As a Vietnam-era veteran, it was with a great sadness that I read of the passing of Gen. William C. Westmoreland. My family and I had the honor of hosting the general and his wife in our home in Virginia when I was assigned to the Pentagon in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel. I was assigned to act as his escort officer for an annual Pentagon gathering.

He and his wife were from a more genteel time and were truly gracious guests. We would do well to remember that the media, CBS specifically, accused Gen. Westmoreland of lying about what happened in Vietnam. However, more important to note was that CBS settled, and the general was vindicated. I bring this up not to raise old wounds, but to illustrate that we must be vigilant of the information we receive from all sources.

Gen. Westmoreland did what his country asked him to do. In response, he was the subject of scorn and ridicule not only of himself but his wife and, at the time, young children.

We should be grateful as a nation that we have men and women of the caliber of Gen. Westmoreland, or “Westy” as his wife called him. He answered the call of his country even when the cause was not a popular one, but was determined in the best interests of our country by our nation’s civilian leadership.

We will say a prayer for him and his family; God rest his soul.

Amedeo J. Lauria,

lieutenant colonel,

U.S. Army (retired), Sabattus

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