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When Garwood was finally released in 1981, he returned to the United
States to find that he had been branded a traitor by his own government.

The military accused him of collaborating with the enemy and even court-

martialled him, despite the fact that he had been a prisoner of war for over
a decade.

Garwood's case is just one example of the many mentally disabled men who

were sent into combat during the Vietnam War. These men were often
treated as expendable, disposable, and unworthy of the respect and dignity

that all human beings deserve.

The government's decision to use mentally disabled men as cannon fodder

in Vietnam was not an accident or a mistake. It was a deliberate policy that
was designed to fill the ranks of the military with as many warm bodies as

possible, regardless of their mental health or well-being.

The story of these men is a reminder that

war is not just a political or military
conflict, but a human tragedy. It is a

reminder that the decisions we make as a

society can have profound consequences
for the most vulnerable members of our

community.

As we reflect on the legacy of the
Vietnam War, we must not forget the

men who were sent into combat without

the knowledge or understanding of what

they were getting into. We must
remember their sacrifice, their suffering,

and their humanity. And we must work

to ensure that such a tragedy never

happens again.

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