Posted on 07/14/2004 2:50:14 AM PDT by kattracks
CNSNews.com) - Some of John Kerry's former swift boat crewmates will have a high-profile role at the Democratic National Convention later this month, as they attempt to portray Kerry as a decorated Vietnam War hero. But an even larger number of veterans say that's not the case.As news spread Tuesday of the convention's framework, members of a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth dismissed the Democrats' plans. On the last night of the convention, an undisclosed number of Vietnam veterans plan to endorse Kerry.
"Preceding John Kerry and playing an important role will be his swift boat crewmates, who have stood by Kerry for more than 30 years since Kerry led them through the dangerous waters of Vietnam's Mekong Delta," a Democratic press release said.
A number of the veterans will speak glowingly about Kerry. Jim Rassman, a Green Beret who said Kerry rescued him from a Vietnam river in 1969, will lead the group.
Members of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were quick to dismiss the effort, which they said amounted to a public relations push by the Kerry campaign to remake the candidate into a war hero despite lingering questions about his actions in Vietnam.
"The facts are that 250 of Kerry's former shipmates, including 17 of the 24 officers in his division, signed a public letter saying he's not fit to be the commander-in-chief," said retired Rear Adm. Roy Hoffmann, who commanded the fleet of swift boats during Kerry's tour of duty.
Hoffmann is one of the most outspoken veterans to oppose Kerry's candidacy. During a May 4 press conference announcing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, he called Kerry a "loose cannon" because of his actions in Vietnam. After the war, Kerry adopted an anti-war position that angered many veterans.
Since the press conference, which attracted throngs of reporters and a quick rebuttal from the Kerry campaign, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have continued to work behind the scenes on ways to refute Kerry's claims about his Vietnam service.
One veteran who served alongside Kerry in another swift boat said the story of his rescue of Rassman was exaggerated.
"I have an eyewitness, firsthand account of what happened," said Larry Thurlow, who commanded a swift boat. "And the story he now tells is so drastically far from what actually happened, if I didn't know he was recounting this particular day, I wouldn't even recognize the story."
It was on that day that Kerry sustained an injury to his arm that resulted in a Purple Heart medal. Thurlow said Kerry didn't deserve that medal based on his recollection of events that day. Thurlow said the rescue wasn't nearly as dangerous as Kerry has described.
"He's a rhinestone cowboy,"" said John O'Neill, a veteran who helped organize Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. \ldblquote He literally is a guy who parades around and pretends to be something he's not. He was in Vietnam for four months; everyone else was there for a year. He obtained three Purple Hearts from self-inflicted wounds. And then he left."
O'Neill also criticized the mainstream news media for not looking outside Kerry's small circle of Vietnam supporters. The actual number who will appear at the Democratic convention wasn't disclosed, but O'Neill said it would be nowhere near the number of critics.
"The media continue to go to the same six or seven people, although 254 people have signed our letter,"" O'Neill said. \ldblquote They're ignoring that."
Kerry's campaign headquarters didn't respond to CNSNews.com 's offer to rebut the veterans' charges. But in response to the May 4 event, at which nearly 20 veterans spoke, Kerry supporters hastily called a press conference.
Wade Sanders, a former deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, said Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has a partisan motive in its attack of Kerry, a charge the Republican National Committee dismissed at the time.
"I don't think that many of the people who are following this gentleman, Capt. (sic) Roy Hoffmann, really understand the political implications of what's going on here, I mean what's fronting this," Sanders said.
But each of the veterans interviewed by CNSNews.com Tuesday were adamant that their disapproval of Kerry was driven solely by personal knowledge of him and his actions.
"We're taking him on, not because of his politics, but because he's lied about us and he specifically lies about his own actions," Thurlow said. "He's just blown them out of proportion to the point where it's ridiculous. We're madder than hell and we're not going to take it anymore."
See Earlier Story:
Kerry Was a 'Loose Cannon' in Vietnam, Says Ex-Commander (May 4, 2004)
E-mail a news tip to Robert B. Bluey.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
I hope that guy knows what he is talking about. Exaggeration in the effort to get Kerry would destroy their credibility.
"self-inflicted" ? Maybe he wanted out of Vietnam so took that route. That is fairly common in all wars, much more so than the higher ups would have us believe.
"The media continue to go to the same six or seven people, although 254 people have signed our letter,"" O'Neill said. \ldblquote They're ignoring that."
Recently on Hardball, Chris Matthews asked Douglas Brinkley why the swift boat veterans against Kerry were dropped by the media. Brinkley claimed it was from "media fatigue."
Really.
BUMPER STICKER:
How can you trust sKerry with running our country, when he won't tell the truth about tossing (his?) medals/ribbons?
Strange, after almost 3 decades in congress Kerry touts his military "service?" which is about the least thing worth high-lighting he has. 3 decades & all he can muster is approx.120 days in 'Nam? What an empty gas bag. I had heard the wounds wouldn't keep a 5 year old off the playground as they were soooo superficial, I always thought they could have been self inflicted but I've never seen that articulated in the media before. I agree, these folks better have strong facts or the "smear machine" will roll over them!
"One veteran who served alongside Kerry in another swift boat said the story of his rescue of Rassman was exaggerated.
"I have an eyewitness, firsthand account of what happened," said Larry Thurlow, who commanded a swift boat. "And the story he now tells is so drastically far from what actually happened, if I didn't know he was recounting this particular day, I wouldn't even recognize the story."
It was on that day that Kerry sustained an injury to his arm that resulted in a Purple Heart medal. Thurlow said Kerry didn't deserve that medal based on his recollection of events that day. Thurlow said the rescue wasn't nearly as dangerous as Kerry has described."
I can't wait for this eye witness to come forth and tell us what really happened.
I'm still trying to figure out Kerry's claim to THREE
Vietnam Campaign medals. Perhaps they are lumping in
a Vietnam Service with them, other wise he would have had
to do THREE tours.
I don't know what Kerry did in Vietnam but I sure as hell know what he did when he got back.He disgraced his brothers.He impugned the honor OF MY FAMILY.When I hear Dem(on) spokespeople refer to him as a "war hero" I choke back vomit. "I am Sir Lurkedalot and I approved of this ad"
Amazing. I don't believe I've even heard it mentioned once in the mainstream media.
Political implications? Well duh!!! The truth is in such conflict with the rat/sKerry message that any reference to it will receive the full force of sKerry's political war machine ala clintonian battle armor.
Which, up until now has been as effectual as an umbrella on a sunny day.
If you want a view of the real John Kerry visit:
www.realheroesvoices.com
Kerry is a self-serving POS and has been all his life and that spokesman Wade Sanders is a dirt bag lawyer. He is a retired Navy Captain who weasled his way into the Clinton regime as an UnderSec of the Navy. He is a butt kisser and power gruber in the first order. When RHV was formed he e-mailed me to call him and he would set the record straight........I will call him after the election!!
bump!
Thank you for the link, good stuff there.
Semper Fi
There were many heroes aboard those boats. I don't think Kerry was among them.
Bingo.
About 3 months ago, there was posted here on FR a story by the attending Naval Physician that treated kerry. He said that 3 of kerry's crew told him the same story of the "self inflicted wound". kerry also bragged to this Doc during his treatment, that he would one day be President!
IMHO, these are hard-cold facts...
LLS
Swift vet ping...
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