August 17, 2021:
As Vietnam veterans I’m sure we all remember the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Recent events in Afghanistan have opened some old wounds for many of us. Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comment section if you desire. It is at these times we need our Brothers to deal with deep-seated emotions. – Roger “Bear” Young, Silver Spur Scout C.E., Spur webmaster
August 18, 2021:
I want to make clear I’m not saddened that we’re pulling out — I never wanted our troops there in the first place because I don’t believe in nation building — I’m saddened by how the ‘withdrawal’ is taking place and how little was learned from our war. I’m very thankful for all the comments as we move forward together, as Brothers, during this stressful time. – Roger “Bear” Young
Talking About Afghanistan – We’re Here to Help – Health.mil
Same shit. Different day. Should have left the country after the mission was accomplished. Bin Laden terminated. 2,500 US + 1,000 coalition dead to take out one terrorist. Politicians don’t read history books. The ARVNs put up a better fight. WTF?
You’re correct, ARVN hung on for a couple of years, Afghan fell in days, and our “leadership” never learns from history!
The generals who “planned” the disastrous evacuation should be demoted 3 ranks and booted out of the military. Why are none of the generals, who should have planned better, never fired? If Biden thought the Trump agreement with the Taliban was a bad idea, why didn’t he change it. He certainly changed the Iran deal that Trump made.
Excellent questions!!
Because General Millie-Vanilli is still trying to ‘understand white rage’!!!
(Let him come around and I’ll show him some ‘white rage’!) (By the way! That has nothing to do with my Black Brothers and Sisters.)
While we are witnessing this tragic set of circumstances, here’s what our Air Force is concerned about:
Air Force to investigate Afghan civilian deaths as JBLM-based C-17 took off from Kabul airport.
The last base closed should have been Bagram as you don’t remove your air assets until the closing moments. It could have also provided airlift capacity to remove our allies without interference from the Taliban which may prevent U.S. civilians/Allies from getting to the airport at Kabul. Question now could be, how many will be left behind?
Here’s an interesting article by a former SEAL Team member Pam found this morning:
The ‘Endless Wars’ Fallacy by Dan Crenshaw -- August 17, 2021
I think the Taliban simply outsmarted our intelligence and military planning organizations. I doubt that the intelligence and military planners were sitting on their hands. In regard to the chaotic scene that we are witnessing, Mike Pompeo negotiated an agreement with the Taliban for a complete pullout of our troops by May 1st. The Kabul government leadership were left out of the negotiations! We will probably never know the details of the agreement. In regard to the ‘how long we should have stayed’ discussion, seemingly endless combat scenarios without a defined objective do not make any sense to me. How much more of the coalition soldier’s blood should be shed supporting a government that folded like a house of cards?
Thanks Dan for the points well taken. I’m not saddened that we’re pulling out -- I never wanted our troops there in the first place because I don’t believe in nation building -- I’m saddened by how the ‘withdrawal’ is taking place and how little was learned from our war. Be well!
Hi all, Eric West here . . . I served in Vietnam from Aug 67 to Mar 69 . . . I was a helicopter (lift) pilot serving first with the 188th assault Helicopter Co; then, in Dec 67 I was transferred to A Troop 3/17th Cav, followed by a transfer in July 68 to the 25th Avn Co where I served as a pilot for Lt. Gen Kerwin; Finally in Mar 69 I rotated back to the US . . .
I am currently enrolled in a PTSD Group (15-18) of mostly Vietnam Veterans, having been a member since 2015 . . . I, like several others in our group, have been impacted greatly, first by the very hostile division in our country, as well as our recent debacle in withdrawing from Afghanistan . . . this took me back in time to the mid to late 60’s . . . the hostility towards us, and our service in Vietnam, and the division of our country which lasted well into the 70’s . . . it has again re-opened all sorts of wounds, with the greatest being for those who gave their all . . . all of the angst, anger, posturing and division takes a back seat to our brothers and sisters who lost their lives while in service in Vietnam . . . I am also now grieving for those we’ve lost during the 20+ years our country has been involved in the the middle eastern fiasco . . . this includes the survivors who are now, or likely will be, suffering from PTSD as well . . .
What a Cluster F**k . . . breaks my heart . . .
Welcome Home, Eric!!!
August 19th:
It is clear watching events unfold, it may be impossible to remove all U.S. citizens and our allies by the end of the month. It has become very difficult for them to get to the airport in Kabul with Taliban checkpoints along all the routes. Our military and allies control the airport at this time but the SECDEF has stated they have no means of going into the city to escort U.S. civilians. Events are very fluid.
Our prayers that all will be evacuated safely and for our deployed troops and allies.