04-22-2008, 04:23 AM
Quote:- I recall reading of one unfortunate culture ignorance event during the Vietnam war where US servicemen are alleged to have kicked over tombstones that bore the Swastika...
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In 1968 a picture was published of a 9th Infantry recondo team with a member wearing a swastika around his neck. The press noted this and presented this as evidence of "right wing extremist" elements in the US forces. I was later assigned to the 9th Infantry. We were in a highly populated area and we had a lot of contact with the Vietnamese, with whom we were not on bad terms with. It was not uncommon for a Vietnamese family we had befriended, or one of our Tiger Scouts to give us a medallion of the Buddha, or a "good luck" swastika. We were very aware of the religious symbolism. However, the press seemed to report what it wanted to.
R. Izard
