All service important

Carl Breshears said he could only imagine how a “real Vietnam veteran” feels. I spent a year in combat (196970) in Vietnam as an infantry officer. I am very thankful that the Arkansas legislators and governor saw fit to recognize our service by authorizing the Vietnam veteran license plate. No other state in which I have lived has ever taken the effort to extend this recognition and appreciation.

I appreciate Breshears’ concern about those who did and did not make it into combat and his desire not to diminish the honor, but his service in Germany was also important. When Soviet armed forces invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968 to put down uprisings there, I was acting commander of a U.S. mechanized infantry battalion deployed across Route 17 out of Czechoslovakia into southern Germany. The battalion was severely understrength because most of the men who would have been assigned were diverted to Vietnam.

Within about the same time frame, other Vietnam-era veterans were being shot at and returning fire in the Dominican Republic, Detroit, and on 14th Street in D.C., just a few blocks from the White House. They are at least as deserving of recognition as someone who actually went to Vietnam but spent 12 months out of rocket and mortar range and never heard a shot fired in anger.

I thank Breshears for his service and sincere concern about us “real vets.” Please go ahead and take advantage of the recognition offered by Arkansas. I support his right to do so. DAVID M. DACUS

Hot Springs