Read other letters about this article
"The official post-Vietnam line in the army, as taught in service schools (for officers), was articulated first by Col. Harry Summers, who was tasked by the army to write the official 'lessons-learned' document after Vietnam that became a course text, 'On Strategy' (purposefully referring to Clausewitz): it wasn't the media, it wasn't the protestors, it was us, the uniformed military --- 'we' did it to ourselves. . . .
One wonders in relation to that about the oath: one of the whines was that "Washington tied our hands". Actually, it was the Constitution which "tied the hands" -- with the rule of law.
Otherwise, much of the media back then trumpeted the gov't line. And the protesters were exercising their right of freedom of speech -- which right was purportedly being defended by a military which simultaneously opposed use of that right in ways in which the military disapproved.