Vietnam: Arriving at the Truth: by Byron Edgington

Byron's UH-1 Huey

The view in the photo is from the cockpit of my UH-1, Huey, taken sometime in September 1970 in northern I Corps.

The photo shows American combat troops approaching a Huey that will fly them to another location. 

Not seen in this shot are troops loading my helicopter in similar fashion, directly behind me as the picture was taken.

A new website created by the Pentagon has a view of the war as well. Put on line several months ago, at a cost (thus far) of $15 million, the website strives to arrive at the 'truth' of American involvement in Vietnam, not from a political or ideological perspective, but to “assist a grateful nation” in thanking veterans and their families.

I applaud any effort to arrive at truth concerning our involvement in any war. The fact that the effort is being made is a hopeful sign that we refuse to bury details, however sordid, of our nation's foreign affairs and that we try not to repeat mistakes. 

I applaud, as well, the focus of the website, if it does indeed target American troops rather than the political minions, populists and military operatives who made many of the mistakes associated with Vietnam and our conflict there.

What bothers me about the website effort and its attempt to arrive at 'truth' about Vietnam, is the genesis of it. The troops the site celebrates should write their own stories of Vietnam, without fear or favor, and allow visitors to come to conclusions based on those narratives. 

As it is, the Pentagon and such luminaries as Tom Hayden and others are weighing in on the American effort in Vietnam, and once again the voices of those who fought and died in the paddies, jungles and hamlets of Vietnam.  Those critical voices are being relegated to the periphery.

Also, a connection should be made, however tenuous, to our efforts in Vietnam and the misadventure in Iraq. While it is true that any effort to connect the two conflicts is immediately fraught with political and ideological spin, that doesn't mean we should avoid potential historical references. 

Those connections may help in a courageous and transparent attempt to arrive at the 'truth' we claim to seek. Looking out a cockpit window shows only a partial view. History and its explication widens that view, if we're willing to look.

Byron Edgington

Byron Edgington

The SkyWriter

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Other Articles by Byron Edgington:

Do Guns Equal Safety?
Laotian Rescue Mission
Ho Chi Minh
Terror and Hilarity
A Return to Vietnam
The War That Will Not Let Us Rest
War: A Waste of Youth
The Right Seat is the Wrong Seat
Jim, Frank, and The Snake
Smokey, The Alcoholic Pup

“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale


Feel free to comment on this post. You are also invited to write about anything you want to share. Memoirs From Nam is YOUR blog. You are writing America's history.

Send it to me in an e-mail and I will be proud to post it for you.

Black Dragon Red Sun, The Vietnam War

By R. Sanchez

Paperback and Kindle
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
152 Pages


About the Book

This is the memoir of Gunnery Sergeant Roger A. Sanchez Sr., United States Marine Corps retired.  

It is written from a personal journal that he began in 1971, after he returned home from Vietnam.

Black Dragon Red Sun takes us on a journey, beginning with memories of the ghetto streets of the south side of Chicago, to the Marine Corps, from boot camp, to Vietnam in 1970, while serving as 1st Squad Leader with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Platoon.

It is not written as an historical account of the Vietnam War, but as a personal and emotional observation about the war, from the author’s point of view.

5 Star Review:

“Short but interesting. Written in everyday terms. Easily read.  Written by someone that really ‘did their time’ over there.  I recommend it. --”Skeeter”

Buy Paperback Version at Amazon

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About the Author

R. Sanchez is my author name. I find it easier to use than my full name, Roger A. Sanchez Sr. I live in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, which is a small rural town of nine thousand souls in Eastern Oklahoma. I was born in Wisconsin in 1952, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. 

I served in the United States Marine Corps from February 1969 until September 1991, and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant. I served as an infantry squad leader during the Vietnam War, with the First Marine Division during 1970 and 1971. I returned from the war after being wounded for the second time, and spent the remainder of my tour on Okinawa Japan.

The first books I have written have to do with my memoirs of the Vietnam War. My other works come from my sometimes silly imagination, and from my memories of growing up in Chicago. 

I started late in life as a writer. I was fifty-nine. I enjoy delving into not only my memory of true life experiences, but also creating new characters and places within the realm of my imagination.

I am an avid reader, and fascinated with the number of fictional stories that continue to be created by so many talented writers.  My hope is to continue writing. I want to leave behind a legacy for some future family member to follow. 

To all who write, I wish you a great journey; to all who read, I wish you great enjoyment. --R. Sanchez

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“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale


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