Member-only story
“Thank You For Your Service…”
I’m an old man now, and Veterans Day brings on conflicted thoughts.
I was 19 when I put in a volunteer statement for Vietnam. Much later, I learned that was the age of the average troop in Vietnam. In my heart of hearts, I did not believe I would face mortal danger. However, I found it expedient to let other people think so, especially people of the female persuasion.
I expected to be issued an M-16 because my post was so far from Saigon, but I didn’t expect to use it. My field was intelligence, and the building where I worked in San Antonio was surrounded by a tall chain link fence with razor wire along the top. Inside that fence, there was a spiral of barb wire. On the building, there were bright lights connected to motion detectors and infrared sensors. Both outside and inside the wire were patrolled by armed guards.
To get inside the wire required a badge with our mug shot on it, color-coded for clearance level. While we waited for our security clearance, they gave us the lowest level badge. It was red, denoting we could see confidential material if we had a need to know. That would not happen. The only reason they let us in at all was to check our mail. I thought it was odd to have the mail boxes inside so much security, but that decision (like everything else) was above my pay grade.
