|
If anyone cared to look, they
would have discovered that there were two sides to the Special Forces men.
One most definitely was the Tiger in combat portrait. That was well
deserved and earned the hard way. The other, far less noticed side,
was the caring, giving, loyalty to their charges attitude displayed.
Even today, there is an active program to help resettle Montagnards in
this country. Several men have undertaken personal trips back to
the remote areas they served in order to locate and help those who were
left behind due to shameful political decisions. None of these missions
are funded except by the men themselves. The U.S. Government is not
involved and would not even be asked. So, these Tigers had the capability
to be a fierce fighting machine and a soft hearted deeply concerned force
at the same time. Which makes for an extraordinary Tiger, but , precisely
what these men were - extraordinary in every way, shape and form.
All this is now regarded as ancient history, relegated
to the dusty back shelves in a few libraries. The world plunges ahead
in a mad pursuit of money and ever more money. There is no time for
reflection on events of 30 to 40 years ago; few remember and fewer still
even care. But, there was time when TIGERS walked the land.
Now, these Tigers no longer prowl the dark dangerous night, where a single
misstep meant sudden death, or worse, a lingering half death. Now,
these old Tigers are content to gather on occasion and softly growl at
each other, all the while contemplating that time long ago - in a faraway
place. And, what might have been.
CSM William E. Edge
USASF RET.
|