'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."

E-mail a news tip to Robert B. Bluey.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[Fawnn]

Condolences on the loss of your husband.

I can't help but think that Kerry's hasty exit out of Viet Nam had more to do with his "loose canon" evaluations than it did with any bravery (or heroism) on his part!

[longfellow]

God Bless the both of you.

[WVNan]

How much coverage has the MSM given to protests during this con-vention? I haven't seen any. Want to bet that is all they will cover during the GOP convention? We will get "protests" 24/7 in N.Y.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"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."

Kerry's fuss about his Vietnam service, and his implication if not outright claim that Bush is a coward for choosing service in the National Guard, is insulting.

• It is an insult to every veteran who has more greivious wounds and/or more impressive medals than Kerry. One thinks of Oliver North, but surely the name of such people (almost all men) must be legion.
• It is an insult to every man of military age who did not volunteer to go to Vietnam after Kerry himself told them not to
  • by swearing that US military officers were criminals, and
  • by indicating with his famous demonstration with medals/ribbons at the White House that there was no honor in fighting in Vietnam.
• it is an insult to men who decided not to volunteer for military service before LBJ made Vietnam hot.
• And it is especially insulting to every present and former member of the National Guard, especially those called to active duty or who volunteered for dangerous specialties such as fighter pilot.

And that insult comes on top of the insult Senator Kerry heaped on all Vietnam veterans.

Nominating or voting for John Kerry is just plain rude.

[kinsman redeemer]

I read this article with astonishment!

I never heard that John Kerry was a Viet Nam veteran. When did THIS little tid-bit come out? Just yesterday?

I would think the press would be all over this revelation.. What about the timing? It seems suspicious to me (i.e. THE day before his self-defining speech...) Do you think he will mention his military record tonight? Huh? Do you?

Did Bush know about this? Is he to blame?

Is Daschle saddened?

Do the cheese-eating surrender monkeys know?

Should we all head for the shower?

[SheLion]

God Bless the both of you.

Thank you longfellow.

But I keep hearing on the media and reading in Free Republic about John Fn Kerry's "Purple Hearts" and how he spent 4.5 months in Viet Nam and it just makes my blood boil!

Kerry is a disgrace to all Vets who served their Country in Nam. Makes me so sick I can just puke.

[C-Note]

God bless you both.

Perhaps, his fight was in Khe San.

[SheLion]

I can't help but think that Kerry's hasty exit out of Viet Nam had more to do with his "loose canon" evaluations than it did with any bravery (or heroism) on his part!

I wish Kerry had come out of Nam with just HALF of the memories that our Vets did. It's easy to "brag" that you have Purple Hearts. Those that really earned them don't HAVE to brag. Kerry makes me puke!

He's a "girly man." No wonder he only served 4 and a half months over there. He probably couldn't stand the razzing he took from the REAL men!

[Chances Are]

....watch, the media will give it equal time to the demonstrators.

What do mean, equal?!? With these protests, the RNC will be covered as an afterthought!

CA....

[Chances Are]

Yes, but was it 16 generals who have come out in support of Kerry...

I call these guys "Clinton generals".

Political by appointment and political to their very core, they possess a military mindset that appears to have been begotten by Dr. Suess.

These 16 ("The Gang of 16"?) will be given every benefit by an unassuming press, and be given the equivalence of the 400+ that are slated to come out for President Bush. Maybe more than equivalence. Who can tell with this 5th column masquerading as the 4th Estate?

CA....

[longfellow]

I have my uncles from WW2 when he lied to get into the service unlike the ex-pres. We are in a battle for our country. It is the hippie generation that has hijacked along with the communist party the Demorcratic party but the sheeple are too stupid to see it. They have learned how the lie is very strong when it is repeated often enough. (Hitler) We can't afford another peace loving flower child in the White House, NY can't afford to lose anymore lives or skyscrapers. That's why we need people like you and the memories of your husband to get the truth out.

[12 Gauge Mossberg]

Rest assured, protesters will have equal time by the time the RNC coverage ends.

