You Want Vietnam, Senator? Bring It On!

Rush Limbaugh .com ^ | 2/4/04 | The Maha

[CyberAnt]

Actually, his anti-war stand after he returned from Vietnam is dispicable. He accused our soldiers of doing terrible things. He was not a nice person. I sure don't want him for my president. There are thread here on FR which have documented all this information.

[CyberAnt]

Versus 22 months President Bush was flying jets.

[windchime]

Here's the link to the Kerry speech Rush talked about today.  Warning:  It might make you angry.

Speech of John F. Kerry - Page S2479 Congressional Record 

[backhoe]

Cross-link:

-John Kerry- some selected, informative links...--

[OldEagle]

Do you believe he was a SEAL?

[archy]

What was Kerry's job in Vietnam?? Cook? Guarding latrines??

Kerry was a Lieutenant, junior grade, running a Swift Boat detatchment on the Mekong River during the particularly rough period known as Operation Swift Raider, cutting Viet Cong/NVA resupply routes on the rivers.

Swift Boat personnel took a particularly high number of casualties; the boats were unarmored, noisy and thereby easy targets for ambushes and magnets for RPG and B-40 antitank rockets and heavy machinegun fire from fixed positions; the odds of a Swift boat crewman becoming a casualty during a normal one-year tour was around 75%. Getting wounded three times in four months and getting out before that liklihood was doubled may not have been the bravest thing Kerry ever did, but it may have been his smartest.

[Prime Choice]

Kerry's bashing Bush for bringing up Vietnam?

Maybe it was a different John Kerry who said but three weeks ago that Bush failed to use Vietnam lessons??

Note to John Kerry: go stuff a sock in it, numbskull.

[archy]

That's not correct...Kerry did two tours of duty.

I don't like the guy, but that's not good information you have.

As a newly commissioned officer, Kerry did his first tour as the electrical engineering department officer aboard the USS Gridley, a guided missile frigate stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin. On 06 June 1968 the Gridley returned to its Long Beach, California home port. Kerry volunteered to go back to Vietnam as a *Brown Water Navy* officer in small river patrol force boats, was promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade on June 16, 1968, and on 17 November 1968 reported in as the officer commanding PCF-44 at Cam Ranh Bay. During his first combat action on 02 December 1968 Lt.JG Kerry was slightly wounded on his arm, earning his first Purple Heart.

Kerry served with two Swift boats while in-country, PCF44 and PCF94. In late January 1969, Kerry took command of PCF94 and its 5-man crew, taking part in 18 missions over 48 days, almost all of them in the Mekong Delta. He got his Purple Hearts and Bronze and Silver Stars while commanding the 94 boat. He was in Vietnam from 17 November 1968 to 27 March 1969, a toatl of four month and ten days- but four very busy months and days.

-archy-/-

[Fledermaus]

Okay, I stand corrected...thanks!

[Howie66]

I wasn't aware that John Effin Kerry was a SEAL. Then again before this is all said and done, we'll be told that not only was he SEAL, but he was also a GREEN BERET, RECON RANGER and SAS and single handedly took Tarawa and IWO JIMA.

From the (http://www.usvetdsp.com/jf_kerry.htm) VVAK website:

Kerry graduated from Yale University in 1966.
Like John F. Kennedy (who served on a World War II patrol boat, PT 109), Kerry sought to do the same. He enlisted in the Navy and became an officer.
After training, Kerry volunteered for Vietnam. He served a relatively uneventful six months, far removed from combat, from December 1967 to June 1968, in the electrical department aboard the USS Gridley, a guided-missile frigate that supported aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
His ship returned to its Long Beach, Calif., port on June 6, 1968. Five months later, Kerry went back to Vietnam, securing an assignment as "swift boat" skipper.
Kerry commanded his first swift boat, No. 44, from December 1968 through January 1969.
While in command of Swift Boat 44, Kerry and crew operated without prudence in a Free Fire Zone, carelessly firing at targets of opportunity racking up a number of enemy kills and some civilians. His body count included-- a woman, her baby, a 12 year-old boy, an elderly man and several South Vietnamese soldiers.
"It is one of those terrible things, and I'll never forget, ever, the sight of that child," Kerry later said about the dead baby. "But there was nothing that anybody could have done about it. It was the only instance of that happening."
Kerry said he was appalled that the Navy's ''free fire zone'' policy in Vietnam put civilians at such high risk.
Kerry experienced his first intense combat action on Dec. 2, 1968. He was slightly wounded on his arm, earning his first Purple Heart.
In late January 1969, Kerry joined a five-man crew on swift boat No. 94 completing 18 missions over 48 days, almost all of them in the Mekong Delta.
Kerry earned his second Purple Heart after sustaining a minor shrapnel wound in his left thigh on Feb. 20, 1969.

[cricket]

"A lot of people are going through life wishing people understood them. We understand you. You should be happy."

Beauiful!

Only wish the Repubs really had the 'what-it-takes' to go there. I am betting they will not.

[Ann Archy]

Michael Medved is the source.

[Ann Archy]

Two tours....Source, please. Micahel Medved said he spent 4 months in VietNam.

[AmericanVictory]

He wasn't, so far as we know. Sorry about the error.

[Howie66]

No need to apologize, my friend. Before you know it, John Effin Kerry will make Chesty Puller and Sgt. York look like Bill Clinton wannabes.

The insane PUKE!

[nicollo]

Some FReeper... somebody is going to have to read that book.. The New Soldiers... or whatever its called and get some anti-war, anti-US quotes in it that are attributable to Kerry...

I was at the Library of Congress today, and I followed your suggestion. I ordered this book... and, of course, it came up "not on shelf."

I'm not surprised. I'm just curious as to just which Senate office has it squirreled away...

Thanks for the suggestion!

Nicollo unmasked: Bromleyisms here

[GeronL]

Keep the aspirins (or liquor?) handy if you get the chance to read the book.

[sarasmom]

VietNam was a national nightmare.
I did not serve during the VietNam war, due to my age.
I did participate in the aftermath and clean-up.All of my instructors and superiors were Veterans of a war they were forbidden to win.
Part of the follow-up operations included a USA military unwritten policy of "Never Again" attitude.
I was willing and able to rain death and destruction on a level most people cant even accurately grasp the concept of.
It was called the Cold War.
We won that war, lest people forget a truth.
I dont have any experience in asking a 'Nam vet his/her opinion of that "war" that I am willing to share.
Hate Nixon if you must, but Nixon was the man who ended the VietNam war.
A "French" induced venture.

[GeronL]

HUH??

=o)

[sarasmom]

I need a little bit more than "HUH" to respond to you.
Did you have a question or point to debate?
Or does "HUH" pretty much cover your input?