An Open Letter to Senator John F. Kerry

Don Bendell ^ | 15 Feb 2004

[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!"

[PhilDragoo]

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Not bad.

[MeekOneGOP]

That's good ! ...

[davidosborne]

got it///

Thanks

[davidosborne]

I sent a note to the Admin Mod. to correct the SOURCE link......... for anyone interested in knowing the source...

David

[davidosborne]

Source link corrected.... pass it on......

[secretagent]

Very insightful and provocative post! So Cronkite started the propaganda win for the commies.

Didn't Peter Arnett report the overrun embassy?

[SAMWolf]

Not sure who the reporter at the Embassey was. But Conkrite was trusted and when he turned against the war it had an impact.

[cpforlife.org]

BTTT

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!