Free Republic

It was a beautiful day in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Clear and sunny, mid-60's and the leaves really needed raking. Our toilet needs new insides and our washing machine is busted.But Mrs. Vigilanteman and I put it all off to volunteer at GOP Hq in downtown Greensburg, TEL 724-836-0570. The food was great, the people working there were even better. One lady from England just got her U.S. citizenship and is putting it to good use. There are people drifting in and out all day helping with phone calls, but they are still only running about 75% capacity.I hate phone solicitors,...

. Little Saigon CA's loving Memorial to Gen. WESTMORELAND: "You gave your best efforts. By virtue of Vietnam, together we held the line for many years and stopped the dominoes from falling. You are and always will be ...a courageous and dedicated soldier." .

WASHINGTON - This is a tale of two men who were -- each in his own way -- icons of America's searing and bitter experience in Vietnam. Both left us this month, one at age 81 the other at age 91, and they left us wondering what it all meant and what they meant to us. One was a symbol of a nation's failure to succeed in its costly and bloody mission in Vietnam. The other was a symbol of gritty personal courage and simple personal honor while a seemingly helpless prisoner of America's enemies in that war. Gen. William...

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) - Gen. William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam during a major escalation of the war, was buried Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy, where he was once superintendent. The World War II combat veteran died Monday at the age of 91 of natural causes at the South Carolina retirement home where he lived with his wife, Katherine. "He left his mark in history," a chaplain, Lt. Col. John J. Cook, said in a graveside eulogy. "The season of war is gone ... Now he'll enter a season of rest." Following a private chapel service...

The full Ap obit: Gen. William Westmoreland CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) - Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded U.S. forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968 and advocated a strong military buildup at a time when American casualties were mounting, has died. Westmoreland died Monday of natural causes at Bishop Gadsden retirement home, where he had lived with his wife, said his son, James Ripley Westmoreland. He was 91. "I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts," Westmoreland told The Associated Press in 1985. "I've been hung in effigy. I've been spat upon. You...

Washington -- When retired Gen. William Westmoreland (Ret.) died this week in Charleston, S.C., the press erupted with reminiscences, mostly about him and the Vietnam War, mostly permeated with the myths of the Kultursmog , the politically-polluted culture of our elites, our liberal elites. After Vietnam the general spent the rest of his life refighting the war. He never learned that it was a war we could not win. He was a failure. These are three of the foul thoughts that pollute the liberals' culture and were repeated in many of his obituaries. I knew Westmoreland later in life, not...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. .................................................................. .................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should...

Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who commanded the United States forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968, overseeing the vast troop buildup and the height of the fighting, died last night in a retirement home in Charleston, S.C., his son, James Ripley Westmoreland, announced. The general was 91. Westy, as he became known while a West Point cadet, was driving and combative - in World War II, leading a fast-moving artillery battalion; in Vietnam, directing "search and destroy" missions meant to decimate the enemy; in retirement, suing CBS for a television documentary that he said had defamed him. The libel suit,...

breaking, more to come

Does anyone know what the General is up to these days? He hasn't been heard from much at all since that Libel lawsuit almost 20 years ago. You would think he would be a prime interview subject about his role in epochal events in American history.

Last Saturday night brought His Imperial Highness Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Chanh of Vietnam, Regent of the Imperial Dynasty and President of the Vietnamese Constitutional Monarchist League, to Cornell. The Prince, a member of the Vietnamese imperial family gave a lecture, entitled "Revival of Vietnamese Culture: The Nguyen Dynasty," before a crowd of about 50 people. Maria Nguyen '05, vice president of the Cornell Vietnamese Association sang the American national anthem and then played the national anthem of South Vietnam. Aided by PowerPoint slides, Prince Buu Chanh then began his lecture speaking from a podium draped with the American flag...

The Imperial Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam is politically pressuring the government of Vietnam to protect the liberty, religious rights of the Vietnamese people as well as the culture, traditions, languages of the Montagnards and Khmer Krom in Vietnam. (PRWEB) October 23, 2004 -- Today, Vietnam is experiencing a minor period of outward growth. Even the most dedicated Communists are abandoning old communist economic policies, which have proven to be ineffective and sometimes harmful. Capitalism is being introduced, with the Communist Party maintained only as a vehicle to exercise absolute control of the elite Party leaders over the common people. The...

