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"George Bush,John Kerry,Vietnam, a "Band-of-Brothers" and.........Cornbread?????"
2/21/04 | redrock

Posted on 02/21/2004 10:50:26 PM PST by redrock

Okay.....so where do you draw the line???

I mean....just how do you decide????

This person did this....that person did that. ALL did as they were asked by their Nation...and yet....some in this Nation are trying to paint some as "Good"...and some as "Bad" based on where they spent their time in the service of their Country.

So...where do you draw the line???

The Democratic's are trying to paint one person (John Kerry) with the the words "Good"..based upon his time spent on active duty in Vietnam.

They are also trying to paint another (George Bush) with the words "Bad"....based upon his time spent as a member of the National Guard...stateside.

The Democrats are trying, both directly and indirectly, to say that one type of service is Honourable....and the other not.

George Bush spent his time in service as a member of the National Guard. It was at a time when many, not wanting to go to Vietnam, went into the Guard...or the Reserve....or got College deferments..or if they went into the service...tried to make sure they were assigned to Germany or stateside.

Did George Bush enlist in the National Guard to avoid going to Vietnam??? Maybe. But even if he did....so what. It's what people did in those days. It's what people do now.

More importantly...he served his time...and did his job. The job his Nation asked of him.

John Kerry enlisted in the Navy....and he DID go to Vietnam. He served roughly 4 months. Got 3 'bandaid' Purple Hearts...which somehow is supposed to make him a better person than George Bush who has none. Does the number of Purple Hearts decide which person is more 'valuable'?? or able to make command decisions??? or lead this Nation??? (as an afterthought....I have 2 Purple Hearts....neither are of the 'bandaid' type...does that mean I'm not worth as much as John Kerry?? I guess according to the Democrats....I'm not).

The Democratic Party would have you believe (and the parading around of John Kerry's "Band-of-Brothers" also tries to establish it as a fact) that serving in the National Guard somehow makes you less of a person....or makes you less able to lead a Nation....somehow makes you less of an American than anyone who has spent time in combat.

The Democratic Party would have you believe that ANYONE who has not spent time in combat does NOT qualify to be a part of that grouping .......our "Band-of-Brothers".

The Democratic Party would have you believe....that George Bush does not qualify.

The Democratic Party would have you believe....that the soldier of the following story does not qualify.

----------------------

"Cornbread"

I was in my third month in Vietnam. A combat medic. I was eighteen....and in way over my head.

I had just come back from a patrol.

From the moment we landed in the LZ...we had taken casualties. Both dead and wounded.

For the next 4 days we fought almost non-stop with North Vietnamese Regulars. Tough soldiers who gave as good as they got.

Arriving back at the base....I was covered in sweat....more than smelly...covered in mud...and the blood of those I had worked on....covered in the bits and pieces of my friends. I went to check on those wounded we air-lifted out.

After checking on them ....I went to the mess...to get some coffee and food in me.

The cook there ( another young soldier....name of Hiram from somewhere in the Mid-west) tried to get me to talk...and maybe lighten up a little. I kinda complained about the food....and started on some wierd rant about not having any cornbread...(I love cornbread....have since I can remember)

It's just one of those things that happens I guess. I was severly depressed...I missed my family (ok...I missed my mom most of all)....and sitting there covered in the mud and blood I guess I was losing it. In my entire life it was the lowest point....the one time I actually was close to hurting myself.

...and there I was ranting on and on about cornbread.

I stormed out of the mess...and kinda just walked around for around an hour before going back to my quarters...(hooch). I was still angry...and depressed when I went inside. It was like everything at once was happening in my head...and my heart.

...and there on my bunk (actually almost exactly in the middle...funny how you remember certain things) was a plate.

...and on the plate was a pile of cornbread.

Fresh and hot.

Hiram had somehow found the cornbread....baked it...and put in my quarters.(He later told me that I looked like I 'needed it'.....)

At that moment.....(it was like I was just re-connected with home...with reality....with all the love my family had raised me with.) all the anger left....and I just sat there with some silly grin on my face.

Funny thing....but I firmly believe that stupid plate of cornbread saved my life.

So...the Democrats can tell everyone that unless you've been in combat....you're not a hero.....that you cannot be a part of "The Band-of-Brothers".

..and I will loudly tell them that they are dead wrong.

Because on that day a life was saved.

Saved by a person who never got close to combat.....who never went thru a morter attack....or a fire-fight with NVA. A person who was a cook....

NO...the Democrats are wrong....

Hiram, a cook, is part of my "Band-of-Brothers".....and always will be.

George Bush,a member of the National Guard, is also.

...as is every single person, male or female, who had put on the uniform. That's all it takes to be a member of a special club.

The Band-Of-Brothers.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2004; bandofbrothers; kerry; sbct; stryker; stynker; veterans; vietnam; wheelies; willieandjoe
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To: redrock; archy; hoosiermama; LindaSOG; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; ..
Thank you for the pings!

This is too good to miss.

redrock, thank you for your service, and for sharing your amazing essays.

I think we may be able to help win a few hearts and minds with this one....at least soften 'em up, a little. Y

Blurry screen alert!.

           

121 posted on 02/23/2004 1:25:38 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine)
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To: redrock
Great writing.
122 posted on 02/23/2004 1:59:37 PM PST by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do, but we're gonna getcha)
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To: denlittle
Tears to my eyes too.

And I too am sick of John F'ing Kerry and his trying to stop any criticism of his voting record for military spending. I'm happy the President finally responded. And that response was....good soldier/bad voting record. One doesn't mean you can't discuss the other.

