Thursday, December 25, 1975

Pres. Truman and the 1945 Christmas message






We go back and remember a president at a critical time in US history.

Today, we remember Pres. Truman and Christmas 1945.


It was Christmas 1945 and President Truman had just completed an incredible year.


He became president after FDR's death in April.

He led the US to victory in Europe:
Listen to Truman's broadcast to the American people announcing the surrender of Germany, May 8, 1945


He dropped two bombs on Japan:
Listen to Truman's radio address to the American people after the signing of the terms of unconditional surrender by Japan, September 1, 1945


It was an amazing year for a man nobody knew the year before.

This is what Pres. Truman said many years ago:

Ladies and gentlemen, and listeners of the radio audience:
This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace come joy and gladness.

The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree.

We meet in the spirit of the first Christmas, when the midnight choir sang the hymn of joy:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Let us not forget that the coming of the Saviour brought a time of long peace to the Roman World.

It is, therefore, fitting for us to remember that the spirit of Christmas is the spirit of peace, of love, of charity to all men.

From the manger of Bethlehem came a new appeal to the minds and hearts of men:

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.
"In love, which is the very essence of the message of the Prince of Peace, the world would find a solution for all its ills.

I do not believe there is one problem in this country or in the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

The poets' dream, the lesson of priest and patriarch and the prophets' vision of a new heaven and a new earth, all are summed up in the message delivered in the Judean hills beside the Sea of Galilee.

Would that the world would accept that message in this time of its greatest need!This is a solemn hour.

In the stillness of the Eve of the Nativity when the hopes of mankind hang on the peace that was offered to the world nineteen centuries ago, it is but natural, while we survey our destiny, that we give thought also to our past--to some of the things which have gone into the making of our Nation.
You will remember that Saint Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, and his companions, suffering shipwreck, "cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day."

Happily for us, whenever the American Ship of State has been storm-tossed we have always had an anchor to the windward.
We are met on the South Lawn of the White House. The setting is a reminder of Saint Paul's four anchors.

To one side is the massive pile of the Washington Monument--fit symbol of our first anchor.

On the opposite end of Potomac Park is the memorial to another of the anchors which we see when we look astern of the Ship of State--Abraham Lincoln, who preserved the Union that Washington wrought.
Between them is the memorial to Thomas Jefferson, the anchor of democracy.

On the other side of the White House, in bronze, rides Andrew Jackson--fourth of our anchors--the pedestal of his monument bearing his immortal words:

"Our Federal Union--it must be preserved."
It is well in this solemn hour that we bow to Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, and Lincoln as we face our destiny with its hopes and fears-its burdens and its responsibilities.

Out of the past we shall gather wisdom and inspiration to chart our future course.
With our enemies vanquished we must gird ourselves for the work that lies ahead. Peace has its victories no less hard won than success at arms. We must not fail or falter.

We must strive without ceasing to make real the prophecy of Isaiah:

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
In this day, whether it be far or near, the Kingdoms of this world shall become indeed the Kingdom of God and He will reign forever and ever, Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

With that message I wish my countrymen a Merry Christmas and joyous days in the New Year.
So we remember one of the great leaders of the past, President Truman of Missouri.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Tuesday, December 23, 1975

1975: The era of baseball free agency begins!


On this day in 1975, a landmark decision made Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith a couple of free agent players.    


McNally retired after the decision and Messersmith signed with the Dodgers.     McNally was traded by Baltimore after the 1974 season.   Messersmith had pitched for the Braves.  

Neither man benefited much from free agency but they did challenge the rule and won in the courts.

The real free agent class came after the 1976 season, when Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Don Baylor and others negotiated their own contracts.

It was a big day for the players and vindication for Curt Flood who sat out an entire season in protest of the reserve clause.

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Thursday, December 18, 1975

Christmas 1967: "Hello Goodbye" was # 1 for The Beatles


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The Beatles and "Hello Goodbye) was # 1 song this week of Christmas 1967.   It was from the LP "Magical Mystery Tour" but did not appear in the TV special by that name.    

You can click HERE to buy the album.



