It is quite easy, from the comfort of one's armchair, to criticize Col. Askins' actions in Indochina and on the border since none of us were there ourselves. Askins may have committed murders. I haven't seen anyone attempting to excuse it if he did. I have seen some making pronouncements without even having read the Colonel's own accounts. I think everyone understands Askins enjoyed killing; but it is inappropriate to mischaracterize incidents in which he may well have used his guns legitimately.