tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post8230789713899049995..comments2024-03-28T13:05:30.531-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Some Things You Just Can't Forget, Nor ForgiveOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61181156431830881572015-08-21T05:43:54.943-07:002015-08-21T05:43:54.943-07:00I know.I know.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47184615634530783832015-08-20T20:19:32.898-07:002015-08-20T20:19:32.898-07:00Give 'em enough time and the LibDems will name...Give 'em enough time and the LibDems will name ships after Jane Fonda and Bill Clinton.Murphy's Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-3549053894030190842015-08-20T13:14:33.211-07:002015-08-20T13:14:33.211-07:00Wouldn't surprise me.
FWIW, the Chinese had n...Wouldn't surprise me.<br /><br />FWIW, the Chinese had no intention of going to bat for Vietnam. Any Russian involvement was also unlikely.<br /><br />Effing politicos were scared of shadows.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-39577691062242927012015-08-20T13:12:13.169-07:002015-08-20T13:12:13.169-07:00It's disheartening at times.It's disheartening at times.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34188910588882278562015-08-20T13:11:42.548-07:002015-08-20T13:11:42.548-07:00Just another lying sack of dung politician.Just another lying sack of dung politician.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-14747266936711798502015-08-20T12:29:32.367-07:002015-08-20T12:29:32.367-07:00To me the tragedy of Vietnam was the politicians c...To me the tragedy of Vietnam was the politicians continual interference in how it should be run, what should be attacked. I remember a post of Lex's where he is talking to a Naval aviator who was at Yankee Station - and he said that at the beginning of the war, they were all gung-ho to winning it - doing what it took. <br /><br />As the war dragged on and they were given silly targets to attack (like truck yards) while ripe targets were off limits (like SAM sites) they approached the war from a survival mode - just do their time and go <br /><br />But the politicians were afraid of China and Russia entering the war. <br /><br />You think - what really pissed off Nixon late in the war - 1972 - what the North Vietnamese refusal to go to the table in Paris - he had Haiphong Harbor mined - stopping all flow of Russian ships with SAM missiles and supplies - think had this been done in 1965...<br /><br />Finally heard something interesting on some documentary about Nixon's resignation during Watergate - the North Vietnamese had not tried to invade the South because they feared Nixon would resume the bombing - when Ford came in they had the green light - <br /><br />Don't know how true that is but it is certainly plausible given the history (I was draft age in 1968 - had a college deferment - drafted in 1972)Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36917810292368273512015-08-20T12:20:04.057-07:002015-08-20T12:20:04.057-07:00Here's my favorite LBJ quote (among a rich gro...Here's my favorite LBJ quote (among a rich group of candidates) <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qj6MVGuX8EWilliamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59037245882523499562015-08-20T12:18:00.625-07:002015-08-20T12:18:00.625-07:00So disheartening to see a man with such a poisonou...So disheartening to see a man with such a poisonous past receive anything that might prolong his fame. Some of my friends are just flat out dead because of him and RSMcN. Those two were just vicious and evil. Oh, and stupid. No, come to think of it, they did their work well - the Nation has never recovered and we continue to split more every day.Dave's Daily Day Dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491764990082380190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83811437746800820172015-08-20T10:39:07.347-07:002015-08-20T10:39:07.347-07:00Absolutely concur with that last bit.Absolutely concur with that last bit.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-16272754957780948342015-08-20T10:38:45.455-07:002015-08-20T10:38:45.455-07:00Ditto. I can think of many bad things to say, that...Ditto. I can think of many bad things to say, that's not a problem.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-28737364169194977632015-08-20T10:38:18.751-07:002015-08-20T10:38:18.751-07:00Now there's an idea I can get behind...Now there's an idea I can get behind...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-15800685978384134682015-08-20T10:38:00.484-07:002015-08-20T10:38:00.484-07:00@Skip, you make a good point.@Skip, you make a good point.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21217517723493767542015-08-20T10:37:31.062-07:002015-08-20T10:37:31.062-07:00@Ron, may indeed be a Camelot effect.@Ron, may indeed be a Camelot effect.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74365460802181189642015-08-20T09:41:21.641-07:002015-08-20T09:41:21.641-07:00The nose was already under the tent when Kennedy t...The nose was already under the tent when Kennedy took office.<br />He just drove it further.(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65302093567765310262015-08-20T09:36:17.274-07:002015-08-20T09:36:17.274-07:00Viet Nam and the "Domino Theory" had som...Viet Nam and the "Domino Theory" had some influence here, too.