Many years ago, we stood up a new M-1B Predator squadron—the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron. The last time the squadron had been activated was during the Vietnam War, when US Air Force pilots flew O-1s, O-2s, and the mighty OV-10 Bronco in the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron. For the squadron stand-up event, we tracked down as many veterans of the original Vietnam-era squadron as we could. Thirteen such members descended upon Whiteman Air Force Base to celebrate with us. For us, it was the re-activation of an old squadron. For them, it was a reunion. We affectionately called that baker’s dozen “the old guys.” My commander told us in no uncertain terms that part of our job that weekend was to listen to the old guys’ stories; and so, we did.

On Saturday, late into the night at a visiting officers’ quarters room our guests called “the old guy hooch,” we listened to their war stories. Most our guests—and indeed most members of our squadron—had long since gone home. Five of them and two of us remained. Long after the sun had set, as the solo cups were emptied and refilled, and as voices lowered, the tenor of the conversation changed. No doubt, the day’s talk of throttle settings and aerial tactics drew the old guys into a headspace they hadn’t often occupied. Memories turned to their aircraft and their war.

As forward air controllers - airborne, they didn’t carry heavy bombs or missiles. Instead, they carried white smoke rockets. Flying aircraft with longer loiter times at slower speeds, the pilots of the 20th identified targets and marked them with smoke and then directed the heavier aircraft—often F-105 Thunderchiefs (or “Thuds”)—onto those targets.

To a person, each one of those five who remained that night had a story about a target mark and a weapons employment that still raises questions deep in their memories and in their consciences. One veteran in particular, John, told the story of a man in local attire riding his bicycle toward the friendly forward operating base (FOB). He said he didn’t have any reason to suspect the bicyclist of being a member of the Viet Cong, but the rules of engagement were clear: if a person got within a certain range of the FOB and continued toward the FOB, he was to be identified as hostile. John marked the target and the Thuds did the rest.

Moral injury, as a field of study, is relatively young. But as a phenomenon, it is as old as war. ...

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