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Wednesday, November 26, 1975

1975: Fred Lynn MVP & Rookie of the Year


Image result for fred lynn red sox 1975 images

Fred Lynn set the baseball world on fire in 1975.   He was voted Rookie of the Year and MVP.   His numbers were awesome:  .331 BA with 21 HR and 105 RBI.    

Lynn was the first player to win both awards in one season.    He was also a key player in Boston winning the AL pennant.   Cincinnati beat Boston in a dramatic 7-game series.   

Lynn had a pretty career beyond that rookie year.  He won a batting title in 1979 plus some great numbers over 17 seasons: .283 average, 306 HR, 1,111 RBI, 1,960 hits in 1,969 games.

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Wednesday, November 05, 1975

1975: The Bee Gees and "Nights on Broadway"


"Nights on Broadway" was the second single from "Main Course", my favorite Bee Gees' album from the 1970's.

It was released in September, entered the Billboard Top 100 in early October and the US Top 10 in mid-November, or many years ago.

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb were just spectacular in this one. This is one of their best vocal efforts ever!

Barry and Robin share the lead. Maurice is just superb in the middle with some amazing harmony.   Enjoy it because I really do!

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Sunday, November 02, 1975

Truman 1948, an amazing campaign


Image result for truman beats dewey

This is a good time to remember another anniversary of Truman vs Dewey, the biggest upset in presidential election history.   Or should I say, the biggest upset until Trump in 2016.  

On election day 1948, most experts picked Governor Thomas Dewey of New York over President Harry Truman.  It turned out to be different.   Let’s see if this sounds familiar:  

He traveled to America’s cities and towns, fighting to win over undecided voters by portraying himself as an outsider contending with a “do-nothing” Congress. 

It was a shock, an upset!  I’ve heard stories that people went to bed thinking that it was over and woke up to the shocker.

The Chicago Tribune was so certain that they went to print with the headline: “Dewey beats Truman.”  It produced one of the greatest photos of the 20th century.

What is the lesson of 1948?  I see a few:

First, wait until all of the votes are counted.  It sounds silly but it’s true;

Second, there is something about a man who works hard and goes from rally to rally asking people for their votes.  I admire that.  

1948 a great surprise!

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Saturday, November 01, 1975

1789: President Washington's proclamation of a day of thanksgiving and prayer


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This is a proclamation from Pres. Washington in 1789. Show it to your children. Maybe they can read it in schools or post a copy on the City Hall bulletin board.
"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks -- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility [sic], union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed -- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions -- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed -- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington"
Amazing proclamation! 

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Tuesday, October 21, 1975

October 21, 1975: Another year to remember Carlton Fisk and game 6


Image result for carlton fisk HR images

It seems like the whole country was up watching game 6 of the 1975 World Series.  It was about 12:30 ET when Fisk hit the foul pole and ended one of the greatest baseball games ever played.

It took me a while to fall sleep because the post game celebration went on for a while.   I don't know if anybody slept that night in New England.

Cincinnati and Boston went back to work the next night to play game 7.  It was a pretty good game.  Yaz made the last out of the game and the Reds were the champs.

It was the greatest baseball moment of my generation.  

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1975, Game 6 and that late night Fisk homerun!


Image result for fisk home run 1975 world series
I stayed up and watched the homer, the celebration, the post game interviews and then hit the pillow to wake up at at 6 am!
The Reds won game 7 the next night!
Game 6 had so much drama, from that 8th inning home run to tie the game, the bottom of the 9th double play to kill a Red Sox rally, the catch in right field, great pitching and that 12th inning homer.
It was great baseball, just great baseball! 

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Sunday, October 19, 1975

Luis Tiant: 163 pitches and complete game in game 4 of the 1975 World Series


It was quite a 1975 World Series for Tiant.

He pitched a Game 1 shutout of the Reds; and, 

In game 4, Tiant came back and beat the Reds, 5-4.    He threw an amazing 163 pitches and got out of trouble several times in the game.  It also tied the series at 2-2.

What an an effort by “El Tiante”, one of the great Cuban pitchers of recent memory. 

