Veterans, Vietnamese unite to oppose Kerry

A Vietnam veterans organization and a Vietnamese-American group have united in opposition to Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. John Kerry.

"We represent hundreds of thousand of American veterans who do not want to see John Kerry anywhere near the Oval Office," said Ted Sampley, founder of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry. Sampley is a U.S. Army Green Beret and veteran of two combat tours in Vietnam.

Said Sampley: "I have personally dealt with John Kerry on the issue of U.S. POWs left behind in Vietnam. Kerry is not truthful and is not worthy of the support of U.S. veterans. Many Vietnam vets have been duped into thinking Kerry is their friend. He is not. To us, he is 'Hanoi John.'"

Dan Tran is president of the Vietnam Human Rights Project and a member of Vietnamese Americans Against John Kerry.

"John Kerry aided and abetted the communist government in Hanoi and has hindered any human rights progress in Vietnam," Tran said.

Said the new coalition in a statement: "In the Senate, Kerry blocked the Vietnam human rights (and religious freedom) bill on behalf of Hanoi, while the Vietnamese Communists continue to wage a war of repression against the non-Communist Vietnamese and a war of genocide against our former allies the Montagnard ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam."

The coalition plans nationwide demonstrations against Kerry beginning with the New York and Massachusetts primaries.

Sampley's reference to Kerry as "Hanoi John" represents a campaign issue that could become a big problem for the Democrat. A photo on the Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry website shows anti-war activist Jane Fonda at a Valley Forge rally sitting a few feet ahead of Kerry.

Jane Fonda and John Kerry, who can be seen in background directly "north" of Fonda.

Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh features the photo on his website with the caption: "The picture Democrats have been hoping nobody had: John Kerry sitting behind Jane Fonda during an anti-war rally at Valley Forge, PA in September 1970."

Kerry has been roundly criticized for anti-war activities he participated in following his military service in Vietnam.

A proposed bumper sticker image that encapsulates the issue is making its away around the Internet. The sticker says, "Kerry-Fonda 2004" and includes the image of a North Vietnamese flag.

JOHN KERRY IS NO WAR HERO!!!

The Lee Marvin, Capt. Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers You Never Knew

Captain Kangaroo turned 76 not long before he died recently, which is odd, because he's never looked a day under 76. (DOB: 6/27/27) His death reminded me of the following story:

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT.) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys?

Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps experiences.
In a time when many Hollywood stars served> their country in the Armed forces often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one Higher Naval award . the Congressional Medal of Honor.

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. The following is dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with his guest, Lee Marvin:

Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red beach and directed his Troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by and mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, "Where'd they get you, Lee?" "Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying...Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew...The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater on his show to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. A master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.

After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister, and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid the tattoos and his past life away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did. They quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.

It funny.... Today I went to the Westside Pavillion in West Los Angeles to go to the book store and in front of Nordstrom's dept. store was a get out the vote table for John Kerry and it was manned by three US Army soldiers... I did a double take and noticed that though the three men had on fatigues they did not have any insignia indicating their rank or their unit... They also didn't have their names on their uniforms... So I asked the guys if they were enlisted and after a bit of hesitation, one of the guys said that they were veterans... I was pissed that these guys portrayed themselves as being enlisted and not being forth right as being veterans... I took their word for it and moved on... For all I know they are paid actors wearing fatigues and claiming to be veterans... They all look to be in their mid-thirties to early forties... Does anyone know if there is a protocol that veterans adhere to when wearing the uniform in public... I would like to know so I can confront those guys and the mall...

Thanks...

ARA

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