Ronald N. Goulden

A Question of Honor Ronald N. Goulden

The Viet Nam war touched this nation just as it touched so many of those who served in that conflict. This is a story of one man's journey from innocence to valor through the harsh realities of war. This story follows a young man?s growth through the war, starting with the innocent ideals of a Midwestern farm boy. The Army and the war worked to change his perceptions for all time. With growing wartime experience, the youth changes emotionally as he makes difficult life and death decisions and completes intelligence missions under obscure political guidelines. With the passage of his innocence through the war, he is awarded medals and shame. While many found that conflict to be abhorrent, the soldiers served with pride and came home to a country not ready to accept them. The most common question asked of those who returned is: "Why did you go? You could have refused or gone to Canada." I always respond, ?It was a Question of Honor.? Most people just shake their heads and walk away. If they have to ask the question, they cannot understand the answer. U. S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Involvement peaked in 1968 at the time of the Tet Offensive. After this, U. S. ground forces were withdrawn as part of a policy called Vietnamization. 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era. 8,744,000 personnel were on active duty during the war . 3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the SE Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters). 2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam. 58,220 U. S. service members died in the conflict. 303,635 wounded. 1,719 missing.