Johnny Hutcherson

I DIDN’T PLAN TO…

President LB Johnson with
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamaraMost Vietnam Veterans remember *Robert McNamara and may remember a book he wrote back in the 1990’s called, “In Retrospect – The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam”

I did give the book a look but didn’t buy it; he wasn’t going to get my money! I read the first line in his book and it went like this, “This is a book I never planned to write.” I wonder if he had a plan when he sent many of us to Vietnam. I think we all had plans and it wasn’t to die. Many did die and many a mother and wife still cry.

McNamara was like Abraham who took his boy to the mountain and stood over him with a knife. Abraham found a ram! Robert told us to go to Vietnam and he killed 58,000 lambs!

Robert wrote that book that he never planned, but I bet he took the money and I bet that was part of his plan. His book was on the best book list for some time. Me, I wouldn’t give a dime for it.

I never planned to write this article until I took a look at McNamara’s book… the one that he never planned to write! Now, I know I shouldn’t be angry at him after all these years but I just can’t forget those 58,000 lambs. I wish he had found a ram!

Author's Note: *Robert McNamara was Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War years under Presidents Kennedy and Johnston