'Hanoi John' Gets Unwelcome Reception From Veterans

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 7/29/04 | Robert B. Bluey

[kattracks]

Boston (CNSNews.com) - Hours after Sen. John Kerry sailed into this city with his Vietnam swift boat crewmates Wednesday, about a hundred other veterans gathered near the Democratic National Convention site to protest the anti-war positions of Kerry's past.

"He's a phony and he's a traitor," said Vietnam veteran Rich Burke, 66, of Boston. "He returned from Vietnam and testified in Congress that the military were baby killers and war criminals. He abandoned and left all of his comrades to put up with that sort of statement. He's no good."

The veterans gathered near Kerry's Boston office at 1 Bowdoin St. around 6 p.m. and marched toward the FleetCenter, where the convention is taking place. Vietnam veterans were joined by Korean veterans and Vietnamese-Americans, many of them from Boston and its suburbs.

The protest was designed to counter Kerry's use of Vietnam, including his war medals, as a campaign issue. Even before Kerry's arrival in Boston with 13 veterans Wednesday, the Democrat had routinely enlisted some of his former comrades to boost his presidential campaign.

"They're in the minority," said Korean War veteran Richard Creccr, 70, of Brighton, Mass. "These are the veterans right here. We're the ones who count. We'll be the ones voting. Let's hope he doesn't make it, but in this country, you never know."

But one prominent veteran, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a one-time Democrat presidential candidate, dismissed the veterans' effort.

"What [Kerry] did was straightforward and courageous," Clark told CNSNews.com. "He received the appropriate recommendations and awards for it. That's the way it should be."

Kerry's repeated mention of Vietnam in his presidential bid has irked some veterans because of the anti-war positions he took once he returned from his four-month tour of duty. Kerry became an influential leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, aligning himself with activist Jane Fonda. One sign on Wednesday compared "Hanoi Jane" to "Hanoi John."

The future U.S. senator also testified before Congress about alleged atrocities that American soldiers had committed in Vietnam. Those memories still linger for some veterans.

"Because of people like Kerry and Fonda, Vietnam vets had to hide under a rock for 15 years," said Reg Cornelia, 60, East Hampton, N.Y. "He came back and he lied about the atrocities, and worse still, he brought guys to testify before Congress who he knew had never served in Vietnam."

Kerry turned on U.S. soldiers as a matter of "political expediency," Cornelia said. He wondered why the news media hadn't pushed Kerry on that subject.

"Mark my words," Burke added. "See how much national news coverage this protest gets. These guys are all veterans, they know his record, and they're all against him. Yet the mainstream media will probably ignore this rally so it becomes a non-event."

Some veterans said they've tracked Kerry's career. Vietnam veteran James Booth, 58, of South China, Maine, said coming out to oppose the Democrat on the eve of his prime-time speech was the right thing to do.

"We know he's a phony," Booth said. "You don't get two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star in 21 days. You don't do it, no way. I was at Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] for 18 months. I got one Purple Heart. I lost an eye, part of my jaw and got hit in the arm. This guy's got three scratches and he's making a big deal out of it. It doesn't seem right."

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[mtntop3]

" To that end, the Kerry-Edwards campaign has rounded up support from a handful of ex-military commanders such as former Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. William J. Crowe, who also vouched for Bill Clinton's national security credentials in 1992. "

Crowe, subsequently - and consequently - was appointed by Clinton to be U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. As a testimony to Crowe's "discerning" judgment, we need only recall Clinton attempting immediately upon taking office to make the U. S. Armed Forces accept open and practicing homosexuals. Not a peep of unhappiness over this came from Crowe.

All this has more than a little to say about Crowe's endorsement of Kerry.

[Chu Gary]

To all interested parties, check swiftvets.com for definitive opinions of J F'n Kerry's heroism.

One question: if you're the captain of a swift boat, the senior guy, who recommends you for medals?

[JLO]

You're right. Exposing him as he is! LOL!!

Vietnam veterans who rally for him? NO!!!

He dug up a few guys today; but they SURE AREN'T THE MAINSTREAM veterans that I personally know. And for sure, ain't around these parts. Or any parts of the good old USA.

AND, THEN, FOLKS WHO DO NOW PERSONALLY KNOW one. GO ANDFIND AND ASK a true vietnam veteran what he thinks.

Please be sure to keep us informed.

He's a fake wanna be! Ya, sure, read all his BS about his VN service. Four months+ and his 'medals', then he had to go home to Mommy - quite sure he mentioned her in his speech tonight.

