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Frank Wiley
Hi Les and Bob, Les I'm happy your Wife is coming to the "Beer Summit"! Bob, You'll be surprised I agree with you about Vietnam. I apologize for the length of this. My motivation for joining the Marine Corps and volunteering for Vietnam was based on JFK's words in his speech, "Ask not what America can do for you. Ask what you can do for America?" I was in a unique position in Vietnam because I was a Combat Correspondent. I had taken a couple of Journalism courses at Phoenix College and put them on a resume when I joined the Marines. A funny story about the progression of listing that. The day before graduating from Boot Camp we were put in formation and assigned our M.O.S. (Military Occupational Specialty which has a number.) My Platoon Commander yelled out "Wiley-4312"! Then he yelled, "Wiley, what in the hell is a 4312?" I'm still alive so I didn't say what I thought which was, "I've been in the Marines for 8 weeks and you've been in for 10 years, how am I supposed to know what a 4312 is? ". In Vietnam I was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (which became attached to the 1st Marine Division). Because of my job I interacted with many Officers and even up to Staff Officers. One Officer I interacted most with was a Lt.Col.. J.W.P. Robertson was an U of Alabama Graduate and loved football. One of my first reactions with him he asked me if I liked football. I answered, "Yes Sir." He then asked, "Who's your favorite college team?" I answered, "Sir, it's ASU." Surprised he questioned, "Appalachian State?" I replied, " No Sir, Arizona State." He said, "Oh." That was my first introduction to education of the SEC and why it was superior. Of course I never argued. One time when I was in his presence after a bloody Operation in which we lost 20 Marines and many wounded Col. Robertson's mood was very sad and dark! (as was ours). He said to his Senior Enlisted Officer, "Top, do you know what this War's all about?" Top answered, it's about stopping Communism Sir." Col. Robertson answered, shocking us all, "No Top, it's about putting people to work building weapons, and killing off some of the work force!" My point is that that is not what Iran is about!! Vietnam, in fact no other country except maybe Germany or Japan, (and I've never read that they said, "Death to America" or called us, "The Great Satan" has been a more "Clear and Present Danger than Iran . Thanks!
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