thedrifter
01-13-07, 09:42 AM
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Most unhappy: Vietnam vets empathize with soldiers in Iraq
By Tom Hintgen
Fergus Falls-area Vietnam veterans know what it’s like to be part of a divisive war.
Mark Ronning of Fergus Falls, who served as a Marine in the final stages of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in 1975, said his wish today is that those in office “would quit playing politics and let the government and military do their job when it comes to Iraq.”
Ronning served in the Marines from 1971 to 1991. The lesson from Vietnam, he said, is that success can’t be attained without national unity. Like many veterans and active duty military personnel, he blames today’s national news media for what he and others refer to as “negative reporting that hinders national unity.”
Fergus Falls resident Terry Harrington, who was in the Army from 1970 to 1972, said that, unfortunately, American forces today are spread too thin.
“In hindsight, we maybe should have concentrated more on Afghanistan than on Iraq,” he said, “But at the same time, most people felt we had to invade Iraq because of the weapons of mass destruction issue. Invading Iraq is water over the dam. There’s no easy answer as to where we go from here.”
Bryan Severson of Underwood, who served in Vietnam with the Army from 1969 and 1970, sees the current strategy as definitely “President Bush’s last stand.”
The war in Iraq has especially hit home with Severson. He and Maplewood State Park manager Robert Hanson were classmates in Elbow Lake. Severson personally knew Hanson’s son, Josh, who died in the line of duty last year in Iraq.
“It has, however, been heartening to see this area’s overwhelming support for the military personnel serving in Iraq,” Severson said. “All most of us can do is watch the news and support the troops.”
Ellie
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Most unhappy: Vietnam vets empathize with soldiers in Iraq
By Tom Hintgen
Fergus Falls-area Vietnam veterans know what it’s like to be part of a divisive war.
Mark Ronning of Fergus Falls, who served as a Marine in the final stages of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in 1975, said his wish today is that those in office “would quit playing politics and let the government and military do their job when it comes to Iraq.”
Ronning served in the Marines from 1971 to 1991. The lesson from Vietnam, he said, is that success can’t be attained without national unity. Like many veterans and active duty military personnel, he blames today’s national news media for what he and others refer to as “negative reporting that hinders national unity.”
Fergus Falls resident Terry Harrington, who was in the Army from 1970 to 1972, said that, unfortunately, American forces today are spread too thin.
“In hindsight, we maybe should have concentrated more on Afghanistan than on Iraq,” he said, “But at the same time, most people felt we had to invade Iraq because of the weapons of mass destruction issue. Invading Iraq is water over the dam. There’s no easy answer as to where we go from here.”
Bryan Severson of Underwood, who served in Vietnam with the Army from 1969 and 1970, sees the current strategy as definitely “President Bush’s last stand.”
The war in Iraq has especially hit home with Severson. He and Maplewood State Park manager Robert Hanson were classmates in Elbow Lake. Severson personally knew Hanson’s son, Josh, who died in the line of duty last year in Iraq.
“It has, however, been heartening to see this area’s overwhelming support for the military personnel serving in Iraq,” Severson said. “All most of us can do is watch the news and support the troops.”
Ellie