My Views: by Tom Peck

Veterans Have Earned Respect

I look at some of the comments that are posted in the vets group and I wonder why some would feel the slightest pity about how our enemy is interrogated, considering the treatment of our wounded and dead by our enemies who are supposed to abide by the Geneva Convention.

Yes, there are questionable interrogation methods, but water boarding is not as inhumane as what terrorists are doing worldwide, using their religion to justify it. 

We're not the ones who are deliberately killing innocent men, women, babies, children, and families on planes, buses, cars, in hotels, restaurants, office buildings and on the streets. 

When our enemies use the population to cover their activities, it's the innocent who always pay the price. The enemy knowingly set it up this way in every war and without a conscience as to loss of life -- as long as it's not theirs.

Why do those among us feel sympathy for heartless, unconscionable murderers, whether it be here, or anywhere else, worldwide?  Shouldn't we have sympathy for the victims?  To me, the methods we use to obtain information are far more humane than the acts of terrorists. 

The public doesn't have any idea about what the combatant goes through, the sacrifices made by our military once they are voted into harm's way. Their families are burdened with not knowing about their loved ones between letters, or locked in secrecy without knowing anything at all.

Waiting, always waiting, for a phone call from a loved one, or waiting and hoping not to get a knock on the door.  "We Were Solders" brought this home tragically and impersonally. Now, at least uniformed soldiers come to your door.  But the ignorant in our society disrespect the funerals of those who have paid the ultimate price. The misuse of our constitution allows this, but why?  Because those that sacrifice nothing expect everything at our expense.

Freedom Isn't Free

Freedom comes at a high price, but the malcontents of society aren't willing to pay, but again live off those that have. The wives and families of vets are the forgotten equation of the support system and they are not able to recover.

Understanding comes from being open-minded and compassionate. Lack of knowledge and reality closes a lot of doors to communication. Listening to the wrong people helps no one, especially you. A closed mind is a mind that lacks knowledge and compassion.

If the public isn't given all the the facts, it will repeat Vietnam all over again at our expense. Edited media is shameful and so is anti-military media. It goes against every sacrifice the combatants risk for their country to find out their country couldn't care less.

We of the past are still paying for those judgments, even now.  Every veteran suffers from misinformation, bureaucratic bungling, political trickery, wasteful foreign policy, budget cuts, fraudulent bailouts, fraudulent government contracts, and a government that just doesn't care.

So what do you think of my views? We sacrifice, the wives sacrifice, the families sacrifice, and for what?  An anti-patriotic, anti-military government?

Tom Peck
USMC Vietnam
January-August '69
WIA 28 July "69



“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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REMF's: by Tom Peck

105mm casings during second battle for Khe Sanh

We had REMF's (Rear Echelon Mother F**kers) that had no clue what it was like in the bush.

If you look at a few of the pictures on Facebook, you will see that the rear bases and cities were in no way like what a lot of us had to put up with.

We didn't have hot food every day, or showers, clean clothes, USO shows, mail, movies, BX, alcohol, soda, or candy. We were lucky to get once a week, once a month, depending on the Branch of Service, Army, or Marines (which I was).

We were almost always on the move looking for the VC, or stock piles, or rocket launch sites, or pushing them into a blocking force, after clearing village after village, or hamlet, mile after mile daily. Rarely did we see what they called the rear. We called it the Battalion Area. I can only remember being in the rear two times, possibly three, in seven months.

One time proved fatal for guys in a tent barracks two down from us. They were collecting all the ammunition from the time in the bush: grenades, claymores, bullets, laws (rockets), everything. Someone triggered something and killed and wounded a lot of guys. It was a mess outside. The tent was almost gone.

These are the things you remember, not the things like showers, shows, and BXs. You remember all the lives lost due to accidental discharge, because it could have been your own on one or two occasions. It was only for the fact that I moved, that another's life was lost instead.

You remember your own artillery coming in short and almost killing you, but not any VIP, for there weren't any. You remember inept officers and the stupid actions of those around you and wonder how you remained alive.

You read about the horrors others faced and you asked yourself, "Why was I so lucky?" and I was compared to thousands of others, compared to 58,000 plus, compared to MIAs, and compared to POWs.

Was it Worth it?

My wounds in no way were as serious, or traumatic, as those who fought in Hue, La Drang, Khe Shan, Hamburger Hill, or the LLRPs, or Snipers, or Huey Pilots. My wounds were from a booby trap, not by a bullet, or firefight, or ambush.

There are so many brave warriors that went unrecognized, due to bureaucratic jealousy, vindictiveness, revenge, false bravery on the part of those handling the paperwork, even Superiors who knew no combat at all. Bravery was denied on many, many, many occasions, falsely claimed by those who showed none.

I don't know how this all will be interpreted, but these are my opinions, my views, my thoughts about those who were short-changed so long ago, who died to prove a point that proved fruitless and meanless.

It was strategy for a future battle that ended up costing lives and wounded, and for what? To just give back the ground soaked in blood, sweat, tears, and lives? Not just once, but several times? This, by those disassociated with the Realities of Combat and the Sacrifices We Made Daily, following asinine orders by REMFs, who looked at a map, listened to a Radio, but couldn't face Reality,

They were there in the rear, not being shot at, not sacrificing anything, but words. What is their futility, their death wish, their epitaph? It wasn't their family's door that would be knocked on. What decoration would they award to themselves for the sacrifices they didn't make? Can you understand how some will perceive my views?

