Chapter 1: The Tangled Web

I had two choices: Leave the army, or go to Vietnam.  I stayed, because I was proud to be an officer, and because I believed in our mission in Europe.  As part of a mighty NATO army, we were keeping the Soviet Bloc forces at bay, and defending Western Civilization.  Then I found out, that our army was tapping the telephone lines of our senators and congressmen.

Once a week I reported to a major in the operations section of our division.  Normally, he would glance at my transcripts of the security violations in our headquarters, and I would answer his questions about that report.  After I extended my tour of duty, and received orders for Vietnam, he wanted to talk.  He smiled as he asked me to have a seat next to his desk.  "In case I don't have a chance to speak to you before you leave, I just want to tell you that I am very proud of you.  A lot of our officers are leaving the army, and sometimes I think our country is tearing itself apart.  Students are demonstrating against the draft, and some of them are even desecrating our flag.  I wonder, whether any of them can imagine what it is like to live under communism."

He glanced briefly at the papers I had brought.  "You know, these remind me of my last assignment.  I was in charge of a small group of soldiers who were tapping the telephone lines of our senators and congressmen in Washington, D. C." I think my mouth must have dropped open, because he added quickly: "Well, not all of them, my unit was much too small for that, just the ones who had spoken out against the war."

The U.S. Army was listening to the private conversations of our legislators! It took a few seconds, before I could continue the conversation: "Isn't that illegal?" His face turned red, and he stared straight ahead, trying to avoid my glance.  Perhaps he regretted that he had said too much.  When he looked at me again, he replied lamely that, as a good soldier, he had just been following orders.  He said his work had made him feel dirty, and he hated that.  He was relieved that his tour in Washington was over, and he was hoping never to be put into that kind of situation again.  He seemed genuinely confused, and I felt sorry for him, as I watched him struggle with his conscience.