As a former U.S. Navy Seabee Vietnam veteran and as a retired Army First Sergeant, permit me to inform Minnesotans that I regard the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was RIGHT and HONORABLE; the lifting of the trade embargo with Vietnam was NOT justified; and I support the awarding of The Military Order of the Purple Heart to all veterans exposed to AGENT ORANGE in Vietnam - 1961 - 1975

Since returning from South Vietnam October 07, 1970 I often recall many memories and impressions that are recorded in my diary. Some incidents I want to forget; such as during the month of January, 1970 our camp in Dongtam, which was located in the Mekong Delta, was shelled by mortar 31 times, but in February, the Communists shelled us only 20 times. By that time, most of us United States Navy Seabees were used to it, because it got to be a way of life.

I was an adviser to the South Vietnamese Navy in Dongtam, South Vietnam teaching them engineering. The lack of education of the Vietnamese and their lack of experience in construction and their lack of interest made them very slow students. At that time, March 1970, I didn't believe the Vietnamization Program would work because the South Vietnamese didn't want us to go home. Many of the South Vietnamese believed they were helping us fight our war. Imagine that! It is hard to believe, but it is true.

I believed in 1970 if the Vietnamization Program was going to be successful it would take at least four years to accomplish the job. You just can't train the South Vietnamese in six weeks and expect them to take over a construction job. In the states, it takes four years to be a journeyman. The Vietnamization Program looked good on paper, but in practice, it didn't work as fast as our politicians wanted it to.

During that time, politicians flew to South Vietnam for a few short days for a fact-finding tour, and they went back to the United States painting an optimistic picture of the Vietnamization Program. I had been over there several months, and I believed the only way the Vietnamization Program would be successful was if the South Vietnamese had a change of attitude and a desire to take over after we left. At that time, March 1970, I didn't believe they wanted the Vietnamization Program to succeed.... Of course, events that took place after I left Vietnam in October, 1970 warranted my belief.

Witnessing the Vietnamization Program in operation, and watching the events that led to the total capitulation of South Vietnam to the North Vietnamese Communists, I still believe our involvement in South Vietnam was morally right and honorable.