On this Memorial Day weekend I do have memories of war dead

However they are not exactly what one would expect. I was in active combat many times in Vietnam and one of the main criteria we lived by was body counts. And they weren't talking American bodies, although I saw my share of those as well. I am haunted by enemy bodies I saw laying alongside trails and tangled up in concertina wire. Often these bodies had been mutilated by soldiers or even booby trapped and left for their comrades to come and retrieve them. I know I am not supposed to memorialize our enemies but I can not help it. They fought bravely and for a cause dear to them, which I can honestly say I did not have. I am just supposed to think about all those American soldiers that gave their lives for this country but somehow my brain just doesn't think that way. I almost never think about American casualties. Maybe the thoughts are too sensitive for me :shrug: but I think often of those enemy dead I saw almost daily on those long humps and wonder about their lives and their families. I love my country but we have done some very evil things and I wish and wish it weren't so..

My water skiing buddy before he shipped out, returned, move to LA and got into meth.

He shared the story of his job, bulldozing over trenches filled with bodies.

RIP, "Studly".

Mike was fearless on a wakeboard.

What a waste.

:patriot: