The Tenth Brother [former Kerry mate from Nam steps forward: "Kerry was chickens---"]

Time Magazine ^ | 3.09.04

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I,too, am one of those people who is hesitant to drag any Veteran through the mud. Even when I disagree with them.

What bothers me about John Kerry is that he represents himself as a hero, while dehumanizing other Veterans. I figure he can take some criticism for that, and of course I do not want to see him President, based upon his voting record and his ideas for America.

That being said, I can understand why some people would rather stay out of the mud slinging, when it is directed toward a Veteran.

There are so many problems with Kerry as President...Some people may wish to concentrate on his other anti-American stances, while keeping their own ideas of respect for service to our country in tact.

[#3Fan]

Yeah, I'd wouldn't want to disrespect any veteran's service that had to go into the war zone even if I new he did the things like Kerry did while serving (the littler things like faking injuries, writing himself medals, etc). But when a person runs for president and bashes other veterans using his service, then I think it becomes fair game to see if his service was all it was cracked up to be.

(The only reason I hit Gianni with this was that he was getting on my case for looking at Kerry's service on another thread...If anyone else wants to respect Kerry's service, that's fine with me, it's a judgment call)

[2grit]

Does anyone know what medals or assignment perks these "brothers" received due to Kerry's involvement? It would be interesting to examine their histories and records and match them with Kerry's.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I don't respect his service so much as I do the fact that he went someplace I would not want to go,and enlisted to do a job that helps keep my kids free.

And even if it was for different reasons than most true American heroes go to war, I still have to give him the slightest bit of slack for being a Veteran.

But I agree, we need to see the records. It is our right to see them. It is only fair to the Veterans he has trashed, and it is our right to know who is running for President,on the platform of being said war hero. I used to think we should let it be... That was before he was running for President as a war hero.

On a side note,I think it is tragic to pit Viet Nam vet against Viet Nam vet,esp. for political gain.

And I place the blame for that at John Kerry's feet, and the rest of his buddies.

I just hope we don't do that here, at FR. Our Viet Nam Veterans have been thru enough bashing by this country. I for one am sick of it.

BTW- I am not accusing you of that, in any way- I am just taking this opportunity to make a statement.

[#3Fan]

Good post. I agree that Kerry should be given credit for going and not fleeing to Canada.

I just hope we don't do that here, at FR. Our Viet Nam Veterans have been thru enough bashing by this country. I for one am sick of it.

Yeah, not only Vietnam, look at what is said here about Lynch, a war veteran who did absolutely nothing wrong. I was sick of that on the first day of it.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

"Yeah, not only Vietnam, look at what is said here about Lynch, a war veteran who did absolutely nothing wrong. I was sick of that on the first day of it."

Yes, good point.

[NEPA]

IIRC, when Kerry got his Silver Star, his crew received Bronze Stars.

[mountainfolk]

I wonder if the GOP has done any digging into the backgrounds of these nine men who have such fond and duplicate memories of Kerry? It is bizarre enough that candidate Kerry must have a contingent of former mates following him around to validate his claims of heroic service. I do not recall any other war hero presidential candidate having to take such measures. Former Republican Pres Bush and Republican candidate Bob Dole certainly didn't find it necessary.

[PsyOp]

Giving Aid & Comfort.