An Open Letter to Senator John F. Kerry

Don Bendell ^ | 15 Feb 2004

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

An open letter to Senator John F. Kerry

My wife had rotator cuff surgery earlier this year, and the recovery is terribly painful. Then, she developed a staph-epi infection, and they had to cut the same scar open and operate on her again. Just thinking about the pain and anxiety of facing that painful surgery a second time in the same wound, makes me cringe. That experience, however pales in comparison to what I am going through right now, in my heart.

The old hurts are surfacing and the feelings of betrayal by fellow citizens, and their leader stirring them up, are breaking my heart again. I am being cut in the same scar. How did we who served in Vietnam suddenly become cold-blooded killers, torturers, and rapists, of the ilk of the Nazi SS or the Taliban? Most of us were American soldiers who grew up idolizing John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and all the other heroes. That was why I volunteered. But for political expediency, John Kerry has rewritten history, again. After spending only four months in the country of Vietnam, John Kerry testified before Congress in 1971 with these exact words about incidents he supposedly witnessed or heard about from other vets: ³They personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam."

I was a green beret officer who volunteered for duty in Vietnam and fought in the thick of it in 1968 and 1969 on a Special Forces A-team on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, just for starters. We were the elite. We saw the most action. Everybody in the world knows that. But we did not just kill people, we built a church, a school, treated illnesses, passed out soap, food, and clothing, and had fun and loving interaction with the indigenous people of Vietnam, just like our boys did in Normandy, Baghdad, Saigon, and everywhere American soldiers ever served. We all gave away our candy bars and rations to kids. Our hearts to oppressed people all over the globe.

My children and grandchildren could read your words, and think those horrendous things about me, Mr. Kerry. You are a bold-faced, unprincipled liar, and a disgrace, and you have dishonored me and all my fellow Vietnam veterans. Sure, there were a couple bad-apples, but I saw none, and I saw it all, and if I did, as an army officer, it was my obligation to stop it, or at the very least report it. Why is there not a single record anywhere of you ever reporting any incidents like this or having the perpetrators arrested? The answer is simple. You are a liar. Your medals and mine are not a free pass for lifetime, Senator Kerry, to bypass character, integrity, and morality. I earn my green beret over and over daily in all aspects of my life.

Eight National Guard green berets, and other National Guard soldiers, have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and you totally dishonored their widows and families by lumping National Guard service in with being a draft-dodger, conscientious objector, and deserter, just so you can try to sabotage the patriotism of our President who proudly served as an Air National Guard jet pilot. I have a son earning his green beret at Fort Bragg right now, and his wife serves honorably in the Air National Guard, just like President Bush did, and I am as proud of her as I am my son. I volunteered for Vietnam and have no problem whatsoever with President Bush being our Commander-In-Chief. In fact, I am proud of him as our leader.

John Kerry, you personally derailed the Vietnam Human Rights Bill, HR2883, in 2001, after it had passed the House by a 411 to 1 vote, and thousands of pro-American Montagnard tribespeople in Vietnam died since then who could have been saved, by you. Earlier, as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on MIA/POW Affairs, you personally quashed the efforts of any and all veterans to report sightings of living POW¹s, when you held those reins in Congress. You have fought tooth and nail to push for the US to normalize relations with Vietnam for years. Why, Mr. Kerry? Simple, your first cousin C. Stewart Forbes, CEO, of Colliers International, recently signed a contract with Hanoi, worth BILLIONS of dollars for Collier¹s International to become the exclusive real estate representative for the country of Vietnam.

"Hanoi John," now that it works for you, you beat your chest about your Vietnam service, but to me, you are a phony, opportunistic, hypocrite. You are one of those politicians that is like a fertilizer machine: all that comes out of you is horse manure, and you are spreading it everywhere.

Medals do not make a man. Morals do.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Have not seen this one posted...rolling around the internet. Was written by a Special Forces Officer.

[Baynative]

"After spending only four months in the country of Vietnam, John Kerry testified before Congress

Just to emphasize that the democrat lie machine is in full tilt mode - last night I heard Charlie Rangle say on TV, "John Kerry is a war hero who proudly served TWO tours in VietNam". Of course, no one challenged or corrected him, which means this will probably become fact before long.

[alwaysconservative]

That is so beautiful and perfect it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for posting it!

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

When the going gets tough, the liberals quit. Kerry displayed that in Vietnam.

That attitude, based on the daily Iraq body count seen on liberal news networks, will ensure that we pull out before we see it to the end. Who knows what that will bring.......hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and later countless dead Americans on our soil.

With Kerry in charge, the 2010 international atlas might not show a United States of America.

[sofaman]

Do you have the name of the gentlemen that wrote this? I would love to know whether or not this is a legitimate letter. article..ie. that it was written by someone who is who he says he is.

If this is legit, it should be mailed and e-mailed to every household in this country.

Thanks for the post.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Check Freepmail

[Made In The USA]

Outstanding.

