Ernie
Army Veteran
(It was a overly crowded room with letters flowing from all
corners. A man sat there in a old chair. He was a short, dark
skinned man. He had dark hair with some strands of gray. He wore
clothing that looked as though he was in paradise. He seemed so
relax, solemn with no worries. He was the mailman at the College
of San Mateo. His name was Ernie.)
"My life before the war, we’ll I was in college working
at a air force base in Guam and partying a lot of the nights. I
had a wife and two children. When I had to go war I wasn’t
angry about going because it had to be done and so I went. Also,
everyone in my family was a soldier. I had no concerns of the
war, I didn’t think about politics too much. I was happy to
leave home but I didn’t like to fight, I mean, nobody like’s
to fight. I realize whatever’s gonna happen is gonna happen.
When I left home, I was able to be on my own and my family
approved of it because like I said, everyone in my family was a
soldier. My real father was in the army, my step father was in
the navy and I went to military school. I did not question the
war. I was a soldier and that was it.
Friendships in the war? No way. That was our number one rule, we
couldn’t get close with anyone and that’s the way it
was. The men that worked with me, well none of them died but even
when a stranger died, it affected me. I was working and the man
on the other team was working, I’d rather have him go than
me. A whole bunch of us were wounded and I got shot in the back
and leg. When I was shot, I felt nothing because I was so scared.
I drank a lot after the war and I wasn’t very happy because
I didn’t want to leave the guys behind. I was in the
hospital for two months after the war so nothing really mattered
to me anymore. There were a lot of problems at home, my wife had
left me and I couldn’t find my two children.
I was angry when I was back from war because I got treated like
dirt because I was a Vietnam veteran. The way that I feel about
this is that you have never been there so you have nothing to
say. A soldier shouldn’t be blamed , he has to do his job.
No questions asked, it was the politicians policy.
I had flashback’s for ten years after the war and I was in
and out of treatment. I’m happy with my life. I’m not
in very good shape now but I will always work.
Interview Index