My son is in the Guards...and he's a bigger hero than JF Kerry!

I'm hoping the march by the Vietnam Vets against Kerry has a big turnout. We need to publicize it big time!
123 posted on 02/23/2004 2:00:16 PM PST by BushisTheMan
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To: denlittle
Tears to my eyes too.

And I too am sick of John F'ing Kerry and his trying to stop any criticism of his voting record for military spending. I'm happy the President finally responded. And that response was....good soldier/bad voting record. One doesn't mean you can't discuss the other.

My son is in the Guards...and he's a bigger hero than JF Kerry!

I'm hoping the march by the Vietnam Vets against Kerry has a big turnout. We need to publicize it big time!
124 posted on 02/23/2004 2:00:18 PM PST by BushisTheMan
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To: archy
I just saw your detailed explanation about the Purple Heart in answer to my question. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that, because I can see how you could get a wound, get patched up without needing to go to a hospital, and get the award.

I am still trying to ferret out the truth regarding John Kerry. D.Brinkley, the presidential historian, was adamant that he was heroic,while I have also read detailed stories indicating something less. I personally think he has cheapened his service by using it politically now when it's convienient to mask his dismal voting record in the Senate, when at the time he treated the experience as something to be ashamed of and for political gain trashed his fellow soldiers. Thank you again for the Purple Heart guidelines--the info was helpful!
125 posted on 02/23/2004 2:25:43 PM PST by Reb Raider
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
John F'ing Kerry Is A Traitor!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ terrorists and the democrats are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

126 posted on 02/23/2004 2:41:21 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; redrock
Love your essay, redrock! THANK YOU for your service to this great country of ours. God bless you and all our men and women who have served and are serving our nation. I hope you won't mind, but I'd like to pass this around.
127 posted on 02/23/2004 3:19:38 PM PST by LaDivaLoca (There can be no triumph w/o loss, no victory w/o suffering, no freedom w/o sacrifice. THANK U TROOPS)
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To: LaDivaLoca
No..I don't mind if you pass it around.

It's for all of those the Democrats think aren't the equal to John Kerry...since they didn't go to Vietnam...or serve in combat.

redrock

128 posted on 02/23/2004 3:40:56 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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To: Professional Engineer
Cornbread is GOOD for you!!! (it's what my mom used to tell me anyway.......)

redrock :)

129 posted on 02/23/2004 3:42:45 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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To: redrock
redrock, that has to be the most beautiful story I have ever read. Thank you.
130 posted on 02/23/2004 3:46:50 PM PST by McGavin999 (Evil thrives when good men do nothing!)
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To: redrock
Things are pretty, good, redrock, how's things with you? I was listening to Bill Wattenburg out of San Fran last night on this very subject...boy were the seminar callers out, poor man. He gave it a good shot, but they don't want to hear it.

BUMP!!

131 posted on 02/23/2004 3:56:23 PM PST by AuntB (Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to enemies, justice will be done." GWBUSH)
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To: redrock
Great post! Brother, you have hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't call Kerry a "brother", not after the way he denounced servicemen when he got back from the Nam. A brother is a sacred name, and Kerry demeans it. Never trust a democRAT-ba*tard.
132 posted on 02/23/2004 4:51:49 PM PST by Colt .45 (Cold War, Vietnam Era, Desert Storm Veteran - Pride in my Southern Ancestry!)
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To: AuntB
Whenever I get a little 'lazy'....I just watch cable and all the shrews ranting on about how GWB was A.W.O.L etc....and that Kerry is some wonderful veteran who served in combat..and that makes him better than Bush.

Usually gets me riled up...then it's back to work on this subject.

The Democrats have picked the wrong battle to fight. EVERY single person that I talk to in person who was in Vietnam HATES what the Democrats are doing.

It WILL bite them in the butt come election time.

redrock

133 posted on 02/23/2004 5:10:38 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
WOW! Thanks for the ping. Fantastic!! And if you've seen Band of Brothers, you really know how full of it the Rats really are.
134 posted on 02/23/2004 5:11:20 PM PST by Indie (That earthling has stolen the Iludium 238 explosive space modulator!!)
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To: redrock
Thank you for posting this.
135 posted on 02/23/2004 5:17:17 PM PST by sport
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To: redrock
A darn fine piece of writing.
136 posted on 02/23/2004 5:18:09 PM PST by Cold Heat (In politics stupidity is not a handicap. --Napoleon Bonapart)
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To: hoosiermama
Cornbread BUMP!!!!

(Thanks)

redrock

137 posted on 02/23/2004 5:18:31 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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To: redrock; Bob J; Jim Robinson; diotima; Brad's Gramma; rintense
Back atcha!
Bob , Jim, Dio, Did you all see this?
Pass the CORNBREAD on, please!
138 posted on 02/23/2004 5:26:58 PM PST by hoosiermama (Ask Kerry to list the major pieces of enacted legislation he has authored in his career.)
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To: Colt .45
It's true...I do have a difficult time thinking of him as one of our 'Brothers'.

For the time after he got back to the 'real world'....I will always find him disgusting.

He used the issue of Vietnam to enhance his political future. He spit on the graves of brave soldiers....just to make himself look good to the anti-war people.

If he ever becomes President.....I'm moving to Australia.

redrock

139 posted on 02/23/2004 5:30:49 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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To: sport
Your welcome.

redrock

140 posted on 02/23/2004 5:31:23 PM PST by redrock ("One man with courage....makes a majority"---Andrew Jackson)
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