Vietnam War ~by Jose

The Vietcong bombed a United States supplies ship in the Tonkin Gulf. South Vietnam thought that the North Vietnamese were betraying them, so Ho Chi Minh sent a group of solders to the North Vietnam along the Ho Chi Min trail. Ho Chi Min's desire was to spread Communism to all of Vietnam. This scared the United States. When Ho Chi Min's group started it was very small, but soon his group grew bigger, so the U.S. had no choice other than to send a group of solders into Vietnam. There was a question that President Johnson had in his head, If I send in soldiers how many will die in this war? Is this really our war to fight? In the end, he ignored that question and sent many solders to fight in Vietnam.


***
I'm General Black, a survivor of the Vietnam war. I wasn't always sure I would survive to tell my story.

I was scared of dying and never going home to my family. It has been a bloody war since Squad B and I stepped onto this dirty and deadly land that is Vietnam. During my 20 years career in the military, I have never been in a war like this one. I have seen many soldiers falling to the ground, covered with blood though the enemy is not in sight. I have seen others fall into booby traps only to lose their legs when they are stabbed by very dangerous weapons, sharper than any knife. I dont think you would believe me if I told you that the weapon was made of sharpened bamboo sticks. We had no idea they could be so deadly. I have seen other soldiers cut off their own legs to avoid being captured by the Vietcong. I don't know how long this war is going to last, but I'm terrified. I have to hold my emotions in if I am to survive this bloody war. I can't show my fear to my enemies because they might think that I'm a weak, easy target for them. I don't want the Viet Minh to find me. Insteaad of acting scared, I pretend I'm confident and that I love this war.

Although we have very powerful weapons, the Vietcong has the advantage. They use their knowledge of the land as a weapon. It feels that we are playing hide in seek with them because we are mostly fighting in shadowy jungles and swamps. It is hard to see. They hide down beneath the dark, foggy forest. But, the most difficult thing is we have to walk in dirty swamps where we can't see anything, not even our shoes. Wading along in the water is dangerous because there might be booby traps rigged with knives or even grenades. Sometimes they put two stakes on either side of the creek with the safety pin partially removed from the grenade. If someone hits the trip wire, it explodes. I am always worried, never calm, in Vietnam.

I want to go back home, but I cant. I'm stuck in Vietnam like an animal in a cage. I'm trapped here until the end of this war. I hope God protects me and all our troops.

6 months later:

My prayers have been answered. My squad plus some other solders from other squads like A, C, and D are being sent home. We are alive and now we were going back home to our families. We can leave this war behind and have fun with our children, neices, and nephews. As we board the helicopter, our commander speaks to us, "Enjoy the time you are not on duty. Enjoy your lives with your families, but you shouldn't forget the loses the United States has experiences. Remember the 58,200 solder who have died in Vietnam. Pray for them in their next life, in the arms of our lord, God."


As the helicopter is taking off, suddenly Vietcong bullets are flying through the air. They are still chasing us, but the helicopter is in a clearning they are not willing to enter. As we run to load into the copter, a soldier fires in the direction the bullets seem to be coming from. I run to the copter as fast as I can, I do not want to die in Vietnam, not when I am so close to getting home. As the copter takes off, I realize there are Viet Cong troops on the ground, and unfortunetly, there are a few American soldiers laying there, too. I realize some of my friends are being left in Vietnam. I know that I will not forget what happened here. May their souls rest in peace, away from this land.

Our plane finally landed in the San Diego airport. There were people waiting for us, but they weren't cheering. I was seeing people who were sad and angry. One woman held a sign that read, "Why didn't you save my dad?" I felt guilty and sad for all the soldiers who died in Vietnam. I knew that I would feel miserable forever. Soldiers returning from Vietnam were not treated like heroes. No, people spit on them and yelled at them as they tried to make it home to their families. I wonder if they would have done it if they knew how we were feeling inside.

***
Back at the White House:

"STOP THE WAR! STOP THE WAR!" This is what I hear every day from thousands of people outside the White House. Protesters come daily since they have seen the television of how many people are dying in the war. People question if we can win this war. People are angry. They aren't asking for an end to this conflict, they are demanding it. A garden of humongous posters demanding an end to the war is in the front lawn of the White House. I see more protesters. This group is holding a huge poster with both the flag of the U.S. and Vietnam and around both flags is a peace sign. Can we live in peace? Can we end this war? I wonder. The expressions on their faces tell me that they are not proud of the United States or my decision to fight in Vietnam. I know that this is affecting the solders. They come home expecting to be heroes, but instead, they are yelled at and spit upon. They are confused and they should be. They have been sent to defend our country, but they cannot take pride in what they are doing when they believe their friends and neighbors are against them. "Will the war end soon?" I asked my military leaders. "I don't want the war to take much longer. I hope the war ends very, very soon. We must win so that every soldier can return home safely to his family and enjoy the rest of his life."
The leaders of the army, navy, and marines all shake their heads. "Mr. President, we are in for a long war. The end in not in sight."
I shake my head and look out the windown. I hope God protects me and our returning soldiers from our citizens, and I hope God allows those who have fallen a chance to rest in peace in heaven.

By ~ Jose