yourviews

Vietnam in Popular Culture [“Bringing Vietnam Home,” April 2015] was very interesting and, I’m sure, infor- mative to those that weren’t around back then. A couple of comments, though. M.A.S.H. was not about the Vietnam

There is no comparison between those who serve 20 or more years and those who do not.

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— Lt. Col. Michael Andriani, USA (Ret)

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War as inferred. It was not only based on, but was about, the Korean War. Some other books and movies should also be included in any review of books and motion pictures of [the Vietnam] era. In my opinion, the two best books about the ground war in [Southeast Asia] are Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (a Rhodes Scholar and recipient of the Navy Cross and numerous other decorations) and We Were Soldiers Once … and Young by … [Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, USA (Ret)] (… CO of the first airmobile regiment in Vietnam and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and numerous decorations). Mov- ies that should not be omitted include We Were Soldiers, based on Moore’s book; Full Metal Jacket; and, of course, the contro- versial Apocalypse Now. — Lt. Col. Addison Thompson, USAF (Ret) Santa Barbara (Calif.) Chapter, Life Member via email

I was disappointed that the book Platoon Leader, written by my good friend Col. James R. McDonough, USA (Ret), was not listed [in “Bringing Vietnam Home”]. The book was about Jim’s personal experienc- es as a U.S. Army infantry platoon leader in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. As a young lieutenant, he learned what it meant to lead men into combat and about the responsibilities, the fears, the loneli- ness, and the struggle to retain a sense of humanity amid the savagery of the war. [Author Don Vaughan] mentioned that,

initially, there was a mixed response by many servicemen to some of the books written about Vietnam. Many veterans

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felt that the books were unfair and un- balanced. But, I believe that Colonel McDonough’s Platoon Leader more objec- tively and fairly describes the behaviors of the people who served there. The book was later made into a movie. — Maj. Gen. Jerry D. Icenhower, USA (Ret) via email

Retirement Reform I could not help wondering why critics say the current retirement system (20 years) is unfair as 83 percent of entrants leave before 20 years [“Budget vs. Commission,” Wash- ington Scene, April 2015]. These folks may not receive retirement benefits, but they do receive a number of VA benefits that include access to VA hospitals and pharma- cies, VA home loans, GI bill-type education benefits, etcetera, for their limited service. I hope MOAA advocates are not unwisely buying into this “fairness” debate. There is no comparison between those

who serve 20 or more years and those who do not. Former servicemembers receive a host of VA benefits for their service. Ben- efits for those actually retiring after 20-plus years’ service should be an entirely separate issue. The real fairness issue is why I am paying for my health care after 30 years’ service when I was told it would be free for me and my spouse our entire lives upon re- tirement; that is, if I was not killed, maimed, disfigured, or disabled along the way. — Lt. Col. Michael Andriani, USA (Ret) Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter via email

Our politicians are taking the course of least resistance by focusing on a possible reduction of military pay and benefits because uniformed personnel comprise a very small portion of the population. Our elected officials should concentrate on mandatory outlays, i.e., Social Secu- rity, Medicare, Medicaid, etcetera, which