U.S. Documentary http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/U/htmlU/uncountedene/uncountedene.htm The CBS Reports documentary The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception, which aired on 23 January 1982, engendered one of the most bitter controversies in television history. The 90-minute program spawned a three-year ordeal for CBS, including disclosures by TV Guide that the report violated CBS News Standards; an internal investigation by Burton (Bud) Benjamin; and an unprecedented $120 million libel suit by retired U.S. Army General William C. Westmoreland. Westmoreland sued producer George Crile III, correspondent Mike Wallace, and others for alleging that Westmoreland participated in a conspiracy to defraud the American public about progress in the...

Aurora,IL (PRWEB) September 8, 2004 -- OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS - From the Office of the Leadership of the The Imperial Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam & Vietnamese Constitutional Monarchist League: His Imperial Highness Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Chanh of Vietnam, Regent of the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty and President of The Vietnamese Constitutional Monarchist League denounces the Communist Government on the return of United States Servicemen MIA or possible POWs’ and Human Rights Record. It has been stated by American Marines and Army Soldiers who are in Vietnam searching for MIA's, that there is corruption within the government of Vietnam. They stated that...

<p>Suddenly the historical debate over Vietnam is sprouting all through the current debate over Iraq. Howard Dean, leading the Democratic pack, told Dan Rather: "We sent troops to Vietnam, without understanding why we were there. And the American people weren't told the truth and it was a disaster. And Iraq is gonna become a disaster under this presidency."</p>

tate Sen. Mike Crotts (R-Conyers) on Thursday officially kicked off his campaign for the 8th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. Mac Collins. Crotts joins state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) in the race to replace Republican Collins, who is resigning to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Zell Miller. Miller is retiring when his term ends in 2005. The 18-county congressional district stretches from near Conyers to Bibb County and along the Alabama border to Carroll, Troup and Harris counties.

The leading Republican in the state House formally announced his plans Tuesday to run for the 8th Congressional District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mac Collins. State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) kicked off his campaign at the state Capitol followed by stops in Macon, Columbus and LaGrange. Westmoreland, 53, said he will continue as House minority leader through the next legislative session. State Sen. Mike Crotts (R-Conyers) has also announced plans to run for the congressional seat, and Dylan Glenn, an aide to Gov. Sonny Perdue, has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Collins is leaving his congressional job...

Every now and then, the political world changes so fast the journalistic one can't keep up properly. For instance, last week we had the pleasant prospect of a simple U.S. Senate primary race between two Republicans prepared to rip each other's face off. Then U.S. Rep. Mac Collins jumped into the race, and ruined a perfectly good portion of a Journal-Constitution poll of 501 statewide voters. We're a little ticked off. Collins committed his news with no apology or acknowledgement that he'd just sent the work product of dozens of diligent telemarketers -- the polite kind who only call only...

… Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) is sporting a shiner he got in a Savannah batting cage two weekends ago, pitching to a hard-hitting friend. “My left eye is kind of banged up, yellow and repulsive,” Kingston said, adding he still has his right one on a possible Senate run when Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) retires.

So Lynn Westmoreland wants to run for the Senate. He may be considering a campaign for the wrong office. It’s not the first time this House Republican leader has had the Washington itch. He considered trying for Sam Nunn’s Senate seat in ’96, but the party brass told him the time was not ripe. Westmoreland waited. A Democrat, Max Cleland, won the election. Looking back, state Rep. Westmoreland might have prevailed. But who knows? Instead, he stayed in the Georgia House, labored in the vineyards of GOP politics and ousted Bob Irvin as Republican leader in 2000. Now Westmoreland is...

Sullivan County Commission chooses Mike Locke to replace Westmoreland in state House By GARREN SHIPLEY BLOUNTVILLE - The 102nd Tennessee General Assembly is almost officially history, but it has a new member today. The Sullivan County Commission appointed Mike Locke, the late Rep. Keith Westmoreland's longtime friend and campaign treasurer, to represent Westmoreland's 2nd state House District. "It's an honor," Locke said. "It's something the (Westmoreland) family wanted me to do." Many people in the 2nd District have called and asked him to put his name in the hat to succeed the late representative in the next session, Locke said,...

Radio hosts dance on Westmoreland’s grave City Editorial On topics like tax policy, welfare and TennCare, local talk radio personalities like Phil Valentine and Steve Gill are champions of what they refer to as "personal responsibility." On the morning following the death of state Rep. Keith Westmoreland, however, Gill and Valentine vehemently denied any responsibility for Westmoreland’s disgrace and suicide. We think their denials carry the distinctive odor of hypocrisy. In an emotional speech last Thursday, Rep. Chris Newton (R-District 22) accused the news media of hounding Westmoreland to death. While Newton’s words should sting any journalist with a conscience,...

http://www.timesnews.net/zine_pics/4988.jpg Former Congressman Jimmy Quillen and Gov. Don Sundquist leave Sunday's service. David Grace photo. Friends, colleagues mourn Westmoreland's death By CHELSEA SHOUN KINGSPORT - State Rep. Keith Westmoreland was remembered Sunday as a man who stood up for his beliefs and worked for the common good of all Tennesseans. "He was a man who stood up for his friends, a man who stood up for his colleagues, a man who stood up for the community and a man who stood up for his family," said Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, and speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Naifeh eulogized Westmoreland...