I don't believe it's time to move on. There are still between 1500 to 2300 -- if not more -- unaccounted for MIAs ...

Tom Peck
USMC Vietnam
January-August '69
WIA 28 July "69



“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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USMC Vietnam '69: by Tom Peck

"CJ, Don't let anyone ever say different:  Women paid a dear price in any conflict when their husbands, or fathers, paid the ultimate price.

Wives and families are the forgotten ones, when their loved one returns, escorted by Comrades In Arms. But we Brothers try to show espirit de corp the best way we can, not knowing those in other Branches.

I was USMC, Nam '69, January to August (WIA 28 July) and I knew a medic that was with my unit who died, but I've forgotten his name. I was 1st Mar Div Hotel 2/1. Our medics were all super nice.

I considered myself lucky with my leg wounds and my right hand. I was able to rehab my right hand and go on to a career in the Air Force for another twenty years, (twenty-two plus total), and with an 80% service-connected disability.

My last sixteen years of service, I was part of a four-man flight crew. There was the Pilot, Co-pilot, the Navigater, and me, the boom operator (inflight refueling of military aircraft).

We flew all over the world: Saudi Arabia, Panama, South Korea, England, Okinawa (I was stationed there for three years), Diego Garcia (Iran Hostage Crisis), Alaska, Goose Bay, Labrador, Spain (we were broke down for one week), Wake Island, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and many bases stateside which are now closed, or reserve bases.

I just retired two years ago from the civilian job. I'm now a part-time farmer with my brother -- only part time, due to the seasons. We raise steers for his grandsons to show. He raises corn (cow corn and sweet corn) Hay, and Soybean. His family all were dairy farmers and I used to help when I was younger.

Facebook helps me cope with the past, but my time was not as traumatic as some, due to the area I operated in, south of DaNang.

I do think of Nam a lot. My brother was there, too. We talk about it and try to face today and let yesterday go, but you can't. There's always a reminder of the yesterdays. This is why there are those of us who welcome you into the group and say you are not, nor should you be, forgotten.

Support comes from many directions, and in many ways. Healing is a step we must take to survive, but it doesn't mean we have to forget a cherished part of our past to move forward.

Take Care, God Bless and Guide You.

Tom Peck
USMC Vietnam
January-August '69
WIA 28 July "69



“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

The Wall and Washington

By Tom Peck

CJ, I've been to the Wall twice. The last time was this past April, as part of a tour package. It was rushed and I didn't see any fellow warriors that day, but I tried to explain the three soldiers statue to some people in the tour.

I know there may be guys who were with me in Nam on the Wall, also guys who were with me in Boot Camp, too, but you need time and research to find this out.

I wasn't even able to go to the Marine Memorial those two days. Traveling in DC is hectic, parking is real bad, driving is a nightmare, and hotels are, well, you get what you pay for. Tours don't allow you to really see what you want, or how you want. We did have a nice experience watching the Cherry Blossom Parade though.

Going there during Veterans day, or Memorial day, would be nice, but where can you park? And getting out of DC afterwards is a nightmare.

I owe my fellow warriors the time to reflect with them and and pay my respects to those who are still trying to heal, those who sacrificed all (I know some, but I also forgot a few names), and those who died from my unit.

All who are inscribed on The Wall deserve to be remembered, not just on that day, but always, as well as the Veterans of the past Wars.

If we don't face our fears, then ours fears overcome our lives and take what little love, happiness, peace, serenity, yes, even romance, there is, away. We have to start to face our fear by talking, by taking that first step. If we don't, we throw away any chance of moving forward, of allowing our loved ones some understanding, some healing, some acknowledgement of our hell and our truths.

We are not really allowed to move on, because Washington won't let us. They have let tens of thousands die, while denying that they [Washington] caused those deaths (Agent Orange, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Diease, Nerve Disorders). Washington has proven they can vote us into harms way, then deny any consequence of those actions.

The Public has allowed this at our expense and at the cost of thousands of lives. There is no outcry. There is no one holding anyone accountable. The Public allows Washington to cover it up with their, "Budget Cuts", or "Budget Deficit". The latter, to me, is waste on the part of Washington, and of tax payer dollars.

They're sending billions of dollars overseas to corrupt foreign governments who knowingly supply the very terrorists we're fighting: Irag, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Korea, and countries we deal with through the back door, like Somalia and many others, even South Vietnam (still MIAs).

That money has totaled in the trillions. Why? Because the taxpayers aren't holding Washington accountable for the money, even the billions wasted knowingly during the bailouts of those mortgage companies and others. What was that money used for? Parties, bonuses, and bank accounts. This is fact.

Cabinet Post's were given to a few of the individuals who profited from these scams. One individual made 54 million at the expense of those who lost everything. This is our government. Get a cabinet post at the expense of your constituents and be protected by privilege for doing it.  It happened with the Railroad. A loss of 300+ jobs and a CEO got a cabinet post in the past administration.

Well I'll stop for now ...

Take Care CJ. God Bless and Watch Over You.

Tom Peck

USMC, NAM '69, January to August
(WIA 28 July)
1st Mar Div Hotel 2/1

“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