The two posts on the topic of vets led me to explore the web yesterday, still seeking more information about the death of my best friend in Viet Nam. I was overwhelmingly surprised to find this: http://cavalier44.my100megs.com/Kevi...yearticle1.htm

Kevin was a brother, a very best friend in this world, and, probably more than anything, a young man who was trying to do what he felt was the right thing. Like many, he was raised with some rock solid, conservative American values and then we found ourselves in the midst of campus riots, tear gas, rows of police with full armor, shields and clubs. The campus exploded with the anger. So, Kevin did what he thought was right and went to serve. Like so many in Iraq, he was just a young boy really. Until now, I never had any ideas of the links to Apocalypse Now, the BBC series, or the book by his roommate in Nam.

I was raised by an ex-Marine who served in the Marshall Islands. He was a Marine until the day he died, but never talked about all that he had seen. However, the many demons were always there, true demons being the daemonae of the original Greek meaning those many thoughts and memories that never left us. He too was just a boy when he went off to war.

Last night ALL of the many, many memories all came back and I could not help but consider Iraq and how very different times are today. Though I am sure the long term consequences are the same in those individuals and families affected, Iraq is such a neat, out of the way campaign with none of the in your face images or news coverage that we saw to bring the realities of war into the living room and without the threat to those on the campuses, so they are largely complacent as the fighting and serving has not yet become anything that means all might be called. But, for the individuals coming home the stories and effects must surely be the same.

In WWII the task at hand was clearly understood. In VietNam we were still fighting in the name of the Domino theory. In Iraq there is 9-11, two days from now. Sometimes, it gives me pause to wonder.