THE PUBLIC MIND: DON'T CALL OUR VIETNAM SOLDIERS `RELUCTANT DRAFTEES'

Dear Editor:

You may see a lot of letters these days concerning the pros and cons of America's participation in another war. Perhaps you might take a few moments to read these thoughts from someone who has been there.

It was just 21 years ago that my "brand-new husband," 19 years old, was taken from home and trained to fight in that far away land called Vietnam. Before Christmas that year he was "In Country". He spent the next year as a Combat Medic picking up dead and dying young men and trying to cope as best he could. Sometimes there was nothing to put in a body bag but a few pieces and a dog tag or boot or some such.

Today the media refers to him and others like him as "reluctant draftees." What do you suppose they mean by "reluctant"? Does that mean that he wanted to be sent to Vietnam any less than do the young men and women want to be in Saudi today? Does that mean that he tried any less to do what they trained him to do? After all, who really wants to go to war, other than maybe Rambo? Anyone who says that they do lies because deep down who wants to face the horrors of war?

I strongly object to this use of the term "reluctant draftees" and I always will. The use of that phrase demeans the memory of every young soldier that my husband held in his arms and tried to minister to. It trivializes the faces of those hundreds who still haunt his dreams 21 years later. He still hears the cries of "Doc, am I going to be OK? Am I going to make it? And he still hears himself lying to them since that was often all he could do. Of course there were many that he helped. But he only remembers the helplessness he felt for those who died. At age 19 or 20 you barely know if YOU are going to be OK or even what you want out of life. These men were cheated of their chance to find out.

Just what do you think your life would be like if you had to go through this type of experience at such a young age? I can tell you from experience that it will never be the same. My husband asks no one for pity. It happened and he went and did the best he knew how. Just don't call him "reluctant" to me. Someone will answer someday for sending these soldiers into that "meat grinder." It's not too late to prevent that from happening again.

I realize that I sound bitter but then war is a bitter experience for all concerned whether you went or agonized at home. I just finished reading in Newsweek all of the reasons why this war will not be another Vietnam. I say to you that it will still be the blood of our loved ones and the pieces of bodies in body bags and the same horror as before.

We don't need another Vietnam. We still fight it every day. I am an American all the way and stand behind every man and woman in Saudi but I do not wish to sacrifice even one of them either to "save face" or save oil. It hurts too much!

Respectfully yours,

Mrs. Dave (Glenda) Prosser

Tamms, IL