The Condemned Marines

By Jerry Russell Bemley

The Condemned Marines is a work about a man whose dreams and aspirations were to serve God and country in that order. His objective was to return to the United States and pursue a career in medicine, driven by his mother naming him after a doctor. He was said to have healing powers by his mother. However, after a bout with injury and acquired a middle ear disease, his main bout turned to reestablishing his sanity due to head trauma and the disease of the middle ear, which comes with a lethal dose of vertigo. Within these pages, Bemley knows that you will find some resolve in helping your favorite veteran overcome some of the trials and tribulations that our veterans of foreign wars contend with on a daily basis. That individuals seemed so distant and alienated toward his loved ones has reason to be. He has little or no trust toward anyone because, in his mind, after being betrayed by the ones that he or she entrusted his or her life betray them. Then no one else is worthy of his or her trust. The most important part of returning to a somewhat normal individual torn by war is to have a good support system. Fortunately, Mr. Bemley had these things already in place when he returned to include a doctor and mentor in Washington DC. You won't succeed at first because one must learn to trust again, but never give up on your favorite veteran. The unknown soldier not only lies in a tomb. He also still roams the earth, known only to God because, in some cases, no one really wants to get to know him. They give up on him after he is alienated by war. And as Mr. Bemley says, not all of these veterans work their way back to reality and get to know themselves again and reclaim their identities as he did.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640276147

Book preview

Illustrations

Figures

City of Memphis Hospital Report of Operation

First Medical Consult for Treatment of Pain in Vietnam/Darvon Compound

Offences and Punishments

List of Battles I Was Engaged In

Administrative Remarks

Navy Inns Photo

Betty J. Jones Bridge

Medical Certificate from the VA Hospital in Memphis

Statement from My Wife as to My Disposition Associated with the War

Cover for The Condemned Marine

Picture of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Exhibits

City of Memphis Hospital Document

Military Induction Form

Rockford Congressional Contact Document

Letter of response from the CIA

Letter to My Mother Validating That the Vietnam Incident Actually Happened.

Additional Documents and Letters

List of Offenses and Punishments

Letter Dated February 16, 1969

Letter Dated February 29, 1969

As one of the "Condemned Marines I wrote this work not to divide but to unite of what is yet to come and to bring closure to issues that are still alive and well after forty years that it has been resonating in the minds of people like myself, I would like to do this alone, however, I realize that no man is an island, and I trust as well as pray that my fellow countrymen will join me in laying it to rest. In my own words, errors and all, I sincerely hope that this material is not taken out of context as I haven’t a prejudiced bone in my body against my fellowmen or any group of individuals, foreign or domestic.

This matter can only be resolved by the lawmakers of this country as Washington DC is the correct venue for resolution. Within the pages of this publication, you will find or rather get some idea of my objective as well as my aims and purposes.

Introduction

Readjustment to civilian life is hard enough for the mentally challenged veterans of foreign wars. So why aren’t they treated fairly in the aftermath?

The Bible that I hold in my hand that I purchased as my weapon of choice before I was issued an M16 is a constant reminder that my triumph in Vietnam was initiated by my trust in the word of God. After mostly all of the residuals of that war, in the form of evil, had somewhat subsided, I reverted back to my religious aspect in life. That was my way of life before I sold my soul for what I thought was all the right reasons only to find out that a great deal of my life would be dominated by the wrong reasoning of my fellowmen.

The lady a bridge was named after was one who lived close by while I was growing up, and was one that became my next-door-neighbor upon my return from Vietnam.

Ms. Jones was always an inspiration to me, and to me, she was Betty Jean. Some days while lying in my bed, suffering from the side effects of medication administered by VA hospital doctors in Memphis, Tennessee, which gave me that irresistible urge to take my own life, I conjured up enough energy to get out of my bed to have talks with her about my plight with the federal government concerning getting support for my family.

My friends, if the men that were victims of an unjust war on the memorial wall could talk, I am sure that this society at large would be appalled at what could be learned or rather found out about their demise. I was one of the defiant ones that, according to my CO, were to be amongst the Bemleys to be annihilated. After more than thirty years, I would like to see if, in fact, the scales of justice can, or rather could, be balanced by this country.

A Note to My Potential Supporters

Fellow countrymen and lawmakers, I have anticipated this moment for forty years, and when I made my debut in Washington DC shortly after the war (Vietnam), it was with the premise of doing what is about to transpire here and now if, in fact, I am allowed the opportunity of doing so. I pray that after forty years of anticipating this moment that it will finally come to pass. Anyone that knows the history of this country knows that I had a valid reason to refrain from bringing these issues to the forefront before it’s time. It might have proven to be hazardous to my health. I am pleased to know that, by waiting, it is proven to be not only in my best interest but also in the interest of many Americans that have been subjected to the wrath of Vietnam veterans past and present as a result of the way we were treated by our country due to mistreatment by some of our fellow countrymen.

I am sure that I mentioned in my brief, and I am a prime example of one who had acted out against their loved ones as a result of the state of mind I developed after the way I was treated, and I am ashamed of this rebellious and violent part of my character that had been vented on my loved ones. Some of these cruel acts were caused by a temporary state of mind that was the result of a shrapnel wound as well as by experimental medications prescribed to us and administering high pyramidal meds also. That was done by an organization I entrusted with my life. Cover blown after an interview of a young lady that later became my wife. This interview aired following the movie when I was a resident at Newcombe Street Southeast in Washington DC as some of you might be familiar with.