[Lokibob]

bump

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

ping

[Jaxter]

Kerry spent a tour on a ship (a destroyer I think) off the coast of Vietnam prior to his 4 months on a swift boat. Neither tour was particularly dangerous. There wasn't much going on in the Mekong delta area after Tet '68.

[Baynative]

"Kerry spent a tour on a ship"

does the Navy considers a short time assignment a tour? I unde3rstood he was on the gun ship for about 90 days - that's TDY in the Army.

[thesummerwind]

My children and grandchildren could read your words, and think those horrendous things about me, Mr. Kerry. You are a bold-faced, unprincipled liar, and a disgrace, and you have dishonored me and all my fellow Vietnam veterans. Sure, there were a couple bad-apples, but I saw none, and I saw it all, and if I did, as an army officer, it was my obligation to stop it, or at the very least report it. Why is there not a single record anywhere of you ever reporting any incidents like this or having the perpetrators arrested? The answer is simple. You are a liar. Your medals and mine are not a free pass for lifetime, Senator Kerry, to bypass character, integrity, and morality.

Brilliant!

It is this country's shame and loss that every voter in this country does not read THIS essay. But the mainstream media rules this country, and subsequently, just a very small percentage of the voters will see the true picture of John Kerry made so clearly above!

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Tonk...here's your proud fellow nam vet

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this and for the ping.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting this letter Archie ... -- everyone needs to read this letter. It will explain to some on here that were too young to remember the Vietnam War the anger being felt towards Kerry by a lot of us that do remember -- especially the Veterans and their families.

It was a very difficult time as family and friends were shot and some killed while these lowlifes like Kerry were lying, demonstrating, and embolding the N. Vietnamese. I will never forget nor forgive the likes of John Kerry, Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark and others that thought more of the N. Vietnamese then they thought of the men and women of the United States military!

John Kerry and his ilk have my total contempt and it has been made worse by his parading around and telling everyone he was a Vietnam Vet knowing full well he not only demonstrated against the War but also lied to Congress in his testimony.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I was actually encouraged by NBCs special interest money hit job on Kerry tonight. The wind went out of my sails when I discovered it was only a lead in to a bigger hit job on the President.

[hoosiermama]

Excellant post. Thank you. Has this been sent to major networks/news people?

[SelmaLee]

You are right - everyone needs to read this letter. May God bless this man for his service to our nation - then and now.

[hoosiermama]

My only regret is that I didn't throw more rotten eggs at the protestors back then......Some served ....some threw eggs.

[onyx]

I have nothing but hate and contempt for JFKerry.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Excellent letter.

Why is there not a single record anywhere of you ever reporting any incidents like this or having the perpetrators arrested? The answer is simple. You are a liar. Your medals and mine are not a free pass for lifetime, Senator Kerry, to bypass character, integrity, and morality.

Because at the time, it was fashionable to be against the war and Kerry capitalized on those feelings. He is an opportunist at the very least, or if we believe what he said, then, he is a war criminal.

[MeekOneGOP]

John Kerry and his ilk have my total contempt and it has been made worse by his parading around and telling everyone he was a Vietnam Vet knowing full well he not only demonstrated against the War but also lied to Congress in his testimony.

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry
(Click here or on the pic)

[Jorge]

Great letter. I only wish it had the name of the author.

[Dolphy]

John Kerry and his ilk have my total contempt and it has been made worse by his parading around and telling everyone he was a Vietnam Vet knowing full well he not only demonstrated against the War but also lied to Congress in his testimony.

What is really sad is that for those who learned about Viet Nam in public schools, Kerry's representation is not at all out of step. If not for my parents, who quit their church over its anti-war rantings, I too may have been the victim of Kerry's brand of propaganda and hypocrisy.

[PhilDragoo]

Kerry won the endorsement of top North Vietnamese Communist General Vo Nguyen Giap for insuring Communist victory.

Kerry's three purple hearts entailed no hospitalization and left no scar.

Kerry's Silver Star was for shooting an enemy combatant downed by .50 caliber fire by others, cited by himself.

Kerry returned to the world to shoot his "band of brothers" in the back, risking the lives of those still fighting, causing those captured to be taunted by their Communist captors, bringing disrespect on the sacrifice of those who gave all.

Kerry belongs on the lowest level of hell, not in the Oval Office.

[SAMWolf]

Bump

[onyx]

Excelent post, Phil.

BTTT

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Check FREEP mail

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Thanks Phil...the true stories will come out on Mr. Kerry. Spineless liberals get more people killed than principled people who make a stand!

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Has this been sent to major networks/news people?

What good would that do?......this is an indictment on Kerry not Bush.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Kerry belongs on the lowest level of hell, not in the Oval Office.

M nomination for quote of the day.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Why, Mr. Kerry? Simple, your first cousin C. Stewart Forbes, CEO, of Colliers International, recently signed a contract with Hanoi, worth BILLIONS of dollars for Collier¹s International to become the exclusive real estate representative for the country of Vietnam.

NO SPECIAL INTERESTS MR. KERRY?

