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SPENCER MICHELS: With a quarter of a
million American troops in the Middle East
taking casualties capturing prisoners and
pushing into Baghdad the war in Iraq has
evoked memories and emotions among American
veterans.
KEN KUBUYASHI, Vietnam War Veteran: Let's
win the war this time. Vietnam we didn't get
to win. We sort of faded away. So let's win
this war.
PAT DRISCOLL, Vietnam War Veteran: Why is
it we have singled out this one brutal
dictator that we put in power, helped put in
power versus the other ones?
SPENCER MICHELS: The Sacramento area was
until recently home to several military
bases, all now decommissioned. Consequently
there are thousand of retired and former
military living in the area. And political
posters say the veterans make up 40 to 50
percent of the male electorate in California
and usually reluctant to criticize the
military. At a Sacramento rally designed to
support American troops one of many around
the country, veterans were among the
demonstrators.
SPOKESMAN: We want to be able to work as
professionals.
SPENCER MICHELS: One of those who
endorses military action in Iraq is a
retired Sacramento police Lieutenant John
Cain who now teaches police officers how it
fight terrorism.
JOHN KANE, Vietnam War Veteran: I want
you have to have some kind of methodology
you have a trained cadre of people.
SPENCER MICHELS: In 1968 and 1969, Kane
fought with the 82nd Airborne Division in
Vietnam and award two purple hearts. He was
a 19 year old 2nd lieutenant at the time who
joined up five days after high school
graduation.. He was supportive of that war
and of this war.
JOHN KANE: I am absolutely in awe of the
president shouldering this responsible and
going after Saddam Hussein. This is the same
thing as a police officer going after a
criminal. And who are the only nation, who's
the only people who are going to shoulder
that law enforcement burden and you know
Lyndon Johnson's famous Texas Ranger to the
world and go after a guy like this? I am so
proud of this country for doing this. It's
amazing, really is.
SPENCER MICHELS: Kane says he respects
but disagrees with veterans who oppose the
war. And there were plenty of those at a
Sacramento anti-war rally on the eve of the
American push into Baghdad. Veterans of the
Korean War from 1950 to '53 were represented
at the rally by 70-year-old Harold Nash.
HAROLD NASH: I support the troops in
there now. They're over there. I want them
home. I support them. But I don't support
the reason for them to be over there -- two
different things.
SPENCER MICHELS: Also at the anti-war
rally was 79-year-old vet Harold Gladstone
who work in the floor covering business in
Michigan before moving to Sacramento. In
World War II Gladstone served as a gunner
aboard a b 25 and awarded a purple heart
after surviving a plane accident. Once back
home in business he was a Chamber of
Commerce Republican not anymore.
SPENCER MICHELS: A lot of people say
Saddam Hussein is an aggressor and compare
him to Stalin or Hitler.
HAROLD GLADSTONE, World War II Veteran: I
can't see it that way. When I was growing up
we saw not only what he did to the Jews
which is kind of what Saddam did to the
curds but also invade Poland Austria, tried
to invade Russia,. France. It was altogether
different. He was armed to conquer the
world. I don't see how Saddam can be a
threat to the United States.
SPENCER MICHELS: Today Gladstone says he
shows his patriotism as a volunteer teaching
leading to homeless children and young
adults in a program sponsored by the Sisters
of Social Service. And he questions the
government's priorities.
HAROLD GLADSTONE: Unfortunately, I feel
that he we in America have lost some of our
humanity or our beliefs in humanity and
we're not taking care of our own people.
We're going to destroy Iraq and rebuild it
spending these billions and billions and
they're cutting the budget for helping the
people in need right here at home.
SPENCER MICHELS: Many anti-war veterans
say they were especially disturbed by
congressional cuts to the budget for
veterans. Pat Driscoll is a navy Vietnam vet
who heads veterans for peace.
PAT DRISCOLL: The day after congress
passed a resolution supporting the troops
they passed a budget which cut benefits for
veterans by I believe $15 billon the next
five years. Now how is that supporting the
troops?
SPENCER MICHELS: But most veterans remain
steadfast in support of the Iraq war.
Stephanie Brown who served as an air force
lab technician in the Gulf War in 1991
supports American action more than a decade
later.
STEPHANIE BROWN: Part of me wishes I was
there maybe with them helping them out and
then a part of me is glad I'm here. I don't
think people really realize that, how much
freedom we do have and trying to help other
countries get to the same type of freedom we
have here.
SPENCER MICHELS: At the Sacramento VA
Hospital where brown works many others
agreed with her.
STUART BUCKALOO: I think that if you have
a hornet in your house a nest and you leave
it alone it will eventually take over the
house. As an American I believe that we love
our country. We honor our country. And I
would die for my country even as old as I am
now.
SPENCER MICHELS: While most America's 26
million veterans are not on the street
demonstrating groups for and against the war
have vowed to keep their causes before the
public.
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