Iraq, Vietnam and public perception

50,000+ dead vs 3,000+ dead...yeah, that'll tend to actually hit home.

My sister took some comfort in knowing that my brother-in-law was supposedly safe in Vietnam, because he was in U.S. Army hospital administration in Da Nang.

After Tet, she got a phone call and he assured her all was fine and the fighting never got close to him.

It would be ten years before I accidently blew his cover story. Going through the family photos with my sister, I came across a picture of her husband recieving an award in Vietnam.

"That," I said, looking closely, "is a Silver Star Medal and commendation."

"Is it important?" my sister asked.

"It's only given for conspicuous gallantry under fire," I answered and instantly regretted saying that.

She turned white as a sheet. They had a lot to talk about after that.