FREEREPUBLIC NET LAUNCHES WEB SITE ON “WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION”

JOHNKERRYFORPRESIDENT.INFO ^ | 2/23/03 | Diotima

[diotima]

***NEWS RELEASE***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2004
Contact: Scott Swett (frn@freeper.org) (703) 863-8033

FREE REPUBLIC NETWORK LAUNCHES WEB SITE ON "WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION" AND KERRY SLANDER OF U.S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM

(Washington, DC) The Free Republic Network today announced the unveiling of www.WinterSoldier.com, a new web site to provide news, analysis and research material regarding the false claim by John Kerry and others during the Vietnam era that atrocities were routinely committed by America's military.

In 1971 former Navy Lt. John Kerry testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about American "war crimes" in Southeast Asia, which he described as "not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command". Free Republic Network Director Scott Swett released the following statement:

"John Kerry played a key role in the leftist disinformation campaign that undermined support for the war by slandering a generation of American soldiers as mass murderers of civilians. Kerry testified before the Senate that the United States committed war crimes in Vietnam as a matter of military policy, citing claims of atrocities made at the discredited 'Winter Soldier Investigation' -- an event primarily funded by Jane Fonda."

"The truth is that atrocities were the exception in Vietnam, not the rule."

"Since Senator Kerry has made the strength of his military record a key issue in his pursuit of the Presidency, it is important for voters to have access to a more complete picture of his actions than is available from the Kerry campaign or the media. WinterSoldier.com will document and analyze the activities in which Kerry and others participated during the Vietnam era."

The site features a section on Kerry's hard-to-find 1971 book "The New Soldier" and covers the activities of the group Vietnam Veterans Against the War and its sponsors. New information will be added as it becomes available. Readers are invited to provide feedback, submit editorial pieces, and provide relevant material. The site will go live on Monday, February 23, 2004.

The Free Republic Network www.FreeRepublic.net is a 501(c)(4) public service corporation whose mission is to organize, train and support conservative activists nationwide. It provides information and organizational services to more than 50 regional and issue-based chapters around the country, and serves as the activism arm of the Free Republic Forum www.FreeRepublic.com.

--30--

[The Shrew]

The quote is from the Holzer book (page 21). It quotes a reporter for the Detroit Free Press (Nov 22, 1969) and a speech she made at a Michigan State speech. The DFP report is contained in Hearings Before the Committee on Internal Security, House of Representatives, Ninety-Second Congtress, Second Session, 7679.

IMHO this detailed interaction and dynamic information exchange is FR at it's best! Thanks for all of your efforts!

Regards,

TS

[Becki]

FREE REPUBLIC NETWORK LAUNCHES WEB SITE ON "WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION" AND KERRY SLANDER OF U.S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM

Watch your mailbox for a letter, you minion of Bush, you!

Becki

[.cnI redruM]

I still believe that JF Kerry's actions could fall under UCMJ. If he really knew US soldiers were killing and maiming people while he was in country, he had a legal obligation as a commissioned officer to prevent that behavior and report it if he could not stop it.

[68 grunt]

I enlisted in the Corps from northern Virginia, and after discharge made my way back there. Its true, you can never really go home again, but anyway …

In 1971 I was working for the Army Air Force Exchange System, inventorying vending machines. Military bases, buildings and even the White House and Pentagon. I personally observed both the hippy build-up in effort to ‘close down’ the government on mayday and the military exercises to defend against the attempt. Before May is April, and it was in April that Dewey Canyon III occurred. I was late to the picnic, hearing about it after it had started, and I scooted my butt down there joined in with the brothers.

Most of the guys there were for real vets, and an attempt was made to ‘police’ the line, and not let agitators onto the mall with us. It was a great time, almost like the first reunion. Marines formed with Marines, and etc, etc. We found unit-mates and bs’ed and partied.

I didn’t stay the nights in the mall, but I would leave late in the evening and return in the morning, or after work. It was one of these late starts that some of the guys told me about playing search and destroy in the mall areas. They were like a bunch of silly kids, joking about how ridiculous the scenario was, but they did have fun playing the fools.

Public sentiment was strongly supportive of us. The police didn’t muck with us, many of them were vets, themselves. Some liquor stores even delivered free booze.

