Is Vietnams Dirty Little Secret True for our New War Too?
January 18, 2010 by Gordon Duff · 40 Comments
BLACK MARKET, DRUGS, PROSTITUTION, CORRUPTION
RUN BY SENIOR NCOS AMERICAS REAL MILITARY
TRADITION
By Gordon Duff, Senior Editor & Staff Writer
Lying about the Vietnam War is a way of life. When some of those who “served” in Vietnam became old enough to gain power, hiding much of the truth of the war was critical to keep questions down. Everything bad in Vietnam was blamed on minorities, “bad eggs” and draftees. This is total hogwash. Vietnam was our most corrupt war in history with a Mafia within our military stealing, not millions, but billions in food, weapons, uniforms, supplies of every kind, often leaving troops in the field without food, weapons, medicine and supplies.
Ships would unload in one port and things would be either sold on the black market in Vietnam or shipped back out for places unknown. The scale was massive. The network that allowed it blackmailed officers through widespread prostitution, payoffs and physical threats. The biggest source of money was drugs, not a few ounces sewn into corpses like the internet rumors tell of but containers of heroin and bundles of cash big enough to fill the trunk of a car. The culprits: Senior non-commissioned officers in the Army and Marines, some arrested but most promoted and retired honorably, some as multi-millionaires.
When there was no turkey dinner on Christmas or Thankstgiving, it had been sold. When boots rotted off the feet of troops in the field, there were no replacments, they had been sold too. When malaria pills were unavailable and thousands got sick, they had been sold. Tens of billions in food, equipment, every kind of consumer good in the world was shipped to Vietnam by a grateful nation for its men in the field. Almost none of it ever reached those it was intended for. Troops ate aging C-Rations, designated for disposal as having “gone bad,” used weapons slated for destruction like the M16E1 and wore uniforms taken off the wounded and dead. While a few thousand fought in Vietnam, thousands more lived like kings, exotic food, luxurious living, boy and girl prostitutes daily, maid service, waxed and polished helicopters and jeeps and a life of total leisure. This is the Vietnam we saw, those of us who served in the Marine, Army, Special Forces, Navy, those of us who fought.
I wait for denials about this, but there are too many of us who know the truth and are willing to talk, including alot of highly decorated vets and retired officers with long records of service who were more than happy to supply endless details of their personal experiences which had an unpleasant consistency. There developed, over the Vietnam War, starting with NCOs transferred to Southeast Asia from Germany, a long history of ties to the American and Corsican Mafia with the ability to distribute heroin on a worldwide basis. That business came into flower after 1965 as club operations in Vietnam became the backdrop for one of the biggest crime sindicates in world history.
Today we have a couple of issues we are ignoring. One, of course, is that senior NCOs are meant to be the “backbone of the Army” but are also capable of manipulating acquistions, shipments, and disbursements of any supply or equipment. Billions went mission in Iraq and nobody has been blamed. We even misplaced 250,000 weapons. How hard is it for a hundred thousand of those to have made it into the hands of terrorists? For every massive cost overrrun, and their were thousands, there is someone inside the Army looking the other way.
The entire War on Terror was one cost overrun, one missing shipment, one “lost” anything after another, on and on forever with nobody being blamed, just spend and spend, ship more and more and let more and more be stolen. With billions and billions spent in Iraq, medicine, fresh water, electricity, schools, everything that was paid for, sometimes paid for twice, seems to have evaporated in a cloud of corruption. The only thing successfully built in Iraq over 5 years was fat bank accounts in Switzerland.
Complicating this even more is the fact that our military is, again, operating in the center of the world drug production and trafficking. They have access to, not only production but worldwide banking and the ability to ship narcotics around the world in aircraft designated for supply our secret prisons with terrorist suspects meant for torture. This cloak of secrecy has created a cloak of silence around the $50 billion dollar, at wholesale, vastly higher at retail, narcotics business run out of, not only Afghanistan but Iraq, Pakistan and India.
With the CIA and its funding front thru the State Department, the USAID and their endless contractors managing projects overseen by no one, all theoretically fronts for “secret spy business” it doesn’t take much of an imagination to figure out that “monkey business” is much more likely, especially with secrecy to hide behind, mercenary enforcers and the full logistical capabilities of the United States at your disposal.
It would be easy to blame our tens of thousands of military contractor/mercenary companies, who are, undoubtedly, a major part of the drug trafficking and also “enforcement” and finance. But, who are these companies? Surprisingly, they are many of the same NCOs that were involved in Vietnam, risen from the dead, the Vietnam “oldsters” or the younger generation, now retired also, all senior NCOs, using their lower level management expertise to make millions often hiring security personnel from the poorest and most backward countries on earth but also being seen under highly suspicious circumstances in the banking capitals of Dubai, Mauritius, Zurich and Geneva.
