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MarineCombatEngineer

(12,979 posts) Tue May 21, 2024, 12:11 PM May 21

298

When I got home from my 2nd tour in Vietnam, my younger brother was heavily involved [View all]

in the anti war protests, we got into a heated discussion about the morals of the war, he went on and on about US war crimes and at that point I'd had enough of his platitudes and asked him that as a Marine who had served twice in Vietnam if I was the enemy, he came back with the most profound answer I've ever heard, he said, and I quote, "No brother, you're not the enemy, you're a victim".

That threw me and I really had no answer to him, unfortunately, he was killed by a drunk driver in 1980 and I truly miss his wisdom to this day.

Just reflecting on my life here while I await for my agent to line up a load for me.

Everyone, enjoy the rest of the week.
Peace out
Dan.

69 replies

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When I got home from my 2nd tour in Vietnam, my younger brother was heavily involved [View all] MarineCombatEngineer May 21 OP

Sorry about your loss. Nt spooky3 May 21 #1

Thank you for sharing. David__77 May 21 #2

The pain of his loss still reverberates in my soul, MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #3

wow. so many ways that argument could... ret5hd May 21 #4

A beautiful story, thanks. cilla4progress May 21 #5

Looking back now, I can say, yes he was. MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #6

You should be proud of your brother and pwb May 21 #7

I am very proud of my brother and my service, but especially my late brother MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #8

Since I came home... almost 60 years ago now.. albacore May 21 #36

Thank you for sharing your poignant reflections with us (me). Insightful, memorable moments help us all. AnotherMother4Peace May 21 #9

Sorry for you loss. Hope you have many good memories of him. LiberalFighter May 21 #10

Thank you and I do, MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #11

Exactly. In Vietnam and Iraq, we believed what our leaders told us. surfered May 21 #12

He was right malaise May 21 #13

It could be he arrived at that assessment because you were in his life. LiberalFighter May 21 #14

You're correct, later on in life, he said that his views on the war MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #17

You are both cool dudes. Peace. Joinfortmill May 21 #15

Just the word "Vietnam" is overwhelming to many to this day. I think it can't be described to those twodogsbarking May 21 #16

You're right. My father was the same way about the Korean conflict. I never really got the 'story' from him SWBTATTReg May 21 #20

My dad would never talk about his WWII Navy experience either. LiberalArkie May 21 #27

Very well put by your brother. 1WorldHope May 21 #18

Very well said and by brother would've wholeheartedly agreed with you. nt. MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #19

Smedley Butler (Major General, USMC, Ret) would agree Klondike Kat May 21 #35

I will check it out! Thanks! 1WorldHope May 21 #47

You mentioned the world 3 times in 1 post DontBelieveEastisEas May 21 #53

2 worlds and 1 planet is my count so far. 😜 1WorldHope May 21 #54

My hope is for 1 world DontBelieveEastisEas May 21 #56

Maybe there is that reality in another parallel universe where we choose differently. 1WorldHope May 22 #58

VVAW were one of the most level headed groups Voltaire2 May 21 #21

Your brother DownriverDem May 21 #22

I marched KT2000 May 21 #23

Did he have any thoughts on other wars? LiberalFighter May 21 #24

He died in 1980, but he hated all wars because of the death and destruction they caused. nt MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #25

Thank you for sharing Duncanpup May 21 #26

Sounds like a good brother. SarahD May 21 #28

He was and I miss him every day. nt MarineCombatEngineer May 21 #30

After all this time .. so rightly said. Bless you and your brother. Srkdqltr May 21 #29

Seems likely you brother loved you very much Attilatheblond May 21 #31

Sorry for your loss Americanme May 21 #32

My dad was on a destroyer - early Vietnam Days - when I was born TBF May 21 #33

My husband was a survival trainer later MOMFUDSKI May 21 #34

I read your post several times. democrank May 21 #37

This is a heartbreaking story, and my thanks to you for sharing it FakeNoose May 21 #38

2 words that sum up what was wrong with Vietnam: Henry Kissinger onetexan May 21 #39

Two more words: Robert McNamara. JustABozoOnThisBus May 21 #42

Thank you for two tours of duty AKwannabe May 21 #40

I am so sorry for your loss. sheshe2 May 21 #41

They also serve who only stand and wait. ... JustABozoOnThisBus May 21 #43

Your brother lives on in you Bayard May 21 #44

Your brother sounds like good people, I think his death was a loss to all of us Warpy May 21 #45

This is sad. beemerphill May 21 #46

❤️ littlemissmartypants May 21 #48

We also must never forget the DENVERPOPS May 21 #49

I took part in protests. Demobrat May 21 #50

Of course. I believe 95% of antiwar protestors believe the same thing lostnfound May 21 #51

I was curious about the oath I took back in summer of 1973. Looked it up. 70sEraVet May 21 #52

K&R Tom of Temecula May 21 #55

Remember this: The dirty, smelly hippies were right. tclambert May 21 #57

I enlisted purely so my dad couldn't shut me up at the dinner table over the war because I didn't know anything ... marble falls May 22 #59

Navy vet here.. Permanut May 22 #60

You brother musclecar6 May 22 #61

Beautifully said. AloeVera May 27 #62

Thank you AloeVera, MarineCombatEngineer May 27 #63

Me too. AloeVera May 27 #64

Sorry for the late, late answer, MarineCombatEngineer May 31 #66

Sorry for your loss, MCE Nixie May 27 #65

. BoRaGard May 31 #67

Love your DU handle. MarineCombatEngineer May 31 #68

Thank You for sharing. Stuart G May 31 #69