It was my impression that most of us there cared for the brothers that were over there at the time. Recall, this in 1971, the third year of Nixon’s Vietnamization program. It is also my impression that most there were aware and offended by the agents provocateur’s. We were encouraged to testify about the war crimes we committed. When told to “shove it” they acknowledged that they would have liars tell the tales. Arguments broke out, and a few fisticuffs flew. The provocateur cowards would then leave the combative ones alone. Many of us recognized the direct communist influence, particularly surrounding the leadership of the VVAW, and especially noted in regards to the entourage of 1 ea. J. F’ing Kerry.

I have heard some disinformation regarding Kerry’s anti-communism. There is a fairly famous photo of jf’ink with his entourage. I believe this was taken near the parking lot of the congressional mall which we occupied. Unless I’m mistaken, I was somewhere around there when that picture was snapped. Regardless, word was passed in the mall that the ‘big hero spokesman’ was around, and a few of the guys and I went to check him out. We were all offended by his pro-communist stance, complete with handlers and replete with comments on the ‘international’, the ‘proletariat’ and the ‘international brotherhood’, raised fists and ‘power to the people’.

The medal tossing event occurred. We surged toward the capitol and those who chose, and those who had medals, tossed ‘em on the steps and made whatever political statement they could. Most of the bonafides said something like ‘I sorry it’s come to this’. The commies made long-winded hate speeches, i.e., jf’ink.

I can’t really add too much more. I got outta town again, and stayed out of town during the whole ugly mayday mess. Stadiums were filled with arrested protestors.

In retrospect; the good time we had in reunion during Dewey Canyon III is far outweighed by the damage we did to our history. Kerry represents the acid which tarnishes the shine of our sacrifice.

[diotima]

Bump to that!

[BlessedBeGod]

Excellent. Thank you.

I didn't know that about Joan Baez. That took a lot of guts and class.

[Hon]

Thanks. I guess I'll have to buy the book, since the NY Public library system doesn't have a single copy of it!

(Gee, I wonder why?)

[Dog]

I found this a couple of weeks ago....and thought you might like to research it further.

Fonda and the F.T.A. coffeehouses..

Jane Fonda began her participation in anti-war activities around 1967, allegedly after meeting with Communists while in France and with American citizens who were revolutionaries. Her activities included active participation in demonstrations, rallies, radio broadcasts and plays.

Jane Fonda also helped in the organization of a production group called the F.T.A. (F*** The Army). This group helped to set up coffee houses near military bases where they would perform anti-war derogatory-type sketches for the visiting soldiers. The coffee-house sketches were intended to counterpoint the U.S.O. shows, such as Bob Hope and other U.S.O. sponsored performers whose performances increased morale and gave positive support to American soldiers. Some of the F.T.A. coffee house employees would mingle with the soldiers to help them to "relax and unwind", while encouraging the soldiers to desert. Some soldiers alleged that they were promised jobs and money by the F.T.A. if they deserted.

The Vietnam Veterans Against the War Organization received major financial support from Jane Fonda. Jane Fonda's F.T.A. coffee houses helped in recruiting soldiers and veterans for the Vietnam Veterans Against The War Organization. The Vietnam Veterans Against the War Organization membership was approximately 7,000 at it's highest. The Organization's membership number was comparatively low, when you consider that more than 2 1/2 million Americans served during the Vietnam war.

[The Shrew]

In retrospect; the good time we had in reunion during Dewey Canyon III is far outweighed by the damage we did to our history. Kerry represents the acid which tarnishes the shine of our sacrifice.

Thanks for the eye-witness account!

Semper Fi!

TS

PS - Welcome Home Marine!

[Interesting Times]

Thank you. We'll be adding material on FTA soon, and the fact that Fonda and company not only financed the VVAW but actively used the FTA coffee houses to recruit for them is a key point.

[Interesting Times]

Thanks for the eyewitness account -- it's just a shame you didn't bring a tape recorder. :)>

[clyde260]

"I would think that if you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that we would become communist. The peace proposal of the Viet Cong is the only honorable, just, possible way to achieve peace in Vietnam. Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton is the only man I ever met that I would trust as leader of this country."

I am pretty sure I read that Ms. Hanoi made these remarks to a bunch of students at Duke U.

[Hon]

"I am pretty sure I read that Ms. Hanoi made these remarks to a bunch of students at Duke U."

It's possible that she made the same or similar remarks on several occassions. The earliest I've seen it quoted is November 22, 1969 at Michigan State University.

[BlackElk]

Happy to hear of the elder Kerry's demotion and looking forward to Junior's (Fondaboy's) as well.

