“The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago on April 30, 1975, with the departure of the last American helicopter in Saigon and the arrival of North Vietnamese tanks in the city. The more than decade-long conflict was a defining event for America’s baby boomer generation. Support for the war, and opposition to it, cleaved society. It fostered a mistrust in government that persists to this day. Its legacy reshaped the U.S. military, which tried to shake off the “Vietnam syndrome,” a fear of being dragged into unpopular, slowly escalating conflicts. Hoping to avoid open-ended military interventions, politicians and military planners adopted “no more Vietnams” as a mantra. And the warchanged American journalism, giving rise to a greater skepticism of official pronouncements from the White House and the Pentagon, and making relations between military leaders and reporters far frostier.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2025/vietnam-vietnam-war-50th-anniversary-fall-of-saigon/
It defined a generation, now called the Baby Boomers…my generation. It was a time of deep divisions among Americans.
Given the US situation, the economy, and the world situation, it might not be the…
This is from a member of the BigSurKate community. She shared it with me and…
To our beloved community, Thank you so much for your outpouring of love and care…
In case you missed it a few days ago when I posted the MoCo protest…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
My generation as well, as I was born in 1950, and at age 19, in the first draft lottery while living in a dorm at U of A, Tucson. The howls, tears of joy and sadness, on that evening that roiled the dorm are not to be forgotten. My life changed, as did many others. Yes, deep divisions, "days of rage", the SDS, the Chicago 8. I don't find that the divisions are less today at all, and respect for individual rights has continually degraded regardless pf what set of politicians get elected. The people that vote can change it, if they want to.
Lester Smart (Army Tanker) was killed while crossing a river when his tank detonated a huge land mine. Reno Bacciarini (Army) was wounded (purple heart) & lives in King City. Both graduates of King City High.
Peace cost less than war, but peace doesn't concentrate wealth, so we go to war to decide who will profit from peace, the concentrated wealth makes peace very expensive.