slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

By William C Triplett, from VVA Magazine

Larry Pressler, one of the first Vietnam War Veterans elected to Congress, left politics in 1997. Or, so he thought.

He is now back in the thick of it with a new book in which he argues for, among other things, the absolute necessity for more independent minds and independent party candidates in the American political process.

It's even embedded in the book's nearly apocalyptic title...'Senator Pressler: An Independent Mission to Save Our Democracy.'

Where does this independent streak come from, particularly for someone who spent twenty-two years in Congress as a Republican?

VietNam.

"My generation is torn by the Vietnam experience," Pressler said in an interview. "Our clarity of thinking isn't great. We lost our faith in any simple solutions." Or, as he put it perhaps more poignantly in his book: "My generation's problem was and is Vietnam." Indeed, although the war takes up only a single chapter in the book, Pressler's two tours of duty provide the animating spirit of its thesis.

Certainly some of his independence comes from a hardscrabble early life on a South Dakota farm where he was born and raised in the 1940s and '50s. During his school years, Pressler grew determined not to be limited by the near-poverty of his upbringing, studied hard, and eventually won a Rhodes Scholarship.

But it was his time in Vietnam that made him suspicious of institutional authority.

Larry Pressler arrived in-country in 1966, a brand new U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant fully believing in the war effort, assigned to the Mekong Delta providing security along Highway 4. VC snipers took frequent aim at the American drivers of convoys and their security escorts, but Pressler managed to complete his first tour unscathed.

During his second tour he was assigned to MACV, operating between north of Saigon and the Central Highlands. One mission involved verifying body counts, which brought hm up close to what high-velocity rounds can do to people. Body counts were, of course, being touted as evidence that we were winning the war, something Pressler would not forget. He was still a believer.

Then on another mission, Pressler was aboard a helicopter dropping into a landing zone when mortar rounds hit. He left hand sustained a "slight injury,"he recalled. The commanding officer wanted to write up the action to award Pressler a Purple Heart. He declined because it would have been "disingenuous," he said. "I had seen severely wounded soldiers who really deserved a Purple Heart and never received one. I saw the awarding of medals as haphazard.

"From that point on," Pressler continued, "I never totally trusted government authority again. This incident is probably the root of my independence."

The root grew deeper with the 1968 Tet Offensive. "I really liked Lyndon Johnson," Pressler said. "While we were there, they'd show us films of Johnson saying how well things were going. I watched all his speeches. I believed him. And then, God, the Tet Offensive."

Any doubt he might have had about whether to trust government or authority vanished in the mayhem the supposedly "losing" enemy wreaked across South Vietnam. Nobody could convince him otherwise.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Pressler returned to his South Dakota hometown and eventually ran for Congress. "I thought I could make a difference," he said. It was 1975. The nation was still reeling from the Watergate scandal, and the need for governmental reform was patent. He wanted to be part of it, running as a Republican because "the mid-western Republican Party was a reform party and was also very pro-civil rights."

But Pressler said he was never a hardcore partisan, and being a Vietnam Veteran "was no political advantage."

It may have been a liability. Whenever around others in Congress who didn't serve in Vietnam or even in the military, Pressler often felt a negative vibe. For instance, one meeting he attended of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee included former Vice- President Dick Cheney, and then- Senators Dan Quayle and Phil Gramm, none of who served in the military.

"We were sending troops somewhere, can't remember where," Pressler said. "I was the only dove in the room" The Vietnam War had made him deeply skeptical of getting boots on foreign ground, especially for nation-building. "But, among these guys who had avoided serving, I sensed that I was resented because I had served in Vietnam."

He believes it cost him. "I learned you'll get higher in your career if you accept authority," he said. "Even in politics. You've got work with your party, but I was always too independent."

After losing his re-e******n bid in 1996, Pressler gave speeches, taught, and went into business. But in 2014, believing that the toxic partisan atmosphere was hurting the nation, he ran as an independent for the Senate. Pressler lost, but he remains committed to the idea of a truly independent party.

"I think we need a new independent party or movement," he said. "Bernie Sanders isn't a real independent. I think he's more a liberal Democrat."

