Soloman Watson
Mr. Watson was not able to be interviewed in person, but he was kind enough to answer the questions through email. His answers can be found below.
Were you drafted or did you volunteer? How old were you?
While in college I took advanced military science courses,was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps ("ROTC"), and, after graduation in 1966 at age 22, went into the Army as a Second Lieutenant with a commitment to serve two years. I was fairly patriotic, the Vietnam War was raging, and, if I had to serve, I wanted to enter the Army as a commissioned officer which would result in my being in a leadership role. I was assigned to the Military Police Corps.
How long did you serve for?
I was in the Army for approximately 23 months, with duty stations in the U.S. and approximately 11 months in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division MP Company. The division's headquarters was at Bearcat, north of Saigon, and its troops operated primarily in the Mekong Delta where I was a platoon leader in Tan An for several months before moving to Bearcat. I left Vietnam about a month earlier than initially scheduled pursuant to a program under which a soldier could receive an "early out" to attend an approved school.
Do you have any memories of the war?
I have numerous memories, too many and various to recount. The mission of the MP Corps did not require direct hostile contact with enemy as was the case with the Army's Infantry, Armor, and Artillery branches or with the Marines. I have unending respect for all soldiers (including marines, sailors and airmen)who served honorably in the Vietnam War, most particularly for those in the "combat arms "whose "military occupational specialty"("MOS") required them to regularly put their lives on the line for all of us.
The MP Company had two casualties during my tour: a platoon leader and, a sergeant,his driver, were shot during a daylight ambush; the lieutenant, seriously wounded, survived, but the sergeant did not. As the senior lieutenant in the company at the time, I was responsible for drafting the letter to the family of the sergeant. Little more than a year later, my mother received a similar letter about our brother's death in Vietnam.
Do you have any friends from the war? Did you stay in touch with them?
I stay in touch with two soldiers with whom I served: Michael Cahill and Stephen Swartz. Mike is the lieutenant mentioned above; Steve, then a Captain, persuaded me to apply to law school. I saw both at a hearing in Washington, D.C. in 2010. Clarence Braxton, my good friend and high school classmate, and I were in RVN at the same time but did not know it until our return. He was an infantryman. We are in touch frequently. Some members of the MP company maintain a web site that I recently discovered visit upon occasion. Here is a link to some photos taken by one of my MP's in 1967:
http://9thmpcompany.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=10685686
I hope to attend the next reunion of the of the unit if it is convenient to do so. I feel a strong bond with all Vietnam Veterans, thank them for their service and welcome them home.
Were you in any other wars?
The Vietnam War was the only war in which I served.
What was it like when you got home? Were people rude or unsupportive?
I was warmly greeted by family and friends and was proud of having served. I went directly to law school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, approximately three weeks after returning from Vietnam in August 1968 and it did take a while for me to grow accustomed to being out of the war zone. I did not have much contact with anti-war protests though there were several in the Boston area. I understand from his children that my platoon sergeant, a career soldier, was very hurt by the disrespect shown him upon returning, and I have seen interviews with soldiers (now in their 50's or 60's who were moved to tears while recounting how poorly they were treated by some members of the anti-war movement. In my opinion, such rude and offensive behavior directed at soldiers was inexcusable and indefensible.
Do you have any supporting or opposing thoughts on the war?
We have civilian control of the military in our country. Our Commander-in-Chief, generally with the support of the Congress, is responsible for issuing the orders that send our soldiers off to battle in far-off lands for reasons that are not always honestly shared with, made clear to, nor particularly well-understood by, the public. That the Vietnam War, which began in the '60's as an honorable enterprise, became politicized, ended poorly and, it is said, in defeat for our country was not the fault of our military. Our soldiers served bravely and more than 58,000, doing their duty, gave their lives. As said in John 15:13: " Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." It our duty to honor their sacrifices and a local memorial is a perfect way to do so.
As history has shown, our country's wars continue. Army General Douglas Mac Arthur said in his famous "Duty, Honor, Country" speech at West Point:
This does not mean that you are warmongers. On the contrary, the soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
Were you drafted or did you volunteer? How old were you?
