A Vietnam Veteran's Confession

by Jack D. Hook

Russian imperialists and Islamic fanatics are bringing this world to the brink of a nuclear nightmare coming to pass, according to some American and European officials, including Joe Biden.  If only the British and American people could find just one real-life savior in the likeness of James Bond or Jack Bauer, the Islamic Fundamentalists and their Russian friends would be forced to "outwardly" reform themselves and make peace with Israel and the Western powers, or be utterly destroyed. 

The immense popularity of these two fictional characters who single-handedly confront evildoers, certainly reveals the hopes and dreams of many people in America.  And nothing would please the many confused Fundamentalists of Christendom more than to see Islam’s "culture of death" reformed and brought into the community of peaceful nations, so that their sons in the military will no longer be…in harm’s way. 
 
The American people have now spoken and given the mantle of power to Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  How will Russia, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas respond to President Obama, who has promised to engage America and Israel’s enemies face to face to avoid World War III breaking out in the Middle East?  We should all remember that whoever occupies the White House instantly has in his hand the greatest sword of war this world has ever seen.  Will President Obama use this sword to convince the Russians and Islamic radicals to join him at the peace table? He has already threatened to send more forces into Afghanistan to win the battle against the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden.  Is President Obama that real-life Jack Bauer or James Bond, having a sword in one hand and a olive branch in the other, who is coming to restore order and establish the peace of the promised Kingdom of God on the Earth?

All of this revives my memories of Vietnam and the great men I served with in the Army back in the 60’s, especially a longtime friend who was stationed with the 9th Manchu Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam war, and a survivor of the ambush and massacre at Hoc Mon in March of 1968.  You can read about that in my article "Vietnam: The Manchus of Charlie Company" posted on our website. 

In 1966, after finishing armored recon scout training at Fort Knox, I was expecting orders to a combat unit in Vietnam or further combat training with my friends, but received OCS (officer candidate school) orders for Fort Lee, the Army’s logistics center.  I went from certain combat with a cavalry unit to a logistics officer.  When I finally made it to Vietnam I was assigned to Headquarters Area Command in Saigon, arriving during the Tet offensive of 1968 which raged in and around Saigon, as well as the entire country.  I lived with guilt for ten years that some of my recon friends died or were wounded while I was relatively safe after the Tet offensive was crushed.  Being an officer helped to lessen the guilt, but it was a difficult and confusing time in my life.  When it comes to courage, bravery, and sacrifice, even when done in ignorance of scriptural truth, I don’t belong in the same room with these men, who almost daily found themselves in harm’s way. 

I am now retired and a writer who is very interested in current events as they relate to history and the prophecies of the future, so I spend a lot of time on the internet researching material, especially in the religious-political-military arena.  The religious war declared upon Israel and the West by the "dominion" minded madmen of Islam is bringing all the nations to World War III and then Armageddon.  It seems to be at the door don’t you think?  Many websites I research have places for public comments where people leave their names and addresses for communication purposes.  And many of these websites send out newsletters with addresses on them. That’s how I saw your name. I enjoy reaching out to meet new friends and see the internet as a fascinating vehicle for exchanging information.   And thank you for allowing internet contact, for the last thing I want to do is intrude or be needlessly offensive. 

We probably agree on many things, including the need to honor veterans.  As I said, I am a Vietnam veteran, partially disabled while in the military, and among the millions cared for by the VA.  Among many other things, I am trying to reach out to the military and veterans with the message of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings.  I have found that many veterans, especially those involved in intense combat like my recon friends, are very interested in spiritual matters.  Some of them now understand how that all of us were born into this world with a sin nature filled with the pride of this life (militant patriotism a manifestation), love of money, and love of self and carnal pleasures.  These things are the root of all wars!  Some of them now understand that we all were deceived by politicians and religious hirelings (dating back to Constantine and Augustine) into thinking it was alright for Christian men to kill their enemies.

The web site I have created does not address the truth about war among nations from the "appeasing" side of the shameful antiwar movement of the 60’s and their offspring today that follow President Obama. Neither does it address or agree with war from the blinding "spirit of pride" that consumes the militant patriots of the right-wing religious zealots, even though I have much in agreement with them.

As I said, for ten years after returning from the war I was a guilt-filled atheist, but came to the conclusion from the teachings of Jesus, that all wars are the result of sinful men on both sides, who will no longer be restrained in their anger and rage.  One of them lashes out, the other responds.  False and distorted religious doctrine, be it Islamic, Jewish, or Christian is and always has been a contributing factor. 
 
The only way to properly understand and view wars is from the vantage point of the God of Heaven as revealed in the New Testament scriptures.  Please read Ephesians 2:1-7, and you will see that because of the fall of Adam and Eve we are all born with a violent sin nature that makes us all "the children of wrath".  We are born with the pride and evil lusts of Satan and the fallen angels, who Paul told the Ephesians is the prince of the power of the air, whose course "all"  the nations follow blindly and in ignorance, including America.  The Lord Jesus Christ wants everyone to know these things, and also that he can save us from the coming wrath of God on the people who refuse to repent and be saved by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.

When I discovered that the Lord Jesus Christ has truly risen from the grave two thousand years ago, and promised to return to this Earth to put an end to wars, and to then capture and put in chains Satan and his vast army of fallen angels who hate all men and love the death of war, my eyes were opened to the truth!  But it wasn’t easy, then or now, to stand for this truth among my militant friends or family members who rest in the pride of patriotism we all inherited at birth, who also reject my understanding of prophecy and scripture.
 
I weep often for my country and remember vividly the day I graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1967 when the National Anthem was played bringing tears to my eyes as we all stood at attention.  For me, during the Vietnam War era, hearing the anthem and watching the flag wave in the breeze was like an adrenalin rush.  Becoming an Army Lieutenant with a commission signed by the President of the United States was the proudest and most exhilarating day of my life.  But the brutal reality and cost of war brings other memories which are horrible, that carry no spine-tingling rush of pride throughout my body.  I remember the letter I wrote from Vietnam to the family of a young soldier under my command who took a sniper’s fatal bullet to the head in 1968.  Within days another sniper took aim at my head, but he missed and the bullets just tore up the ground by my side.  The young corporal from Alabama died, and I lived.  My life would never be the same.
 
Veterans of wars who have been awakened by the Lord Jesus Christ and his cross of love and mercy have much to contribute to this fallen world.  It is my heart’s desire to reach out to as many as I can with the gospel, the good news, of the soon coming Kingdom of God.  My message is not one of condemnation, for I respect and honor them all.  I lost some friends in war, but now I understand just how deceived we all were and how these lies are still being told to young Christian men today in many nations by false prophets dressed in sheepskin suits thinking they are followers of Jesus.  But it is "another" Jesus they are proclaiming, not the one I know, 2 Corinthians 11.  Please consider the real Jesus, for he is alive, risen from the dead, and returning to this Earth in power and glory.  
 
Please visit our website and sign the "guestbook" or send an email.  Thank you for reading this and I hope to hear from you soon.  I hope you will consider reading the articles "Then Comes the Fire", “The Judgment Chronicles” and “The Fundamentalist" posted on our web site.  For details concerning my military background during the Vietnam era, please read the articles "Vietnam: The Manchus of Charlie Company", "Pacifist, Patriot, or Pilgrim" and “Moved with Compassion”.  Just click on the web site link below and click on “Articles”.  The radio interviews I have been part of can be listened to by clicking on this link:   http://www.thebyteshow.com/JackHook.html

Babylon the Great is Falling
http://www.babylonthegreatisfalling.net

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