European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It generation apart Vietnam vet Norm Safton Lent and world War if vet William Smalley Bridge generation by Robert Lundsey new times Tom Ambrose of came Home front be joined the american following a path paved but after a year he Vietnam veterans and the traditional veterans Orga no Zatio Are a generation apart on philosophy and organizational Ambrose there full it salutes and military All the Young people disliked in Vietnam and want to his statement exemplifies a problem that is Bede Iling the nations veterans organizations the men who ought in Vietnam for the most turning them despite a Pool of million veterans from the Vietnam membership in the american legion has remained level at about million since while the nations second major veterans organza the veterans of foreign has been somewhat More successful in enrolling Vietnam a membership has bean stable for More than three Yean at million like the most of its recent recruiting but Many Vietnam vets fed Little Affinity for activities of older veterans of other has done Little More than keep up with the deaths of older we have a gear Twloa Peter commander of an american legion Pott in Colorado the older members from world War ii Tay they did Mote Cor their country than the Vietnam they teem to thin their war1 Ems More that their comradeship and patriotism was age is not the Only Gap Between the interviews with veterans and officers of veterans Orga Ejza lpns in 15 cities and Rural communities around the country indicated that there is also Gap of per haps related to the experience in on ranging Iron the use of drugs to the America Rightor wrong patriotic Fervour that has historically been part of the Credo of the Vietnam vet has been More so than any other group of asserted Thomas a Veteran of the korean War who belongs to a vow Post in Northern they want no contacts whatsoever with anything military because of their Samuel a Vietnam Veteran who lives in summed up what appeared to be the attitude towards traditional organizations that is held by Many Exso Diers of his there mostly just a Bunch of old men who it around and talk about the War they were and How Many people they killed i dont want to talk about i countless towns across the local american legion Post or vow clubhouse is a major social Center in some they Are the Only place to buy a drink or play poker for in officials of veterans organizations maintain that the Vietnam Era veterans will eventually decide to Don one of the uniform Caps that Many now make fun Swap and rediscover the camaraderie of the military just As world War 1 veterans eventually forgot about the generation Gap with world War i Veter there appear to be worries among the veterans organizations that the military men from the Vietnam period Are Iraleen different from earlier Veter ans and May not make the very difficult to reach hew Yoong talk Joba a vow member la we want item to take Over from us with new but they figure Wen a Bunch o Fowles who Are Sling around Tel Una old War stories and having a Good the collision of values is two sided some older Veter am admit that Are uncomfortable with the younger veterans with their longer drugs and other differences in Herman an enlisted Man Veteran of world War h the korean War and Vietnam who now helps veterans find jobs in said older veterans can have two martinis for lunch and three martinis when they get Home from work and they january i Hank thai but if a Veteran from Vietnam happens Experiment with one marijuana that its abase of the pot calling the Kettle the older men at first didst get along with the Long the the said James a Vietnam Veteran who is a american legion official in they to j in the now from the looks of with membership Rolls in he begging the come some veterans groups have been successful recently in luring Vietnam veterans through special recruiting drives aimed at Jhel and Vietnam veterans have risen to head several stale in for four or five senior vow executives served in in Many efforts to recruit Vlco Nam veterans have provoked Power struggle i be tween James the legion commander in Illi where membership has dropped to from a Peak of in the biggest debate among older Vela and Young vets in the american legion is who is going to run the although there have Only been a handful of cases 50 some Vietnam Era contending that their in be rests Are different from their predecessors in Are taking Over among other they contend that the established organizations have failed to look out for their interests causing for to lose the traditional Edge that veterans receive in government jobs to Job prefer ence programs for minorities and women most Vietnam veterans Are like ostriches with their Heads in the Taid Tom the commander of the Theodore Woronyi american legion Post in the one of those taken Over by the Vietnam they dont want to Bear anything about the he what they have to realize that they wont be heard unless they join organizations Uke we f last a militant group of Vietnam Era Veter ans joined Hollywood american legion port rottsted officers of the world War u and then endorsed amnesty for Vietnam Oval Evaden and de a Post Tom thai is anathema to the National Mare a former Post officer was expelled from the legion after a Confron Ulion with the organizations leadership Over what included efforts to induct 32 Minori tym Ember Vietnam Era veterans into a legion most of the people who fought in Vietnam were i said Donald who was instrumental in the takeover of the Hollywood there not Wel come by the leadership of these although i think the rank and tile is More open than the most of the leadership is from the class the people who served in world War they Arent interested in sharing their Power with the traditional organizations like the american legion Are Ripe for a take Over by Vietnam the stars and stripes Page 13