Reddit Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/pkdc1w/this_is_the_grave_of_technical_sergeant_leonard/
Obviously, there are weird feelings about this, and I don't really want to dunk too hard on an individual who was a victim of America's response to the AIDS crisis and treatment of homosexuality in general... but come on.
I really cannot tell what the takeaway is supposed to be from this memorial.
I am not meaning to undermine homophobia. I am only pointing out that the guy was willing to inflict misery and death onto others, but when the machine turned its gaze on him he was quick to point out the oppression and cruelty.
Only 1/3 of American soldiers in Vietnam were drafted. Most volunteered.
The draft might have been unpopular at the time but it works wonders for propaganda decades later.
You can just say "but they were drafted" and that magically makes all the horrific shit okay because they didn't want to do it.
IIRC, a higher percentage of the US fighting force in Vietnam was volunteer than their force for WWII
1/3 vs 2/3, IIRC.