Ron, I had a chance two or three years ago to sit quietly with Gen. Hal Moore and, over a couple of cocktails, describe exactly what you are talking about, the deterioration that occurred through 1968 and 1969.

Troops abused, last to be supplied.
No field-grade presence anywhere below 3,000 feet AGL.
Fat senior NCOs misusing their positions, etc.

As a professional soldier (which is the highest praise I can give) he was absolutely horrified, and he continued to interrogate me closely for specific detailed examples, which I gave him.

I also described to him how our crews stuck together at all costs, how our pals in the hangar busted their humps, how RLOs, Warrants, CEs and Gunners continued to make it work despite the roadblocks those fat bastards threw in front of us. I could tell right away that, as a man who spent his life leading soldiers, he really enjoyed that part.

Unfortunately, there were too few like Hal Moore. Fortunately, there were so many good officers and NCOs, we can forget about the bad ones today if we want to. I prefer to forget about them most of the time. I only bring them up when I think it's important to remind folks how easy it is for it all to turn sour.

Bob