JARHEAD!

A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles

Review by Oceab-"Jarhead" brought back memories to this Jarhead from a different war (Hue, Vietnam 1967-1968), memories of my time in the "Corp" and also my time before, during and after Gulf War One.

Reading about Swofford and other marines watching Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket (which is about a marine from basic training at Paris Island to combat in Hue, Vietnam) shows that "The Vietnam Syndrome" is not over.

Swofford mentions that the importance of a war is often not summed up until decades and possibly a century after it has ended.

Jarhead shows that plea deals (how I ended up in USMC in Vietnam), poverty and legacy (Swofford had an uncle, who was a marine) still help to fill the USMC.

Swofford also mentions how there is no free speech, especially to U.S. press, when you are under contract to the USMC. You are under orders to say that your mission is whatever the President (commander in chief) and Pentagon says it is.

Swofford tells us that he knew that Gulf War One was fought to liberate Kuwait's oil.

I remember being in Gasworks Park, called Peaceworks Park, in Seattle during a vigil against the buildup to Gulf War One. I also remember "The Support The Troops" public relations that brought up the LIE of the antiwar movement spitting on soldiers as they returned from Vietnam. My memory is of VFW and American Legion leaders joining with President Nixon in calling Vietnam veterans; losers, hippies, potheads, etc.

Vietnam veterans were in the leadership of the antiwar movement with Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). I feel that the Vietnam War ended because the troops refused to fight and the antiwar movement helped them to risk this.

Jarhead also deals with the personal problems of readjustment to civilian life after being in combat. Swofford mentions "the war scar" that exists even when there are big victory parades to celebrate the death of "The Vietnam Syndrome." We had Agent Orange and they the Gulf War Syndrome, which the Pentagon and U.S. government showed how it devalues life of even U.S. soldiers.

There is the same homelessness, PTSD, alcoholism, drug addiction, suicide, and other problems that come from being in combat. I always wondered about those who could kill people with no problem!

I would recommend Jarhead, especially as the President and Pentagon have now brought another "victory" with Gulf War Redux to help gain an understanding of how the reality and public relations of war are vastly different.