Visiting Vietnam for the third time since the conclusion of the war, I am pleased to observe that the nation's economy is currently booming. Despite this progress, the experience triggers bittersweet memories of my fellow pilots and classmates who never returned home.

Throughout my three return visits, I have consistently searched for answers. However, the deeper I dig for the truth, the more I realize it remains buried beneath layers of deception. War is fundamentally a matter of money; it is funded by taxpayers, yet the ultimate cost is paid by young men, women, and families with their lives. I have learned that the conflict in Vietnam was driven by oil, just as the situation in Iran today is about oil.

There is an excellent resource available for anyone wishing to understand the realities of war, whether past, present, or future. The book is titled Empire of Lies and is written by Charles Gouette. I strongly encourage you to read Empire of Lies. Do not repeat my mistake of serving two tours in Vietnam, engaging in combat against people who shared our same fundamental desires: the freedom to create the best possible life for themselves, their families, and friends.

True financial freedom commences with the freedom to know the truth. One must wonder if this is the reason genuine financial education is absent from our schools. Is it possible that our educational systems do not want us to uncover the truth? Please choose to be a seeker of truth rather than a victim blinded by lies.

Take care.