Furthermore, many vets are being mislead by three agitprop themes:
1) Kerry was a Vietnam War hero. Note that nobody is yet focusing on the details of that, nor his service thereafter. If it is possible to get the information through the censors of the left-wing press, vets will find out the rest. I think there are going to be vet demonstrations before this is all over.
2) Bush took the easy way out (and was AWOL from that). This is a bit harder to fight, although it really ticks off the folks who were or are in the guard, and it ticks me off because my best friend died flying an ANG jet in 1972.
3) Bush has been cutting veterans benefits and combat pay, and doesn't really care about soldiers. There is a slight bit of truth to this, but if you look closely, you discover that the changes were minor and in the case of benefits, only affect veteran health care for high income veterans without service related disability. This benefit didn't even exist at all until the '90s.
Regarding phoney vets, and there are many, the most important ones are those who gave their "experiences" at Fonda and Kerry's "Winter Soldier" investigation. This "investigation," also made into an indy film and shown around the world, had "vets" testifying that war crimes and atrocities were normal US practice, and that they had participated in or watched them. Lots of these folks were either not vets, not Vietnam vets or were not in a position to see the atrocities they claimed. Army CID investigated in order to prosecute whoever committed atrocities and could get no useful information. They did determine, however, that a lot of these guys were not who they said they were.
Kerry subsequently testified to the Senate (under oath, I presume) in a widely publicized event. This testimony, and other Kerry activities, were instrumental in creating the stereotype of the Vietnam Vet as a vicious brute and at the same time a pitiful, psychologically damaged victim.
This is one Vietnam Vet who will do his best to defeat Kerry.