Naturally, the show about a country rube in the Marine Corps never directly mentioned the war. But most of the real-life Marines who marched in its introduction would soon be fighting in Vietnam.

And they were ever-so young.” Marine Corps veterans Bob Thomas, left, of Oakdale, and Ed German, of Flanders, meet during a ceremony honoring Vietnam War veterans in Hauppauge on Saturday.

"Another thing that broke my heart was that there were a lot of babies, a lot of mothers, innocent people that were being killed," said Army vet Margarito Cardenas.