With 700 billion slated for the military by President Obama next year and a running war in Afghanistan and Pakistan in areas that should have no American security personnel, no Taliban, no reason for violence at all, I wonder how much of what is going on under the guise of terrorism is a gang war between drug cartels that include traditional warlords of Afghanistan but also Americans and key players from many other nations including Israel, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Iran and Russia.
How do we guarantee resupply or air support when the supplies may be sold and the air support may be carrying opium? How do we manage our secret rendition system when our bagged and tagged terror suspects are sitting on bales of heroin?
How do we make decisions as a democracy when billions of dollars of drug money may be flooding into Washinton DC? How much does it cost to buy Congress or the Pentagon? What has been bought already? With year after year of one scandal after another and no serious effort to investigate anything, assuming that something has been amiss and that many were bought and paid for years ago is obvious.
Yeah, what was that movie we saw a long time ago? Catch 22? Not what the GIS were doing although it may have been, but what the GI mobster was doing. More than a few times I saw this happening and even got accused of it a couple of times. But being so clean as compared to them, it ended up being ‘just a game’ they played.
Duffy i can recall while stationed in nelligen casern that there was a master sragent along with others that were rigging the one arm bandits.next thing they do take away the one arm bandits master sargent on orders for sunny south east asia,not levenworth back to work for the underground economy.yes crime pays well even in the military.
I know for a fact of the drug use in Nam. I got there in ‘70 and it was crazy. Do you remember the old cameras that used to develope the pictures and you would stick it to a hard back? I knew a guy who sent over 300 pictures home to his Mom. Inside each one, he would place a piece of wax paper and pour in his herion. You see the VC would sell a $5.00 dollar or a $10.00 plastic-twist top little container that was a least 90 percent pure to the American troops getting them hooked. This guy told me you could cut down a whole lot and make a lot of money. When he got there his was in good shape, when he left he looked like shit. One morning we were called to formation. The CO had us spread ranks, they brought out a guy in a stretcher that had drowned in his own blood that night. He OD from laying face down in his pillow. The CO said anyone who wants to get out of the Marine Corps all they had to do is prove they were on drugs. This guy took him three joints wrapped in American flag rolling papers. He was gone the next day. I never saw him again. My friend was statoned at the retograde (FLC), he handled all supplies going out and in. He died at the age of 23 (cancer) with a wife and three kids. His parents are still alive. I was stationed close enough to visit him. He was a good Marine. He told me his Sgt. along with other NCOs were giving the gooks supplies late at night in trade for drugs. I asked what was he going to do, he said those guys will kill me if I said anything. I know the feeling. Believe me it was crazy. They use to sell the diet liquid we called Moo juice, some guys would drink it like water. Roam around all night stealing our shit all night. You would have to sleep with one eye open and watch out for these bastards. It was bad enough with all the other crap and you had to put up with this too. Yeah I was in the rear most of the time but it was crazy.
Every war has it secrets…not just Vietnam…But, this jar head who posts this stuff (if one may notice) thats all he does, Vietnam this, Vietnam that, I think I saw an article where he said Bush did it!! (In Vietnam) Bush plan the whole dame thing, just like 9/11 right Jar Head!
Bush didn’t do it, he was too busy to make it to Vietnam. Maybe u went in his place? Maybe I did.
g
Hell yes it’s true. I served as a corpsman in Vietnam 1967 with Fox 2/5 1st Marines. We didn’t have new jungle fatigues or boots; always out of medical supplies; no food or rations when in the field, which was most of my tour; my flack jacket and helmet came from a dead Marine as well as my 1911 and M16; food and clothing sent to me from home was stolen by the rear support assholes; after being wounded and shipped out of country, the rear support asshole stole my personal belogings from my sea bags; etc. etc. etc.
My oldest son is stationed in Afghanistan and the living conditions are sub third world. There are, however, retired officers pulling down over $100,000 tax free a year as consultants.
I have watched this country for 62 years and it is based on LIE, CHEAT and STEAL principals. Our enemy is ourself. Cut off the corruption (kill the fucks) and let’s get on with freedom and support the real men of WAR.
Mike Warren
bad language, wonderful writing
g
Mr Desilets,
If you wanted me to load this with real accusations from the half dozen guys who went over this article with me, rank 06 down to CWO, we wonder where you came from. I have the wonderful benefit of having folks I served with on the writing staff. None of us have a clue what military you were in but the rest of us, not just me, mind you, but the rest of us think you are not “reality based.”
Any idiot can go onto Google and disprove your assertions in less than a minute. That the truth is even worse is a problem and lying about it doesn’t help. You are saying you were totally blind to the massive corruption in Iraq and Afghanistan, much less Vietnam?