<br />I separated from active duty at the time of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident" rel="nofollow">Gulf of Tonkin incident"</a>.<br />The years immediately following were in college in the Bay Area, where the anti-war movement was rampant.<br />It was nearly impossible to remain neutral.<br />The SF Chronicle had a satirical columnist, Art Hoppe, who referred to Johnson as "Elbie Jay."<br />I kinda liked that.<br />My favorite Johnson quote - "We shall continya ta beautifa Murica." <br />I may not have the words exactly right, but they refer to the 1965 Highway Beautification Act. <br /><br />I don't much think about any flag officers, other than those with whom I came in direct contact.<br />They were all four stripers who commanded the destroyer squadron for which we were the flagship.<br />The first was an a*****e, the last a joy.<br />There's no way a tin can should be named after anyone but a true naval hero who's had a distinguished career or made the ultimate sacrifice.<br />(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27837201535857275922015-08-20T09:35:15.490-07:002015-08-20T09:35:15.490-07:00I always try to figure out something good to say a...I always try to figure out something good to say about people but when it comes to LBJ, I got nothin'!!rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-53676314902858881562015-08-20T09:32:57.201-07:002015-08-20T09:32:57.201-07:00Kennedy, for all practical purposes, put the camel...Kennedy, for all practical purposes, put the camels nose under the tent. I see no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt as to that he would not have increased troops in VN, where we had no business being in at all. Most of what I have read about Kennedy, and what he would or would not have done, was written under the magic of Camelot umbrella. There is a reason that he is not on any Historians list of Top Presidents. Kennedy had about as much use for LBJ as FDR did for Truman.<br />Ron Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217389199007968254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-3072851725682303352015-08-20T08:47:01.754-07:002015-08-20T08:47:01.754-07:00Hopefully the DDG 1003 sewage holding tanks will b...Hopefully the DDG 1003 sewage holding tanks will be named Robert Strange McNamara processor.Well Seasoned Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670165728759453075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22144718560054990782015-08-20T08:44:52.113-07:002015-08-20T08:44:52.113-07:00From what I read, JFK did not intend to escalate. ...From what I read, JFK did not intend to escalate. He knew the perils of getting into a war in Asia.<br /><br />It divided us badly and the current batch of political idiots in DC seemed to have learned nothing from that experience.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-58191815838866042772015-08-20T08:29:49.387-07:002015-08-20T08:29:49.387-07:00So agree! I think Kennedy would have not escalated...So agree! I think Kennedy would have not escalated like LBJ did and what a wasteful war. Not only the loss of lives, but the war divided the country like never before, and we are still suffering from that division. joehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08520161706680568508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-33350026980077666232015-08-20T08:26:38.213-07:002015-08-20T08:26:38.213-07:00Bingo! Rev's got bingo!
Admiral Rickover once...Bingo! Rev's got bingo!<br /><br />Admiral Rickover once defended the naming of submarines after cities, states and politicians by saying "fish don't vote." (Subs were traditionally named after aquatic lifeforms.)<br /><br />He had a point. Still, wouldn't it be a better world if folks voted for what was necessary as opposed to voting for something which strokes their egos?OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-41071223216352539492015-08-20T08:21:16.523-07:002015-08-20T08:21:16.523-07:00Uncle Elmo was CNO during my Navy years. I tend to...Uncle Elmo was CNO during my Navy years. I tend to agree with your assessment above, Sarge.<br /><br />LBJ is worthy only of the bad things said about him, both here and elsewhere. After all, you'll notice there's never been a USS Andrew Johnson. Simply having been President is no recommendation for getting one's name on a ship of the line.Rev. Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588179227576383679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70014304592336909842015-08-20T07:31:59.569-07:002015-08-20T07:31:59.569-07:00I do so despise that man.
Next time give him one ...I do so despise that man.<br /><br />Next time give him one from me as well.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65999367488867530052015-08-20T07:31:30.586-07:002015-08-20T07:31:30.586-07:00I've heard good and bad about Zumwalt. History...I've heard good and bad about Zumwalt. History will be kind to him I think.<br /><br />He did his duty and served to the best of his abilities. That's all you can ask from a man.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77597724502608273382015-08-20T07:30:09.427-07:002015-08-20T07:30:09.427-07:00Oh, don't I know it Shaun!
(Self-limiting idi...Oh, don't I know it Shaun!<br /><br />(Self-limiting idiots, now there's a nice turn of phrase. Of course, you seem to have a knack for that.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.com