I regularly post that I do not claim to be a scholar but am just a street-fighhting Elk. I leave the scholarship to others and rough out the arguments that may be refined by the more scholarly. When I am inaccurate, I welcome accurate correction.

[kabar]

I am just citing the source referenced in the Holzers' book, which attributes the remarks to Fonda from a speech at Michigan State. I guess we will need to go into the Detroit Free Press archives and dredge up the paper for Nov 22, 1969.

[BlackElk]

I can readily see that you are continuing the usual high level of discourse that we are expecting o you now. I see no point in engaging you in a further mutual exchange of unpleasantries. You really aren't worth the waste of my time since what you are is perfectly obvious.

That's nice of you to decide what you do not mind the FRN investigation if it meets your standards (whaever they might be). I cannot imagine why anyone would care what you mind or don't mind.

Now, go the Tom Hayden/Tom Paine room, study either to deepen your unjustifiabl rarified self-obsession and sensibilities and place your knee-jerks where the sun shineth not. Have a nice life and maybe I'll catch you on TV at the next International ANSWER rally. Don't bother responding. It will not be noticed. Buh-bye!

[reagandemocrat]

Let me publicly apologize now, and retract whatever I might say in the future, to that with which you disagree. I'm serious. I don't think my frail ego could handle the inquisition.

Thanking you in advance.

RD

[kabar]

Thanks. Any corrections are meant to strengthen your case, not weaken it. We have the same objective.

[Victoria]

There are a lot of books out there on Vietnam veterans but this book brings it all together in a way no other book we've seen has. Home to War is about Vietnam veterans and the social and political movements they created after they came home from the war. The origins of VVAW, the Winter Soldier Investigation, Dewey Canyon III, the Gainesville Conspiracy, Agent Orange and vets centers are detailed in this 700-page book.

The first third of the book is gripping as you get tossed into the middle of the formation of VVAW and other groups. Gerald Nicosia interviewed 600 veterans, including former Black Panther Al Hubbard, Ron Kovic, Jan Barry-a founding member of VVAW, and Joe Urgo. Joe is a member of VVAWAI and was the 1st Vietnam vet to go on a peace mission to Hanoi in August 1971, he also helped organize Winter Soldier and Dewey Canyon.

Excerpt:

The Winter Soldier Investigation had more than a few echoes of what had taken place at Nuremberg a quarter century before, when Nazi officers and administrators were held to account and for which they sometimes were asked to pay with their lives, for war crimes committed by their nation---National Socialist Germany. Not the least of these echoes was the shock engendered in good men upon learning how far other good men would go in violation of their own conscience when called to serve their country.  John Kerry was one of these good men, who found himself extremely uncomfortable at Winter Soldier.

"There was a lot of stuff that I hadn't heard [at Winter Soldier]," he recalls.  "There was a lot of rough stuff out there, and it blew some of my images.  I mean, it shattered some of my conceptions.  It educated me to a degree about certain aspects of the thing, and it was hard to understand what was believable and what wasn't.  Was it all real?  Or wasn't it?  It was shattering stuff, it really was, to sit there and listen to these guys talk about things that they personally said they did.  And there were enough bona fides in many of these people---you saw their DD-214's, you knew where they'd served, you could talk to them and see the anguish---you could cut through what was bull and what wasn't.  And it was a very, very heavy, difficult kind of thing to listen to.  And it was painful."

Nevertheles, the veterans were always quick to point out the humanity of so-called war criminals, and to suggest that Americans needed to learn a new way of thinking more than they needed to be put on trial.

[SLB]

Just a few minutes to relate one incident I participated in. It was in April 1971 at a small FSB just North of Nui Ba Din (The Black Virgin Mountain). We had occupied that fire support base for a few days when as usual, all the kids in the world turned out to sell us everything from their sister to rot gut whiskey improrted from somewhere. We had tried to keep them out of the landfill we had established but our garbage was their treasure. Sure enough, one of the kids got hurt by a dud exploding. Probably a 40mm round from a M79. We brought him into the compound so the medics could work on him. The Battery Commander, Captain Barber, called for a medivac, when placing a priority on medivacs civilians were not real high so the guys in FDC told a little white lie about a GI being injured. Within a few minutes the familiar slick was sighted, we popped smoke and he landed. The pilot started to complain when he saw the injured was a civilian, but when he saw the age he said something about "hell yes, I got a brother at home about his age." We loaded him and his mom into the slick and away they went. They were back within a week, he was patched up and a little wiser about scrounging in the land fill.

Guess that was an atrocity.