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Thursday, October 16, 1975

1975 World Series: Would replay have overturned the controversial Fisk-Ambrister play?



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 The 1975  World Series was probably the best post-season series of our generation.  We all remember game 6 and a very good game 7.     

The Reds beat the Red Sox in 7 games and it was one great game after another.

In game 3, there was a controversial play at home:
"In the 10th, Reds pinch-hitter Ed Armbrister attempted a sacrifice bunt and bounced the ball in front of the plate. Catcher Carlton Fisk, in an attempt to field the ball, collided with Armbrister and threw the ball into center in an attempt to force Cesar Geronimo at second. Geronimo went to third -- and later scored the game-winner -- and Armbrister moved to second. Home plate umpire Larry Barnett ruled there was no interference despite heated protests by the Red Sox."
Wonder if replay would have reversed that call?

Wednesday, October 15, 1975

1975: Father Tiant watched his son Luis pitch beautifully in The World Series


Image result for luis tiant and father images
We remember Luis Tiant’s career because he won 229 games in the majors.   He also led the AL in ERA in 1968 and 1972.   Along with Juan Marichal, he was one of the best righthanders that we grew up watching. 
We also remember his father, one of the best pitchers in Cuban history and The Negro Leagues.   He pitched in the US, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, as well as touring with teams from 1926 through 1948.  Unfortunately, he never got to play in the major leagues. 
On this day in 1975, a proud father watched his son pitch a World Series beauty or a brilliant 6-0 shutout against Cincinnati in game 1 of the 1975 World Series.    He did it against a lineup that included Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, fellow Cuban Tony Perez, David Concepcion, George Foster and a few others.   They were called The Big Red Machine for a reason! 
Tiant came back and won game 4 with a complete game that featured 163 pitches!   He started game 6, after a few days of rain, but did not get a decision.  That was the game where Carlton Fisk hit the HR in the bottom of the 12th. 
And we recall that his father died in 1976.  It must have been a very emotional moment to catch his son pitch in the major leagues for the first time! 
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1975: Big day for Luis Tiant

Today, we recalled that he pitched a brilliant 6-0 shutout against Cincinnati in game 1 of the 1975 World Series.    He did it against a lineup that included Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, fellow Cuban Tony Perez, David Concepcion, George Foster and a few others.   They were called The Big Red Machine for a reason!
Tiant came back and won game 4 with a complete game that featured 163 pitches!   He started game 6, after a few days of rain, but did not get a decision.  That was the game where Carlton Fisk hit the HR in the bottom of the 12th.
We remember the man they called “El Tiante” and his brilliant pitching on this day in 1975.
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A father-son story in the middle of the 1975 World Series


Saturday, October 11, 1975

1975: Happy anniversary to "Saturday Night Live"


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Frankly, I don’t remember watching the first show but I became a fan quickly.  It is a great show!
Happy birthday to “Saturday Night Live”.  I loved it back then specially Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman.
Wow!  Lots of memories of those shows!   
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Saturday, September 13, 1975

We remember Milton S. Hershey (1857-1945) and his town in Cuba


Built on Sugar: Hershey in Cuba - Milton Hershey School

We remember Milton S. Hershey who was born in Derry Township, Pennsylvania on this day in 1857. Over time, he built the world’s largest chocolate manufacturing plant.  Hershey died in 1945. 

In 1916, Hershey built a large sugar refinery in Cuba as well an adjoining village to house his workers and their families. 
He named the place Hershey and it included about 160 homes, a public school, a medical clinic, shops, a movie theater, a golf course, social clubs and a baseball stadium where a Hershey-sponsored team played its home games.
The factory became one of the most productive sugar refineries in the country, if not in all of Latin America. Furthermore, the village was the envy of surrounding towns for its quality of life.
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Saturday, September 06, 1975

September 1975: Two assassinations attempts on President Ford

President Ford's tenure was short but very consequential.  He became VP when Vice President Agnew resigned in October 1973 and president when President Nixon resigned in August 1974.  Shortly after assuming the presidency, he pardoned President Nixon, saw the country through a recession and lost a close election to Governor Carter in 1976.

