Unfortunately John F'in Kerry does not feel the same way:
http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=NewSoldier
Posted on 07/23/2004 12:34:30 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
A military-history organization is sponsoring a conference in Boston during the Democratic National Convention it hopes will dispel some of the "myths" anti-war activists, including candidate John Kerry, have spread about the Vietnam War.
"Examining the Myths of the Vietnam War" will be held at Simmons College in Boston from Monday to Thursday, corresponding with the Democrats' convention there. Sponsored by the RADIX Foundation, it is being billed as "a veteran-funded, nonprofit, multicultural and non-political event."
"By conducting this conference," says the promotional material, "we would … like to afford the 15,000 media personnel at the nominating convention an opportunity to hear factual, first-hand accounts of Vietnam as well as some things that many of us have held back for many decades."
Organizers hope to combat those they say have "mis-portrayed" the history of the Vietnam War.
"As Senator John Kerry is about to be nominated for president, in great part based on his Vietnam service," the conference website says, "it is important for the American people to understand what 'Vietnam' was really about and to dispel some of the common misconceptions about why we went to war, what we did, what went wrong, and why it mattered.
Many Vietnam veterans have passionately rebutted Kerry's 1971 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which he made horrific claims about alleged atrocities committed by American service members in Southeast Asia.
There are 17 sessions that will take place during the conference. Some sessions will address, according to organizers:
Monday evening's session will feature military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan to talk about how the Vietnam War affected their decisions to enter the armed forces, their missions and their enemies.
Wednesday evening the conference features Vietnamese, Montagnard, Cambodian, Hmong and Lao people to share their views on the region past and present.
ping to the lads
I am glad to hear this. I have been advocating this for many years. To be respected one must look respectable. Quash the myth of the 'wacked out boonie rat.'
How do they expect to "authenticate" someone who has been out of the Army for 40 years? I guess a DD 214, but who carries that around with them?
Anybody showing up in a thin coat of grime and BDUs and a boonie hat with a million stupid pins on it will be shown the door.
I agree with this portion of the requirement. I no longer own a boonie hat, and my BDU's are a little on the snug side now, although I can still slip into them if needed.
I work along side several Vietnam veterans and I challenge anyone to point us out in a crowd of similiar aged males. I wear a baseball cap with "Vietnam Veteran" on it and have had several stares recently, as if I did not meet the sterotype. I am a white male, 6'4" and weigh around 215. My hair is still blonde and I have as much at 54 as I did at 24 and I have a nicely trimmed full beard. I don't have flashbacks, although visits to "the Wall" bring tears and prayers.
For those of us that are unable to attend this event, I ask that you or others keep us posted on the happenings. Thanks.
Took me many years to work up the courage to put on my Viet Nam Vet ballcap and go out in public. In some ways I'm sorry that I did not do so earlier in my life. The very day I put it on another vet wearing a Korea Vet cap stopped me on the street, embraced me and simply said "Welcome home and thanks for your service."
That was the first time of many since that has happened to me and the emotional flood was tremendous. Not as much as visiting the Wall for the first time but close.
How about the fact that Eisenhower refused to send troops to Vietnam. Kennedy sent 14,000 or so ground troops, thus starting what is "Kennedy's Vietnam War"?
bttt
Unfortunately John F'in Kerry does not feel the same way:
http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=NewSoldier
Brother you are a hero, and the bond between we "Veterans" will never break. US Army MP, Drive On!! Bush/Cheney 2004
ping
This dork never was and never will be a war hero.
Unfortunately I can only be there in spirit. But it will be an active spirit as I remember the period well, specifically the actions of of psuedo-hero J. F'in Kerry.
mc - a irish/scotch blended crankster.
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A Freeper Vet goes to the Vietnam Wall
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1019769/posts
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JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320
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I sure wish I could attend. I would gladly wear a suit and tie (a very rare occurrence) and have my DD 214 tucked into my jacket pocket.
One thing occurs to me and thats the number of Viet Nam Vets who seem to be remaining silent on Kerry and his actions. Could it be that we remained so silent for so long that we became used to it? Sorta like not wanting to get spit on so blending into the woodwork?
Could it be that we remained so silent for so long that we became used to it? Sorta like not wanting to get spit on so blending into the woodwork?
I am not keeping quiet. I have a "Vietnam Veterans Against Kerry" bumper sticker and tell people what a dirt ball he is at every opportunity.
I recently ttended a reunion of my old outfit ASA and it turned out that the Nam Helicopter Crew Association was at the same hotel. One of the chopper crew guys was handing out Viet Nam vets against kerry buttons wholesale. By the time the reunions ended virtually everybody was sporting a button (myself included) the only thing that stopped everybody from wearing one was that the buy who brought them ran out. Several of my brothers gave him some bucks and addresses to get one after the fact
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