You should hear the stories my friends tell of the black market in Germany.
When you find one of the 250,000 missing weapons the US paid for in Iraq…that simply disappeared…let me know. Not sure where you have been while I have been rummaging around Iraq, Afghanistan and the sewers of Washington DC.
g
No wonder america lost the war in vietnam. a war which we should never gotten into. all wars except maybe world war II was for the bastards to clean americas pockets.GREED by the ELITE or shall i say BUMS OF AMERICA, leaches to fill their pockets at the expense of americas military. SCUM OF AMERICA. MAY THEY ALL GO STRAIGHT TO HELL WERE THEY BELONG.
Were you in Vietnam? Ever been to Westmoreland’s compound or any of the bases around danang, where 350,000 Americans were stationed? Ever been to IIIMAF HQ?
FLC?
Stop being a clown.
g
If you are writing to me, yes I was there, 5th comm (Camp Hoi Long and 7th Comm Camp Books). I also posted your feelings about going to the PX and feeling some were doing nothing on forum2.aimoo.com 5thcommbn. You make some people who were there worthless. Some of us were not in the bush but we served with honor. We worked hard every day to make sure your radios were repaired and delivered. We worked on wire constantly cut. We didn’t run off to and hide in Canada.
Randy,
We spent 6 years on the AOL/History Channel section back in the 90s, getting vets from all over Vietnam in every MOS to describe their experiences. We also got many WW@ and Korea vets on board. I saw people in rear areas work 12 hour days and sit up half the night in a bunker.
I also saw people who never did anythign commit every outrage imaginable. I rode with one of my friends when me made blackmarket payoffs in DaNang and have seen trucks of food unloaded prior to being taken, 90% empty, out to front line units.
Dont fool and old fooler.
g
I’m trying to fool and old fooler. You have in the past made it sound if you were not in the bush you don’t rate. I’ve seen both sides also. I also seen a lot of things and have no reason to fool anyone and those were not my intentions. I never even heard of wannabe until I read your article. I don’t care if someone said they were there and wasn’t. I feel sorry for people like that.
60%
R
I have interviewed thousands of Vietnam veterans and, of course, am one myself. Your contention that all people who served in support positions could have been involved in the massive black market and drug trade is, I suspect, a miscommunication.
Read thru the comments, truckloads of heroin was moving thru US areas.
Few know the veteran community as well as I do. 16 years as a writer and 16 years as a service officer and everything in the world crosses your desk. None of it is clear, none of it is simple.
The story stands, 100% accurate. Learn to live with a truth you may not have seen but it is true just the same. Learn from it. We aren’t lying to you.
g
the rich got richer money was made for the onces who kept the war going druge were flying out of V/NAM every day, offers were making money GI were geting high to fight that war, friend of mine took 11yr toget something, this war everyone making money and they have to fight for whats comeing to them, sorry to say middle people who got drafted got fuck the rich son never went Bush never went yet send is to war and all the money spend on his flying lesson the tax payer pay for, i am 100% nam vet the vet,s of that war got the bigest fucking of all,
Hello Gordon Duff,
I was stationed out of the Fire Base An Hoa which was Northwest of DaNang off Highway 1. Westmorland and those boys lived a real rough life. Our base Colonel would leave every day before sunset and then return the next morning. It must have been a real scarry place.
Mike,
Had lots of friends down there. One of our writers, Bill Eckard, got moved down there in early 70…picked up a Silver Star….at the cost of a handfull of Purple Hearts and 35 pounds of aluminum and plastic parts. Other buddy, Larry Williamson….went from An Hoa to being a name on a wall.
g
This was a damn good article. Truthful, to the point and professionally composed.
DUFFSTER:
Any chance someone would go FOIA on the Black Market convictions of senior NCO’s and officers by the UCMJ In Country/RVN and hopefully the amounts they scammed ? THAT would be a nice wake up call ! Between the corrupt RVN government officials and ARVN OFFICERS involved in the Heroin trade and other nefarious scams,
and their US counterparts, that would make quite a book !
Duff who were you calling a clown?
If you want respect, then comment as though you were “one of us”…a vet…not, as noted, a clown.
g
G=> “One, of course, is that senior NCOs are meant to be the “backbone of the Army” but are also capable of manipulating acquistions, shipments, and disbursements of any supply or equipment”
Randy=> “He was a good Marine. He told me his Sgt. along with other NCOs were giving the gooks supplies late at night in trade for drugs. I asked what was he going to do, he said those guys will kill me if I said anything.”