Back in September 1975, President Ford faced two assassination attempts.  The first one on this day and another on the 22nd.  Thankfully, both failed but it was a scary time for the country.


Thursday, August 21, 1975

August 21, 1975: Rick And Paul Reuschel combined for a shutout



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We've seen brothers play together on major league teams.   The Ripkens played with the Orioles.   Paul & Dizzy Dean pitched with the Cardinals.

On this day in 1975, the Reuschel brothers pitched a shutout.    Rick pitched into the 7th and brother Paul came in to finish the shutout.

Brothers make history?  I guess there's always the potential for a little history when you go to the ball park.

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Sunday, August 10, 1975

Summer 1975 and I thought that The Bee Gees were singing "Child talking".....


Image result for bee gees jive talkin images
Back in the summer of 1975, Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb hit the top of the international charts with "Jive Talkin"!   I remember hearing the song on the radio and thinking that the title was "Child talkin'".   

It was the # 1 song in the US, and much of the world, in mid-August 1975!   It turned out to be one of the biggest hits of 1975 and another gem in the amazing story of these very talented Gibb brothers!   This song is also from "Main Course", my favorite of the 1970's albums.

Barry does the lead. Maurice & Robin do great backup vocals.

Click for a digital version of the song.......it sounds super!
 
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Thursday, August 07, 1975

How a "bridge" inspired "Jive talkin'" by The Bee Gees


Back in the summer of 1975, I was driving between Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I had my left hand on the steering wheel and the other searching for WLS Chicago, the big top 40 station of the Midwest.  

And then I heard "Jive talkin'" for the first time.


My first reaction was that they were saying "child talking".


Second, I knew that it was The Bee Gees because I instantly identified Barry's voice.


Third, I knew that this was a very different sound from the Gibb brothers.


A week later, I got my hands on the 45 and it is still one of my favorite tunes from the 1970's.


According to song facts, the very unique intro was inspired by the sound of crossing a bridge in Florida. 


Great song and one of their many #1 songs!


Click here for the digital version of the song and the "Main course" LP.


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Wednesday, July 02, 1975

July 2 1963: Marichal 1, Spahn 0….in 16 innings


“On July 2, San Francisco sent 25-year-old Juan Marichal out against Warren Spahn, 17 years his senior, in the Tuesday night opener of a three-game set.”  
Marichal and Spahn pitched into the 16th inning:
“Over the 16 innings, Marichal allowed eight hits and four walks and struck out 10. Spahn, who threw 201 pitches of his own, yielded nine hits, walked only one (intentionally), and fanned a pair. Both men made their next scheduled starts five days later, the Sunday before the All-Star Game."
Eventually, Willie Mays hit a homerun and the game was over after midnight in San Francisco.
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Sunday, June 29, 1975

June 29, 1941: DiMaggio reached # 42

On this day in 1941, the amazing Joe DiMaggio singled in the sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader to tie George Sisler’s A.L. consecutive-game hit record of 41 games. 
In the second game, he set the record at 42 games with a single in the seventh inning.   
What makes DiMaggio so great is that he’d play doubleheaders.  My guess is that the manager offered to give him a game off but he went out and played.
After getting # 42, his next goal was the N.L. record of 44.    As you probably know, he got to 44, 45 and finished at 56. 
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Sunday, June 08, 1975

"Country lanes", one of the best ones from The Bee Gees


"Country Lanes" was released June 1975 as one of a dozen new tunes from the Main Course album.   

It was the B-side of "Fanny, be tender with my love", released as the 3rd top 10 single out of that great album. I recall playing it many times at the school cafeteria jukebox.

Unfortunately, it was buried along big hits like "Jive Talkin" and "Nights on Broadway".

There were so many great songs on Main Course, including "Come on Over" which was recorded by Olivia Newton-John, "Wind of Change", and "At the edge of the universe".

Years later, "Country Lanes" is still one of my favorite Bee Gees' songs.