Inyeresting Times fans: I mis-spoke earlier. He is not the 'head of' - but he sure is the KEEPER, in my book.

[JLO]

You're right. Exposing him as he is! LOL!!

Vietnam veterans who rally for him? NO!!!

He dug up a few guys today; but they SURE AREN'T THE MAINSTREAM veterans that I personally know. And for sure, ain't around these parts. Or any parts of the good old USA.

He's a fake wanna be! Ya, sure, read all his BS about his VN service. Four months+ and his 'medals', then he had to go home to Mommy - quite sure he mentioned her in his speech tonight.

Interesting Times fans: I mis-spoke earlier. He is not the 'head of' - but he sure is the KEEPER, in my book.

[longfellow]

The media was taken over along with hollywood in the 50's. Mc Carthy was right, read TREASON. The media thinks you and I are the dumb ones and they keep trying to dumb us down everyday. Television is made so you don't have to think. Picture the opening to the Brady Bunch, who was the middle square? I want everyone to try this.








If you answered Alice, you now know why it is called tv programing.

[JLO]

" you now know why it is called tv programing."

Hey, some folks do know.

Andt then again, as you referenced "Brady Bunch"

LORDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

---

Excellent anti-Kerry video laying out the VietNam case against him...

Great to forward and spread to the public.

http://www.stopjohn.com/movies/hanoi-john.htm

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Kerry Fitness Reports in Vietnam Show Him Unfit for Command
(Explodes Central Kerry Campaign Lie)

Kerry’s FITREPs are awash in dings, and some of the reports border on the adverse, particularly his combat FITREPs. The FITREPs convey significant performance problems and suggest problems in conduct, so much so that it is surprising that the campaign chose to release them. This may suggest that the FITREPs held from public view are even more adverse.

In what would customarily be an opportunity for a glowing “swan song” FITREP, the Commanding Officer of USS Gridley (DLG-21) tacitly blasts Kerry on his departure for Swift Boat duty by ranking him significantly below the norm in desirability for virtually every Navy assignment possible -– command, staff, whatever. He is a ship handler who is dinged in ship handling. He is in line for command, but his CO doesn’t want him near the bridge. He is slammed in all performance areas –- most notably and significantly in initiative and reliability. The “nice” narrative emphasizes performance in collateral duties, but in the grades and marks, the CO is telling the selection board and detailer loud and clear that this officer is lazy, unreliable and not suited for command. 3 SEP 68 (W.E. HARPER).

---

WinterSoldier.com

[windchime]

Bump!

[Howlin]

And how his "rescue of a Army Captain" was fake.

Is that the guy who says he almost drowned and Kerry putlled him out of the water?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

As far as I can tell it is.

Bob Elder of Swift Boats AGAINST Kerry said there are witness' who say there was no enemy gunfire.

[Howlin]

Is this the story that nobody bothered to tell Douglas Brinkley until the guy showed up at Kerry rallies -- and he had to go back and "edit" his big old definitive biography of Kerry?

How could nobody NOT have told Brinkley if that story was true and as big a deal as they have made it out to be?

[gimme1ibertee]

Big ol' GRUNT BUMP!! OOOHRAHHHH!

[gimme1ibertee]

Awww,SL,hubby looks sooooo tired....
How old is that pic?

[gimme1ibertee]

I know that the swiftboat guys are making the rounds on the radio talk-show circuit and getting some attention. If you weren't aware, there is a website that you can donate to-
SwiftBoatVeteransForTruth.com. They are sure making some noise. I hope they keep it up til November!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Until FOX ABC NBC CBS CNN ACTUALLY tell the REAL truth these kind of lies will stay.

Why do you think, back in May, when Swift Boat Vets had there 1:20 press conference it was blackballed by the big 5 major TV and Cable newsrooms?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Why do the TV and Cable Newsrooms
hide Hanoi Kerry's past?

[gimme1ibertee]

I'm sorry I didn't read your post before I responded to the picture of your hubby, SL. Poor guy. What a hero, to have suffered so much and still did his job. Duty, honor,country...Your husband,and the guys he served with,understood that-it's quite obvious. God bless you both.
And, you are right....The very idea that Kerry upholds himself as some kind of hero goes beyond nauseating. I sure hope the vets in this country make so damned much noise before November that they will not be ignored.

[longfellow]

You got the message danielson, it's not about learning how to wax the car!

[kellynla]

I'm glad to see that my brothers in Beantown have given the traitor Kerry a fiting reception...
We Viet Nam Vets have verrrrrry lonnnnng memories...

Semper Fi,
Kelly

Viet Nam Veterans Against John Kerry
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com