True Grunt is not about a Vietnam battle or a Vietnam journal/ memoir. It is a response to seeing short "Vietnam War 50 years later videos" on TV. These videos show two sides of the infantry in Vietnam. One side depicts the infantry fighting heroically and the other depicts the infantry committing some kind of atrocity. I served on the front lines with the infantry/grunt in 1970-1971. With many grandchildren, I don't want this mixed message to be my legacy. In 1971, over 150 Vietnam veterans admitted to atrocities at a conference in Detroit, John Kerry testified in Congress about atrocities, and finally the My Lai Massacre trial of a lieutenant ended. The press explained that our high casualty rate of 35% was due to stupidity as only non- college men were being drafted. In April 1971, over 900 Vietnam Veterans threw their medals down on the Capitol Building steps. In March 1971, we actually had a chance to win the Vietnam War if we had sent troops into Laos. We chose not to because of an ill-advised law and anti-war sentiments. In those years, the infantry especially became the most maligned soldiers in our country's history. We were known as the baby killers and monsters of Vietnam. Those names continue to haunt us today. By seeing and experiencing my life as infantry- "grunt"- at that time, I hope the reader of True Grunt sees the infantry as moral men of intelligence and courage. They fought in some of the worst conditions of war. It is also a story of hope as one Vietnam Veteran regains his life, overcomes personal tragedies,and even disease from Agent Orange. It's time to project "50 years later videos" with just one message. Thousands of Vietnam grunts like myself were true to ourselves, our morals and our country. We won a great Victory inVietnam. No asterisk needed.
Author Billy White pictured with son, Medway Police Officer Will White
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