<p>A subdued House held an emotional memorial service yesterday for one of its own, Rep. Keith Westmoreland, R-Kingsport, who took his own life Wednesday night after three days of news accounts on charges he had exposed himself to minors.</p> <p>An arrangement of chrysanthemums and lilies from House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh stood on Westmoreland's desk at the rear of the House chamber, and someone had placed a cigar — Westmoreland was seldom seen without one — beside the flowers.</p>

Rep. Keith Westmoreland Commits Suicide 06-19-2002 -- Kingsport REPORTS OUT OF KINGSPORT SAY THAT REP. KEITH WESTMORELAND HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE. IT APPARENTLY HAPPENED AT HIS HOME IN KINGSPORT. AS REPORTED EARLIER ON FOX 17 NEWS, THE KINGSPORT REPUBLICAN WAS CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF EXPOSING HIMSELF TO CHILDREN AT A HOTEL SWIMMING POOL. METRO POLICE SAY IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME WESTMORELAND HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF INDECENT EXPOSURE. ON MARCH 13TH A MANAGER AT THE DAYS INN ACROSS FROM WESTMORELAND'S DOWNTOWN APARTMENT CALLED POLICE TO REPORT A MAN EXPOSING HIMSELF. A FURTHER SEARCH OF RECORDS BY THE DEPARTMENT'S SEX CRIMES...

The Kingsport Times 6/19/02 Florida police outline girls' indecent exposure allegations against Westmoreland By BECKY CAMPBELL and TIM WHALEY KINGSPORT - State Rep. Keith Westmoreland allegedly tried to hit a security officer who stopped him at a Florida hotel following reports he'd exposed himself to juvenile girls, according to one witness account of his arrest. The statement was one of three filed in addition to three affidavits of complaint that detail how Westmoreland allegedly exposed himself to at least three young girls at a hot tub and pool. A press release from the Walton County, Fla., Sheriff's Office late Monday...

http://www.newschannel5.com/news/0206/18/expose.htm Lawmaker Warned About Indecent Exposure Before There are new developments Tuesday in the case of state representative Keith Westmoreland, who was arrested last week in Florida for allegedly exposing himself at a crowded hotel pool. NewsChannel 5 has learned this isn't the first time the 55-year-old republican lawmaker has been investigated for this type of crime. Metro Police confirmed that they responded to a call from the Days Inn on Union Street near the Capitol this past March. Guests at the hotel complained to the front desk that a man in the apartment building next door was exposing himself....

Rep. Keith Westmoreland arrested in Florida on 7 felony indecent exposure charges By TIM WHALEY KINGSPORT - State Rep. Keith Westmoreland, R-Kingsport, was arrested last week and charged with seven felony counts of indecent exposure during a trip to Florida, according to a Walton County, Fla., Sheriff's Department official. Walton County Sheriff's Department Media Relations Officer Jeff Haney said the police report indicates Barry Keith Westmoreland was arrested last week for allegedly exposing himself at a Hilton Hotel in Sandestin, Fla. Haney said Westmoreland is accused of exposing his genitals to at least one child under age 16. A Walton...

Rep. Keith Westmoreland. Photo courtesy of the state of Tennessee. Rep. Keith Westmoreland charged in Florida with indecent exposure By the Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A state lawmaker from Kingsport was arrested and charged with five felony counts of indecent exposure during a trip to Florida last week, an official confirmed Monday. A sergeant at the Walton County Sheriff's Department said Rep. Keith Westmoreland was arrested last week and accused with exposing himself at a Sandestin, Fla., hotel. The sergeant, who declined to give his name, would not provide further details. Nashville television station WSMV-TV, citing the arrest...

Westmoreland to back Naifeh plan if exchange tax concept doesn't garner House support By TIM WHALEY KINGSPORT - No matter what budget solution the House arrives at, state Rep. Keith Westmoreland, R-Kingsport, said 49 members of the House and two leading gubernatorial candidates "will be very happy.'' That's because they won't have to make a decision or present a plan to balance a budget deficit now projected at $1.4 billion if any improvements are included at all. Even a base continuation budget would cost the state as much as $800 million due to the use of one-time monies and deflating...