[LisaMalia]

I'm e-mailing this out to all on my list, and it's a large one. I suggest others do the same.

I received a forwarded email from a former boss (who knows where I stand, politically), from moveon.org, calling for a censure of President Bush.

I have been waiting for a good piece to send back to her, and this one fits the bill.

[BOBTHENAILER]

I'm e-mailing this out to all on my list, and it's a large one. I suggest others do the same.

I'm doing the same, it will grow exponentially.

[LisaMalia]

Could you post the name of the author, please. I went to the site linked, and can't get in.
Thanks.

[LisaMalia]

Could you please post the the source?

[Grampa Dave]

"Kerry belongs on the lowest level of hell, not in the Oval Office!"

Bob, this may be the quote of the year, not just for the day.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Could you please post the the source?

Go to the original poster of the letter. They should have it.

[LisaMalia]

Go to the original poster of the letter. They should have it.

Could you post a link to it? Thanks.

[LisaMalia]

Do you have a viable link to this article? I would love to send it to my email list, but I would like to ensure it's validity first. I can't get into the link you posted.
Thanks.

[RJayneJ]

Thanks for the nomination! };^D)

[IrishRainy]

The Silver Star was supposedly awarded to the CREW of his swift boat (himself included). After JF'ingK received his third PH, he was allowed to return home, PER HIS REQUEST, and his small crew, his so-called "band of brothers" (cue the hokey music) was guaranteed to be sent to safer duty.

So is this the norm? And was there some kind of deal struck among them -- like "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?"

I also find it curious that, altho they were supposedly so close, one of the brothers says he never heard from Kerry until 1996 when he faced a particularly tough opponent for the Senate. Kerry claimed he had been trying to find these guys since after the war but had been unsuccessful.

Riiiiight.

[davidosborne]

Can you post a link to the source...I would like to ensure its validity....

FReegards,

David

[MeekOneGOP]

Kerry belongs on the lowest level of hell, not in the Oval Office.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

MAiled to ya David

[blackie]

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Darksheare]

The Silver Star was for 'bravely' rushing a dead body laying behind a hut out of sight of his crew and shooting same dead body.
*chuckle*
Even in his own statement he said that he rushed "around behind the hut to deliver the croup de grease" to the already expired VC.
*snort*
I agree, he belongs roasting long and slow over several million WP and antimaterial incendiary grenades for his words against his former brothers in uniform.
I personally do not consider him a soldier at all or ever.
REAL soldiers do not backstab their bretheren like that with slander.
The only 'badmouthing' a REAL soldier will do is to improve things for the next guy, not denigrate the entire military way of life.
What Kerry did was light years beyond badmouthing.
He deserves charges brought against him for that at least, prison at best.
But that is my opinion as some would say.
(I'm not very forgiving about such things I admit.)

[FBD]

Excellant letter. Good post Archie.

Mudboy Slim;
Thanks for posting this to me!

[PhilDragoo]

Still searching for the 1985 Giap memoirs and his actual words crediting Kerry with the Communist victory.

No doubt the Kerry machine is buying up that book as well as The New Soldier.

[SAMWolf]

By Gene Kuentzler: The question raised by Gary Beaver, "Do you have any data on actual U.S. troops, by name who were killed as a direct result of Fonda's actions?" can be answered by reading the book written by General Giap, Commander of NVA forces. Giap clearly indicated that NVA troops were without sufficient supplies, and had been continually defeated time and again.

By 1968, NVA morale was at it's lowest point ever. The plans for "Tet" '68 was their last desperate attempt to achieve a success, in an effort to boost the NVA morale. When it was over, General Giap and the NVA viewed the Tet '68 offensive as a failure, they were on their knees and had prepared to negotiate a surrender.

At that time, there were fewer than 10,000 U.S. casualties, the Vietnam War was about to end, as the NVA were prepared to accept their defeat. Then, they heard Walter Cronkite (former CBS News anchor and correspondent) on TV proclaiming the success of the Tet '68 offensive by the communist NVA. They were completely and totally amazed at hearing that the US Embassy had been overrun. In reality, The NVA had not gained access to the Embassy--there were some VC who had been killed on the grassy lawn, but they hadn't gained access. Further reports indicated the riots and protesting on the streets of America.

According to Giap, these distorted reports were inspirational to the NVA. They changed their plans from a negotiated surrender and decided instead, they only needed to persevere for one more hour, day, week, month, eventually the protesters in American would help them to achieve a victory they knew they could not win on the battlefield. Remember, this decision was made at a time when the U.S. casualties were fewer than 10,000, at the end of 1967, beginning of 1968.

Today, there are 58,000 names on the Vietnam Wall Memorial that was built with the donations made by the American public. Although Giap did not mention each and every protester's name in his book, many of us will never forget the 58,000 names on the Wall. We will also never forget the names of those who helped in placing those additional 48,000 names there: Bill, Jane, Tom, Cronkite, and others.

Those of us who rotated prior to Walter Cronkite's report on "Tet-68" can clearly state, "We were still winning when I left!"