Testimonial from Another 1st Cav. Vietnam Combat Veteran, 8th Combat Engineers (Air Mobile), 1968-1970

Firsts!

JT, [addressing the below 1st Cav. Vet.]

I am also a third generation Combat Veteran, My Grandpa was in WW1 My dad was an F.O. in Patton's Army, I was with the First Cav, 8th Combat Engineers (Air Mobile),1968-1970, mostly in Phouc Phin, we built Fire Bases mostly, but in this one area where we put in a air strip for Carabous and C130's + Fire Base (I am not sure how to spell it), Boo Dop is how it sounded, there was a sign at our CP that said "There is an essence to life the protected will never know".I am finding that saying to be quite poignant these days.

Glad you made it back O.K. I was 18 when I went, 20 when I got out, Now when I look at my 19 year old son I cringe to think how a person of that age could handle that sort of thing. Platoon is the closest thing I have seen that depicts what it was like, except we had better fields of fire, never any trees in the middle of a fire base. In the end of the movie when the helicopter was flying away and they were throwing body's into a bomb crater and a bull dozer was filling it in, that would have been me on the dozer.

So to make a short story long, I am so with you on the importance of protecting the Constitution, A perfect document when left in its original state, maybe dangerous when tampered with, so rare that all the forces and powers that be could come along and produce such a remarkable document, after thousands of years of people trying to perfect a free society. It has been bought and paid for with generations of blood, sweat, tears and ultimate sacrifice, it would be a abomination of our faith in God and our Honor as a people to ever let any one or thing defile what we as a people pass down from generation to generation as the ultimate gift of life to our children and future generations. Life would become meaningless without it, That is why as a fighting force we have the advantage in all battles, we have more to lose while the other side has so little to fight for.

I do solemnly swear to defend the Constitution of the United states of America and all it stands for so help me God. You better listen up Politicians, you have ventured on to thin ice and are flirting with death. The Constitution has given me the legal right to do what ever I must do to defend it against all who would tamper with it's original meaning and intent, and I will.

"jorgie49"