Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahina

(20,640 posts)
27. In 1969 a young second Lieutenant who had volunteered to serve in the special forces in the tri-border region of Viet-
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 03:30 AM
Mar 19

nam arrived in the Central Highlands village where he was to spend the next year embedded with a Jarais tribe of Montagnards.

In the orientation materials and reports allegedly written by his predesessors, provided to him by the US Army, he anticipated arriving at a village that had the following:
A well built school equipt with desks, chalkboards, made of concrete, fully staffed with an administration including a principal, teachers, and maintenance workers. These posts were all on payroll every month.

A complete clinic with medics (Bouxi,) an administration and maintenance workers also all on payroll every month,

Wells made of cement, without regard to the fact that Montagnards will only drink running water such as that in a stream. Thete are animist people. They will never drink standing water as would be found in the wellbut that functionally did not exist anyway, as it was made with such inferior cement, overmixed with sand to steal every possible penny, that it was crumbling.

When he reported to his superiors in Da Nang in the cool comfort of their air conditioned offices what he had found on the ground, he expected that they too would be alarmed at the corruption. guess what? They not want to hear about it. Worse, if he said anything else about it to anybody he would be punished- and I mean very severely. To show him that they meant business, they no longer allowed him any money at all. He could only survive on what he could catch and kill himself or trade for, 100% independently of any support from the US Army.

Can you just imagine that for a moment? Just a few months ago you were the head of the marketing department at a bank in your hometown. You volunteered your ass in there, thinking you were doing the right thing you got there and you found out that you were in the middle of a giant corruption racket. And now the army wasn’t even hoing to give you money to be fed, much less provide any meaningful material support to the villagers.

How’s that for some bullshit?

Had did it not been for a network of people he knew if from where he grew up, he doesn’t think he would’ve lived.

That the immense gift of his sacrifice and service was so grossly abused for nothing was only part of what broke his heart there.

You know it has not gotten any better.

It’s a disgrace on a scale I cannot even comprehend, and here we are all over again, blowing people up with our tax money. It makes me want to vomit all day.
I am still angry for what happened to my beautiful father. I only found out after he passed from his written documentation to the VA. He had quit the army days before he would’ve been eligible for his pension. He had just absolutely had it.

Assholes from the CIA kept showing up at our front door, trying to recruit him, and he told them to fuck off. He was a very tall, very imposing and very intelligent man who had a huge heart and who loved his country.

I think it’s time for us to change, people. For real for real.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Hell No JBTaurus83 Mar 18 #1
The last report I saw said they spent 11 or 12 billion$. Norrrm Mar 18 #2
Fuck's sake Prairie Gates Mar 18 #3
Absolutely not! SheltieLover Mar 18 #4
Fuck that shit UpInArms Mar 18 #5
Threats to press, no need to get Congessional approval for War, Buddyzbuddy Mar 18 #6
Why? The war's almost over. (Said trump) IcyPeas Mar 18 #7
Half would probably go to Israel JBTaurus83 Mar 18 #8
"I think the war is very complete, pretty much" progree Mar 19 #18
Perfect! mahina Mar 19 #26
Tell Pete to start saving for it. If he reduces the bill for lobster and steak, he should be able to buy the planes he jls4561 Mar 18 #9
Throw a bake sale guys IbogaProject Mar 18 #10
The Pentagon could also try JBTaurus83 Mar 18 #11
I had that on a poster and hung it in my apartment back in the day. Deuxcents Mar 18 #12
repeal tax breaks for billionaires. that oughta turn up some serious money nt msongs Mar 18 #13
Try Gofundme durablend Mar 18 #14
Bake sales... n/f Hugin Mar 19 #21
That is one ugly office. Fla Dem Mar 18 #15
+100 nt cliffside Mar 18 #17
Take it from the DHS, with all the money that came in" The Big Beautiful Bill" being spent on... Enter stage left Mar 18 #16
Tell them to get it from Donald. It is his grandiose obsession, let him pay for it. Ford_Prefect Mar 19 #19
Fucking outrageous Scalded Nun Mar 19 #20
Why is the Washington Post using a photo from September? Hugin Mar 19 #22
but FUCK YOU if you need affordable healthcare insurance Skittles Mar 19 #23
We haven't paid for the last one yet. progressoid Mar 19 #24
pentagog should go fuck off nt orleans Mar 19 #25
In 1969 a young second Lieutenant who had volunteered to serve in the special forces in the tri-border region of Viet- mahina Mar 19 #27
Nice picture of the Old Crank Mar 19 #28
MAGA Moron PhilG Mar 19 #29
Sell Mar-a-lago. dump ICE. Fire the clowns and seize Musk's assets. Problem resolved. Wonder Why Mar 19 #30
I thought the war was already over and Iran was going to pay for it. n/t whopis01 Mar 19 #31
And Trump probably wants it all sent to the private slush fund he has set up in Qatar ToxMarz Mar 19 #32
Look at all that fake "gold" crap all over the walls..... AZ8theist Mar 19 #33
DOGE feels so, so far away Skittles Mar 19 #34
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Pentagon seeks more than ...»Reply #27