I'm a bit different @sneakypete I expected the "people" who put us in harm's way to at least pretend that they gave one shit about what we were SUPPOSED to be doing. My hopes were dashed across the board.
Edit to add; Hell yes I'm bitter!
@Bigun I never once expected anything BUT getting screwed by the pols,so this is one time being negative worked out for me. Carrying around a lot of bitterness hurts no one but you.
I worked with and fought with friends,almost all career soldiers,so the real truth is I was fighting to help try to save my friends.
I realize for most people the scenario was different,and they really didn't know anyone in the unit they got assigned to when they were ordered to VN,and I can see how THAT would have been a nightmare all of it's own. Not only do you not know what is going on most of the time,but neither does anyone around who will bother to speak to you.
I was on a physical profile (dislocated shoulder and pulled back muscles) when I landed in VN,so I had to spend the 1st 3 months in a conventional signal unit in VN until my profile expired. Hated EVERY freaking minute of it. Practically nobody there knew anyone else before they got there,and they were all treated like slaves by the NCO's and Officers in charge,and all of them were incompetent bleep reserve officers called up to active duty because of the war,and they didn't want to be there,and took it out on the troops because they could. I will never understand why ANYONE would re-enlist to serve in the regular army.
Anyhow,the day my physical profile ended,the 5th SFG sent a jeep over with orders transferring me back to SF. Maybe THE happiest day of my life. All the NCO's and Officers in that Regular Army unit hated me from the instant I got there. I am guessing it was because I was Regular Army,had volunteered to be there,and used the SF "Old Boy Network" to make sure I was transferrred back to SF the instant that was possible. None of them,of course,volunteered to go to VN. They joined the reserves to keep from getting drafted and going to VN,so I guess I can understand why they were so unhappy.