Gorilla Warfare 1966

Back when I was a little kid I'd watch the news with my Uncle Len. I'd sit quietly with him each night and watch Walter Cronkite tell the nation (the USA) about the war in Vietnam.

I vividly remember Walter telling us that Guerillas were killing US soldiers.

But I was a little kid and all I heard was Gorillas were killing US soldiers.

GORILLAS!

And as horrible as it was that Gorillas were killing our Army Guys (I called them Army Guys)....it was still kinda neat that we were at war with Gorillas.

And when I went to bed I often thought about my Army Guys fighting Gorillas. And Gorillas killing them.

And once in a while Walter would mention that the Army Guys killed a bunch of Gorillas...and that was cool.

It seemed to get a nod of approval from Uncle Len.

It never dawned on me to question my Uncle Len about the Gorillas. No need to. Walter Cronkite told me every night that Gorillas were surprising and killing our Army Guys.

I think adults thought I was weird watching the news every night.

But it was Gorilla War and I was fascinated by it.

Then for some reason I stopped watching about the Gorillas.

Maybe a year went by. Or so.

And then Uncle Len's son came back from the Army.

He came to my house and he looked awesome in his uniform. Big. Handsome. Tough.

And I remembered the Gorillas.

So I pulled him aside and pretended I wanted to show him something in my room and then asked him if he fought any gorillas.

And he just kinda smiled and said no.

And he had no idea why I asked him that.

But I knew in my heart he killed some Gorillas.