While in college I took advanced military science courses,was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps ("ROTC"), and, after graduation in 1966 at age 22, went into the Army as a Second Lieutenant with a commitment to serve two years. I was fairly patriotic, the Vietnam War was raging, and, if I had to serve, I wanted to enter the Army as a commissioned officer which would result in my being in a leadership role. I was assigned to the Military Police Corps.
How long did you serve for?
I was in the Army for approximately 23 months, with duty stations in the U.S. and approximately 11 months in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division MP Company. The division's headquarters was at Bearcat, north of Saigon, and its troops operated primarily in the Mekong Delta where I was a platoon leader in Tan An for several months before moving to Bearcat. I left Vietnam about a month earlier than initially scheduled pursuant to a program under which a soldier could receive an "early out" to attend an approved school.
Do you have any memories of the war?
I have numerous memories, too many and various to recount. The mission of the MP Corps did not require direct hostile contact with enemy as was the case with the Army's Infantry, Armor, and Artillery branches or with the Marines. I have unending respect for all soldiers (including marines, sailors and airmen)who served honorably in the Vietnam War, most particularly for those in the "combat arms "whose "military occupational specialty"("MOS") required them to regularly put their lives on the line for all of us.
The MP Company had two casualties during my tour: a platoon leader and, a sergeant,his driver, were shot during a daylight ambush; the lieutenant, seriously wounded, survived, but the sergeant did not. As the senior lieutenant in the company at the time, I was responsible for drafting the letter to the family of the sergeant. Little more than a year later, my mother received a similar letter about our brother's death in Vietnam.
Do you have any friends from the war? Did you stay in touch with them?
I stay in touch with two soldiers with whom I served: Michael Cahill and Stephen Swartz. Mike is the lieutenant mentioned above; Steve, then a Captain, persuaded me to apply to law school. I saw both at a hearing in Washington, D.C. in 2010. Clarence Braxton, my good friend and high school classmate, and I were in RVN at the same time but did not know it until our return. He was an infantryman. We are in touch frequently. Some members of the MP company maintain a web site that I recently discovered visit upon occasion. Here is a link to some photos taken by one of my MP's in 1967:
http://9thmpcompany.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=10685686
I hope to attend the next reunion of the of the unit if it is convenient to do so. I feel a strong bond with all Vietnam Veterans, thank them for their service and welcome them home.
Were you in any other wars?
The Vietnam War was the only war in which I served.
What was it like when you got home? Were people rude or unsupportive?
I was warmly greeted by family and friends and was proud of having served. I went directly to law school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, approximately three weeks after returning from Vietnam in August 1968 and it did take a while for me to grow accustomed to being out of the war zone. I did not have much contact with anti-war protests though there were several in the Boston area. I understand from his children that my platoon sergeant, a career soldier, was very hurt by the disrespect shown him upon returning, and I have seen interviews with soldiers (now in their 50's or 60's who were moved to tears while recounting how poorly they were treated by some members of the anti-war movement. In my opinion, such rude and offensive behavior directed at soldiers was inexcusable and indefensible.
Do you have any supporting or opposing thoughts on the war?
We have civilian control of the military in our country. Our Commander-in-Chief, generally with the support of the Congress, is responsible for issuing the orders that send our soldiers off to battle in far-off lands for reasons that are not always honestly shared with, made clear to, nor particularly well-understood by, the public. That the Vietnam War, which began in the '60's as an honorable enterprise, became politicized, ended poorly and, it is said, in defeat for our country was not the fault of our military. Our soldiers served bravely and more than 58,000, doing their duty, gave their lives. As said in John 15:13: " Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." It our duty to honor their sacrifices and a local memorial is a perfect way to do so.
As history has shown, our country's wars continue. Army General Douglas Mac Arthur said in his famous "Duty, Honor, Country" speech at West Point:
This does not mean that you are warmongers. On the contrary, the soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”