A GREEN LIEUTENANT
A memoir of a Vietnam veteran
She had grown up in Pittsburgh, graduated from college and had no idea what she wanted to do. She joined the Red Cross and volunteered for Vietnam out of a sense of duty, �I got fed up with the students back home. They wanted to blame everything on the government or these kids. These guys didn�t vote to be here. They�d rather be home, but they have a duty to perform and they�re doing it.�

I hadn�t heard this kind of talk in some time. Even though I tended to be more sympathetic with the student dissidents, I also held a feeling of deep respect for the grunts, a feeling that grew with each story we did. I was glad that someone was standing up for them and with them.

We finished up our interviews and headed our jeep off to the base camp home of the 28th Infantry. The Dollys and the male Red Cross worker who wore the Santa suit followed along.

We stopped and asked a group of men to pose with Santa.

�Santa, how about a Camaro for Christmas.�

�Naw, man, if you�re going to ask for something go all the way. Santa, make that a Corvette.�

�How about bringing us some women, Santa?� 

�Yeah a platoon of beautiful, round-eyed women!� 

�Make it a company!�

�Make it a division!�

�Screw the rest of you guys, Santa, just bring me Jo Collins.�he troops saw Santa and the Dolly�s and reverted to little kids instantly. They waved, shouted, or ran after the jeep. I almost expected them to line up for a chance to sit on Santa�s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

Next
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1