So There Were Assholes

Mike points out that there were jerks in the antiwar movement of the Sixties:

Good morning Ted,
I enjoy your editorials and cartoons regularly, and I support your point of view, which very closely represents my own. I’m a 57 year old Marine veteran of Viet Nam, Jan ’67 – May ’68. War caused my disillusionment of war: murder, torture, and atrocity was not my thing. I joined the Marines to “save America from communism”, as the propaganda of the time persuaded us.
Afterward, I marched with Viet Nam Veterans Against the War, carrying the front line banner, reading names of the dead on the state capital steps (in the rain), and I barged into Ronald Reagan’s office and laid my Purple Heart Medal on the marbled floor. After all, it was mine to do as I pleased, since I earned it the hard way: shot by a .51 caliber machine gun during operation Pike on my 19th birthday.
It has been my unpopular opinion during this particular illegal American corporo-fascist war, that the military and it’s individually content to commit crimes against humanity volunteer soldiers should not be supported. Therefore, I agree
whole-heartedly with your subject editorial. However, Jerry Lembcke and yourself are wrong that it was pure fiction regarding Viet Nam vets being spit on and called baby killers.
During rotation home, I was sitting on a bench in LAX, waiting for my father to pick me up. On either side of me was an Army helicopter pilot and an Air Force airman. Four “long haired, hippie, dope smoking, commie scumbags” walked up and confronted us boisterously, the mouthpiece wearing a dress blue Marine jacket with ribbons affixed. He began by spitting at our feet, calling us baby killers, and hurling epithets. I was anti-war then and embarrassed by their misguided attack.
The Army Warrant Officer and I exchanged a knowing look and stood to confront the punks, whom immediately withdrew in fear, I’m sure. We followed them to the baggage area. which was empty at that time of night, and began to issue them
some good ‘ol article 69 justice. A security officer broke up the melee, sent us on our way with a supportive smile, and ushered the young miscreants off.
I’m not proud of a few things I’ve done in this tough ‘ol life, but that’s one memory I savor, even when I let my freak flag fly. Keep the faith, I appreciate your effort.

For the record, Mike was right to kick those jerks’ asses. For this may surprise you, dear reader, but I would even be polite to Dear Leader. Even if he is a genocidal maniac, there’s no reason to be rude.