Asked what he hopes people will take away from his book, Pressler replied:

"I don't know exactly. I'm glad I wrote it, but I'd like to rewrite it more focused. I have sch a hard time explaining the Vietnam experience. It was so complex in terms of the battles we had, the aid program, and the failure of that, and the people we left behind that got put into camps. Nobody gives a hoot about that."

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

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I agree with him. I was in Vietnam 3 times during the same years he was.
I could NEVER be a Democrat but I am not a strong believer in the Republicans either.
They're all politicians and mostly lawyers and I don't trust either.
I v**ed for President Trump and I believe he patriotic and is concerned about what is best for the country and not the Republican Party.
The Republican Party is certainly not concerned about what President Trump wants for this country.

pafret Loc: Northeast

Viet Nam was a sea change for many. As an ex soldier, I had nothing but contempt for that generations snowflakes who left for Canada instead of submitting to the draft. I looked with disapproval on all of the peacnik demonstrators. As time went on it became apparent we were in Vietnam as a result of politician's desires for military adventures, facilitated by Johnson's f**e Gulf Of Tonkin incident. The glowing reports of body counts didn't equate with the number of my friends whose brothers and sons came home in body bags but weren't included in the propaganda body counts.

This was a war fought to accommodate political purposes; its agenda was driven by the political needs of our government. The horror of the Mai Lai massacre was blamed on Lieutenant William L. Calley. It is unfathomable that he would act in such a depraved manner without coercion or exhortation from higher echelons. His troops, who carried out the massacre must have been under enormous pressure, to so deprive them, of their humanity that they would participate in that slaughter. The real guilt rested on the shoulders of Johnson and the military industrial cabal Eisenhower warned about. Any soldier knows it is virtually impossible to disobey orders.

I started out as a hawk and by the time that war was finished I ended up a dove. Every war, every police action, every intervention since then has been tainted. The question that has not been answered is for whom have we slaughtered millions and shed the lives and blood of our brothers, sisters, and children?

The shabby treatment accorded to those veterans is a shame that will endure until these generations pass away, therafter it will be a stain on our national honor. The usual collection of mindless protesters reviled and spit on those brave men and women, who fought this unjust war for us and this was the ultimate knife in the guts. It would be better if they went to Washington and spit at the Congress and Lyndon Johnson.

Tommy Atkins has never been treated so badly.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

My tour was during the same time frame, and Mr. Pressler touched on many things that Vietnam Vets identify with...regardless of their political affiliation. I could never be a Republican, and I am not a strong believer in the Democrats, either. I consider myself an independent.

badbobby Loc: texas

elect me
fill my pockets
reelect me

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

A great and spot on post parfret! I did indeed read this article in the VVA magazine, (I'm a life member) and didn't think of posting it. Thank you Slatten. Most of us coming back from being in country had changed their minds not only of the war, but the arm chair politicians running it as well. At that time I became suspicious of all career politicians and have been a registered independent when the GOP ran Dole. Unfortunately, the way the e******n process is set up, we the people are relegated to v****g for the lesser of two evils, which are usually non-serving shysters. I did v**e for Trump for a couple of reasons; I thought he was a better choice than Shillary, and he was not part of the establishment crowd infesting DC.

moldyoldy

I was in Okinawa, 66/67 we had to guard the planes so that no one would see all the bodies stacked inside, while the news reported two k**led this week.

Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

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I've saw some of the photos you post and I don't trust you

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

You are still full of it.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

You should, as BB is the Senior Sailor on the forum...I'm pretty sure. He served Noah on The Ark.

vernon

I was discharged in 1955 and i was thank full to get out.I had thought of going all the way but my dad talked me out of it thank god.
then i saw what LBJ was setting up and i dumped the demorats .I thought my dad was going to have a fit but when he passed he was a republican.
anyone who can stay demorat after the gulf of Tonkin is stupid or just plain crazy.I used to visit g i coming home from nam just to let them know
that every one didn't h**e them.AND TO LOSE 50,000 guys for nothing is a disgrace,what a terrible loss for a lie.

badbobby Loc: texas

moldy is a veteran too Papi

badbobby Loc: texas

which ones in particular salty??

badbobby Loc: texas

since you are a Jarhead
you obviously aren't sure of anything

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I'm certainly sure that's not a compliment.

BTW, that picture of you back at the turn of the century is a little small for my darts....got any bigger ones