Nightmares
By R.A. Camaro

First, I think the reader should recognize that throughout history, whether a family squabble was taking place or a military action was occurring, each side had feelings that its reasons for arguing or fighting were correct. Even the methods of enforcing these beliefs, no matter how extreme, were necessary and just to ensure victory.

Also, for whatever reasons Americans have fought, some whose pain from war, both physical and mental, after returning home stated that what they had done for humanity was wrong and that any kind of war is an injustice. This idea began for America in its disputes with the Indians and continued to the present day.

Until the Korean conflict, anti-war sentiment was kept to a minimum.

One must realize that VietNam was the final blow to the morale of the military forces. Returning veterans, regardless of their assignments in VietNam, were openly vilified in newspapers and on television; they were called "baby killers" and "vicious assassins" who were toy soldiers controlled by paper generals in the Pentagon. But these soldiers had done nothing in VietNam that had not been done by soldiers elsewhere in other wars and conflicts. This change in American opinion was brought about by same-day coverage of news events. But this was not the whole cause. The major factor was that the newsmen in VietNam would sit in air-conditioned rooms until a fire fight occurred; then they would immediately climb into a vehicle, rush to a waiting helicopter, and fly to the scene of the fighting.

What was commonly omitted by the newsmen was the "rest" of the war.the finding of Vietnamese civilians tortured and killed by the Viet Cong was simply not news to them. The tracking down of the Viet Cong was insignificant news. Mangled and dead young American boys and other young men, however, were news for reporting to the people back home.

Contrary to this, newsmen in World War I and World War II, as well as in the Korean conflict, had to travel with the military units to gather the news as it happened. This enabled the newsmen to understand the reasons for acts performed by each side; thus, they reported the entire story. You, as individual readers, must consider all the reasons relating to VietNam in order to reach sound judgments.

The VietNam veteran does not feel that you owe him the world. He does expect that you will consider thanking him for defending the so-called "American Way" of aiding others. If the mainland of the United States were even threatened, the voices of the people would scream for the complete and unconditional surrender of the enemy (remember Pearl Harbor and the Alamo). Also, let us not forget that World Wars I and II were not fought on our home territory. This statement is not a condonement of war but, rather, an appeal to all non-veterans to remember that returning veterans need a "thank you" for helping to defend their own country and other countries as well.

Most anti-war veterans have discovered that they were not really "anti-war" because this term changed in meaning to denote "protester". They possessed a feeling of being wanted, so with a sense of accepted purpose, they joined these groups to say that what was happening in VietNam was right, elicited foul names and sometimes attacks upon their persons. The reason for a few veterans going berserk (as the media put it) is that they have not come home psychologically. Remember that some Korean veterans were even called heroes and were honored with parades, not called warmongers and baby killers when they returned to the United States. Remembe r also, that the Iranian hostages were honored with parades and huge supplies of gifts for the year which they had endured.

One of the major differences with by book is the elimination of all obscene words. I am not a religious person, but I decided to write a book which young people can read without adults admonishing them because of the language. Almost every soldier stationed in VietNam used many obscenities. One must remember that existing was a life-or-death way-of-life, so very few soldiers were concerned with the propriety of the language. Actions determined survival. Their life styles naturally changed on their return home, but to this day only another VietNam veteran can truly understand all that happened. Even their own government and the Veterans Administration refuse to acknowledge them properly.

Scientists are now studying such issues as Agent Orange, but I think present-day teenagers will be middle-aged or older before someone finally says, "Look at the damage caused by duty in VietNam; we really need to establish compensation for them."

The events in my book are real, but the names of the soldiers and others have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty. The early descriptions of the young men are physically and emotionally prototypica l of any young individual of high school age, that is, until these young soldiers became seasoned combat veterans. The change is obvious.

I hope this book will help the reader understand the life style in VietNam and how it set the stage for emotional prob lems to occur within the minds of the veterans returning home. Most men overcame their problems through the support of family and friends. Others, including this author, may never totally stop having headaches, flashbacks, and NIGHTMARES.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Note: The author is now in search of a publisher for the full-length version of Nightmares. If you know of a publisher who might be interested, or if you are a publisher and you're interested, please contact By R.A. Camaro. --Al Colombo