Mike W=> We didn’t have new jungle fatigues or boots; always out of medical supplies; no food or rations when in the field, which was most of my tour; my flack jacket and helmet came from a dead Marine as well as my 1911 and M16;
From: Tom D, Army Grunt: Hey all. All three of these guys are right on. As a 19 year-old kid, I personally witnessed the thefts of materiel by NCOs and Os on a massive scale. I smuggled a letter to my two U.S. Senators in mail to my Mom. About a month later the shit hit the fan. I was blown up by unfriendly, friendly fire. When I finally awoke, the CID came to the hospital to interview me, then when I was sent back to my Cav unit, the Army brass had cleaned house. I’ve spent 50 years long, painful TBI and PTSD years paying the price of being an honest American soldier. It’s small wonder I trust very, very few people.
Duff i dont know who you are calling a clown. may i say i was stationed in vietnam with the fighting first Infantry Division. was on search and destroy missions all over the IRON TRIANGLE. WAS IN THE TET OFFENSIVE. saw military high on Drugs and Heroin. even saw the viet cong fighting that were high on Heroin. one of my military friends was high on marijana 24 hours a day. he wanted more action. he was not content going on search and destroy missions. he transfered to 11 ACR. were he was blown off two APC’S last time he was MED EVEC. TO Japan. how what did we accomplish their in that war????
Vinnie,
do let us know what kind of things you saw. as a grunt i saw minimal drug us..Marines…but in rear areas…it was substantial.
the article is not about drug use but the tons of drugs shipped stateside for bales of cash along with guns, ammunition, refrigerators, food…everything was sold
this i saw personally
if we had ever been issued what was shipped…fed the food….given the weapons and gear, we could have sunk vietnam from the weight alone.
g
G-
Great piece as usual, brother. I realize the story is not about drugs, especially the front line Marines – who we were. But I have to tell you guys the irony of my experience. Getting ready to rotate out of here, showed up and got in line at the airbase. My name wasn’t on the damn manifest! Had orders in hand, but couldn’t get on the flight. There was, however, a 141 getting ready to leave and head back to Travis via Japan. If I could run over the tarmac and get on the flight, they would let me on. Had to sit in the cargo bay – wasn’t a cushy charter, was an Air Force C-141. The cargo? Caskets – full of fallen brothers. And guess what else? Well, I witnessed several caskets being “locked down” with kilo’s of the good stuff. My orders to get on that flight? Escort them. What a hell, what a crime. Bad enough spending 20 hours or so in the bay of a cargo flight, bad enough it contained corpses, a crime it contained stuff that would make MANY folks VERY rich – and KILLED many as a result as well.
Keep up the good fight Gordon…everyone needs to hear what you have to say – and they need to believe it. Here is an eyewitness.
Semper peace!
Chuck
Chuck,
Talking with Jimmie about this, (Col. James Hanke) he indicated that, if anything, I understated the extent of this corruption. He saw these things operating within his different commands in, not only Vietnam, but Europe, where he was G2 of 3rd Army or the Middle East, where he was DA to Israel.
I am packing up his “lifer” ass and heading to Pakistan in a few days. Expect diplomatic relations to go to hell.
g
I just wanted to state what I saw. I don’t go around spreading this story, we are all vets right? Sorry if I offended anyone.
Randy,
We have limited TOS rules here. Only offending writers is a problem. We call it “tyranny.”
g
Them I’m squared-away. Semper Fi till the day I die. MCRD platoon 3185.
In 1968 I was nieve, young and dumb. I do know if I hadn’t taken advantage of the piles of clothing boots and recycled gear outside of graves registration, I would have been naked and defencless. I didn’t at the time make the conection that there corruption going on. However in 2004 when I was a govt contractor in Iraq I saw first hand of what you speak.
I have driven thru Iraq looking at the empty fields where American hospitals were built.
g
I, I, I, that’s all I hear.
This type of stuff has been going on at least since the Civil War, but that doesn’t mean we still have to tolerate it. Maybe it’s time to just start naming names. Every NCO and O you saw and can remember compile his friggin’ name on a net list and make it searchable. “Hey grandpa, is that your name my class discovered as being a stinking, no-good, dealing-with-the-enemy crook while in Nam? You always told me you were a hero.”
In 70 I was in the rear for a couple days and was playing poker with the supply nco after he was getting drunk and losing his ass (to me) I ask how he could lose so much ,he just grined and said this is small change!That why I had to ware the same dam boots for a year !!!And yes the drugs were shipped home and else where by the trucks full!
Hell yes it’s true I was with the White Horse Div.(Koreans) One gi sent stuff home all the time to Korea he said when he got home he would have all the money he wanted.We ate old c-rations done without our S-p Packs for weeks on end TO who wrot this thank you TO all vets WELCOME HOME