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Tuesday, May 20, 1975

May 20, 1902: Happy Cuba Independence Day


Image result for carteles cuba magazine images

(My new AT post.  See the post for links and references)

It was 119 years ago today that the Cuban flag went up in the island after the four-year U.S. occupation and 400 years of Spanish rule.   By the way, both of my paternal grandparents were born in 1892, and their birth certificates showed that they were citizens of the Spanish Crown, or whatever was left of it by that time.  Let's just say that the late 19th century was not the highlight of Spain's history.  They lost most of Latin America to independence and hung on to Cuba by a bit.

This is also a good day to remember what my late parents told me about Cuba.  

They recalled the elegance of Havana and how nice the country was. 

They never said that it was perfect, but certainly not "the underdeveloped country" narrative that Castro & the left have been preaching for years.  

That was pre-Castro Cuba, as Mark Milke wrote:   

Of the many myths that some offer up about Fidel Castro's Cuba, one tale is that despite Mr. Castro's repression, he improved a few social programs.

Thus, in his statement on Mr. Castro's death, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted "significant improvements" in Cuban health care and education under the totalitarian tutelage of Fidel Castro.

An inconvenient fact: Pre-Castro, Cuba was already better off than most Latin American countries on such indicators. 

Also, Mr. Castro's rule knocked Cubans to the near-economic bottom of all Latin American countries, with subsequent negative effects on Cuba's much-vaunted social model.

In other words, pre-Castro Cuba was a much better place to live than post-1959.

On behalf of the many who have died in political prisons or were executed by the Castro regime, let me say that we are looking forward to another independence day.   

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Thursday, May 01, 1975

1975: The fall of Saigon that did not have to happen

40 years after fall of Saigon, Vietnamese see U.S. as key ally ...
Back in 1975, I was in college trying to pass my classes and looking at some job offers in the local banks.  As I recall, the economy was okay for college graduates but the word “recession” was mentioned in some circles.  Watergate was behind us and the new President Gerald Ford was months away from facing a challenge from the former Governor Ronald Reagan of California.
During my time away from school work, I was dancing to Van McCoy’s “The hustle“, enjoying Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” and laughing to tears watching “Monty Python and the Holy Grail“.
Over in Vietnam, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong walked into Saigon and we’ve known it as “Ho Chi Minh City” ever since.
They walked in because the South Vietnam army, our ally, was totally overmatched by large and ruthless divisions pouring from the North. 
As a South Vietnamese soldier told me a few years later, they killed everybody that they suspected of supporting the government in Saigon. They didn’t care whether it was man, woman, or child.
The tragedy of Vietnam is that the USSR could not believe that we let South Vietnam collapse in 1975, as Stephen J. Morris wrote on the 30th anniversary of the disintegration of Saigon:
If the United States had provided that level of support in 1975, when South Vietnam collapsed in the face of another North Vietnamese offensive, the outcome might have been at least the same as in 1972. 
But intense lobbying of Congress by the antiwar movement, especially in the context of the Watergate scandal, helped to drive cutbacks of American aid in 1974. 
Combined with the impact of the world oil crisis and inflation of 1973-74, the results were devastating for the south. 
As the triumphant North Vietnamese commander, Gen. Van Tien Dung, wrote later, President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam was forced to fight “a poor man’s war.”
Even Hanoi’s main patron, the Soviet Union, was convinced that a North Vietnamese military victory was highly unlikely. 
Evidence from Soviet Communist Party archives suggests that, until 1974, Soviet military intelligence analysts and diplomats never believed that the North Vietnamese would be victorious on the battlefield. Only political and diplomatic efforts could succeed. 
Moscow thought that the South Vietnamese government was strong enough to defend itself with a continuation of American logistical support. 
The former Soviet chargé d’affaires in Hanoi during the 1970’s told me in Moscow in late 1993 that if one looked at the balance of forces, one could not predict that the South would be defeated. 
Until 1975, Moscow was not only impressed by American military power and political will, it also clearly had no desire to go to war with the United States over Vietnam. 
But after 1975, Soviet fear of the United States dissipated.
Again, it could have turned out very differently, especially for the many who served in Vietnam.  They won the battles, and the politicians lost the peace.   
So let remember today the generation drafted to fight a war that we chose to lose.  And let’s not forget the millions slaughtered by the communists in Vietnam and later in Cambodia.
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