I served in the Marine Corps, in Vietnam, at the same time as Ron Kovic. I even served at the same place, Cua Viet, where he was wounded. I watched while one of our own Marines, out of fear and panic, machine-gunned to death two fellow Marines, who were 19 years old.
Hardly a day goes by when I don't think about those kids and the constant sorrow of their parents and relatives over their loss. Like Kovic, I faced the personal disillusionment and general public apathy on my return home. But I never lost the faith that took people like myself and Kovic to Vietnam.
