I find this story about two octagenarian WWII soldier emerging from the mountains more than a bit odd. For me it immediately brings to mind an issue that really bugged me back in the 1980s, that being the MIA side of many people's POW/MIA fervor. There were a great number of people in this country who believed (and possibly still do believe) that American soldiers were still being held by the ruthless and maniacal Vietnamese in secret camps in the mountains. There were also good stories about soldiers being slaves. Chuck Norris was smart enough to cash in on it but he probably helped solidify the idea.
I suppose I don't need to tell anyone that I didn't agree. Even as a hormone-filled teenager (who was so damned SICK of hearing about the Vietnam war) I was skeptical enough to know that there were no secret prison camps in Vietnam, Korea, or even the fields of Belgium where 100+ year old WWI prisoners were enslaved into making leather-goods. Well, OK... no one made the last claim.
So while they still aren't sure these two old guys are who they say they are, it is odd that they sat in the mountains for so long not understanding that they woulnd't be courtmartialed for abandonment this long after the war. I guess there are no televisions in the Phillipines? No news reports? Odd. Very odd.
Posted by dmason at May 27, 2005 10:43 AM