You see, it was never revealed that the young lady being interviewed was talking about a Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the war resulting from a head injury. This phenomenon our government later found to be attributed to traumatic experiences that manifested while serving their country in Vietnam. However, if the media had done so, the possibilities of helping others were endless at that time, and hopefully, and I pray that at this later date in the game, these words of wisdom that I present to you will give history a better insight to the plight of the vast majority of war ravaged black veterans from an insider’s point of view. And maybe and I must reiterate that if this does come to pass that the legacy that the Vietnam veterans leave behind will be more favorable and self-serving to all veterans and their families of that era as opposed to the way we were stereotyped after the war impacted our usual characteristics.

My friends, I pray that I am given the benefit of the doubt, knowing that I am far from being a literary genius; however, this is good therapy for my mind, body, and soul. And after forty years, I am still going through the healing process and only seeking to be made whole by bringing closure to the issues that I bring before you in good faith. I had planned to release this publication long before now. However, I am a firm believer that due to controversial issues.

Such as the one that raised its ugly head during the initial presidential bid of a black candidate. This transpired when a minister’s negative sound bites were mostly displayed. It is a constant reminder of the urgency of what I feel that must be done to rebut all kinds of negativity in the public forum. Negative messages that poison young minds. And are being conveyed to Americans at large. This should not transpire in a place of worship in the public forum in general and the time is now to address these issues. They are long past due. For all Americans to heal bond and move on for a better America". And hopefully and I pray that media coverage will be just as extensive in covering the struggle of the ones that were less fortunate intellectually (inc. me) than the ones that were left with enough peace of mind to go on to educate themselves and express themselves whether or not they felt that the wrong venue was chosen for addressing issues of abuse of power by superiors while serving this country in a war zone by putting young marines, of color deliberately in harms’ way. And attempting to destroy the reality of those combat situations by administering veterans high pyramidal medications after the war in Veteran hospitals. Brainwashing didn’t work in all of these cases. That is why it is so important to me that the correct venue is chosen and closure is brought about so it would head off the perpetuation of the poisoning of young minds and the things of this nature would become a thing of the past to be replaced, I pray, by love and understanding toward one’s fellowmen considering the facts of the slave era that wasn’t many years behind, life threatening injustices by the military against their own men.

Being a former black marine and Vietnam veteran, I can relate to some parts, but not all, of the hatred toward our comrades in denouncing the treatment of blacks in the Vietnam war. Some made it against all odds. A place of worship is no place to create a hostile atmosphere, and for that matter, the subject of racism that has been discussed in the majority of black residences with little or no effort to bring the subject out in the open to see how, in fact, it is perceived, whether it is considered to be negative or positive. Our families deserved better than what we offered them in the way of speaking out about injustices because of our cowardice in not asking for vindication to vent these irregularities where they should have been vented in a civil manner in the nation’s capital. Now that forty years have passed, and as we reflect back to the ’60s, it is self-evident why we did not do so. This can be attributed to the violent acts against my people as a whole.

My prayers have been and always will be to ask that the black veterans are afforded the same opportunities our white comrades were given in order to bring the issues that have haunted us for years, and will continue to haunt us for years to come, unless these issues are brought to the forefront of the correct venue. The damaging effect of Post-Traumatic Stress as well as the fear factor due to CIA involvement. Impeded us dealing with these issues. Some highly supported by our fellow comrades and Lawmakers. However there were also whites that faced similar situations. Nevertheless some of our white comrades were also sacrificed during certain missions of war. It is my sincere belief that the congressional hall or the senate floor will best serve as the perfect venue of bringing closure to the infamously acts of racism while blacks served their country in a foreign war. And to satisfy the need to put all of these issues to rest. And in event these matters are not addressed as part of the oppression that coincides with PTSD then we either miss our chance to correct it or we just don’t care. And justifies all of the irregularities inflicted on us by our loved ones due to our behavior. Some not knowing the impact due to PTSD. Are the results of a program running in the background of our minds of how we were treated due to our expendability. Which left some of us mentally scared. The covert activities of this country can overtly be dialogued, documented and made a part of this country’s history for generations to come. With positive dialogue and proper documentation. After documenting what can be learned from the Vietnam experience, which has not been acknowledged as yet, then maybe we can better serve the new veterans and prepare ourselves for what is yet to come to the surface, the covert activities active duty personnel are involved in, not knowing, that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It took me forty years and maybe we will get a president like Mr. Clinton to declassify certain material as he did pertaining to the Vietnam War for all practical purposes.

When Mr. Clinton was president, I was preparing a statement to reassure him that he did nothing wrong for missing the Vietnam War for the simple fact that not only my people were being sacrificed during that era but also a number of whites in order to get the job done. One never knows how or when, or for that matter, why war is the result of covert activities to satisfy one’s thirst for money and power. And when I made the statement, When in hell, you will inhale, that is the first step to ensuring a state of denial. The second alternative is taking one’s own life by any means necessary when dealing with the odds that people like me were faced for being a marine and having to observe other marines just as you would the known enemy. For me, the second was not an option,