Man you got that right. When the RNC convention convenes, all you'll see are endless footages of Bush-bashing protesters. They'll probably have a split-screen of the convention with them and GOP speakers.

[GVnana]

Judging by the Dem's propensity for raving lunacy, we'll see a lot of it. But it'll backfire on Kerry. He's striving to win middle America and be a "commander in chief" (perish the thought) and that stuff doesn't go over.

I don't even have MSN on my cable. FOX viewer here. This convention hasn't helped the ticket, in my estimation. But I don't think like a Democrat.

[beachn4fun]

Let me give you a quote from Kerry from a Reader's Digest story printed in their August 2004 edition (page 83)............

Prelude....Kerry is watching CNN. The story is Kerry and Vietnam and the ribbons he earned.....and threw away.....he then says, "This is absurd, what's going on." "I'm not going to let the President's campaign and this President - - who still cannot prove that he showed up for duty in the National Guard in Alabama -- diminish my service, and my choice to oppose the war, and to do with my medals what I want to do."

My emphasis on "this President." I wanted to point out that Bush again gets the blame.

I will not be voting based on a military record. Many of our Presidents have had no military experience, so to me that is not a deciding factor. However, I will be voting on who is bold enough to protect our country, and doesn't seek approval to do it.

[danamco]

I would enjoy seeing Kerry have to answer to real vets like these guys for his traitorous behavior. It will never happen, but I would pay to see it.



Interestingly enough, I've have not seen any protest demonstration against Kerry in the alphabetic news media!?!

[Toidylop]

fair and balanced view...

---

Wed Jul 28, 9:05 PM ET
Vietnam veteran Reg Cornelia, of East Hampton, N.Y., shouts during Vietnam Veterans against Kerry rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Wed Jul 28, 8:23 PM ET
A Vietnam veteran who is anti Kerry, Cuc Foshee (left) of Orlando, Fla., yells at Kerry supporter Evita Cheuib of Tampa, Fla., during a rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Wed Jul 28, 8:21 PM ET
Vietnam Veterans against Kerry gather during a rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

[SheLion]

That's why we need people like you and the memories of your husband to get the truth out.

We all get so fed up, you know it? And we all know what FnKerry's military record is...........so WHY doesn't the media report it? Burns me up!!!!!

If the media thinks that by not reporting FnKerry's military record will keep us from learning about it, they are dumber then I thought. Yet, the media just keeps kissing FnKerry's arze like he is some kind of military god.

He's a disgrace to our Country. I bet he never had dirty fingernails in his whole wasted life.

[Lovergirl]

I went thru the same thing, SheLion. Lost my hubby 9 years ago at the age of 54. He died of cancer caused from Agent Orange. Watching Kerry makes me sick. We know who the real war heroes are, and he isn't one.

[SheLion]

I went thru the same thing, SheLion. Lost my hubby 9 years ago at the age of 54. He died of cancer caused from Agent Orange. Watching Kerry makes me sick. We know who the real war heroes are, and he isn't one.

I am SO sorry for your loss, Lovergirl!  It's devastating. But my hubby came out of Nam and after dating for 6 months, we married.

I don't know if you went through the same thing as me, but for YEARS after that, he had "jiggy legs," and would talk in his sleep about "taking the hill."  "Got to take the hill."  He was a heavy equipment operator in the Army and worked on Holesters.  Once in Viet Nam, he even FIRED the Holesters.  You know.......the huge guns with the long barrels that sat on the ground?

He always relieved the war in his dreams. 

I even ask him about it.  I thought if he talked it out, it would help him.  Sometimes, I couldn't get him to stop.  He just talked and talked and talked.  But I think it was good therapy for him to get it out of his system.  Although I am sure, to the day he died, it was always there in his mind, like a black demon.

He would have an absolute fit today if he saw how the media was putting Kerry on a pedestal.  I can just hear him now. hehhe! (He passed away a year ago this past January).

(Oh yes, after we married, he went into Civil Service as a Heavy Equipment Operator at Ft Dix, but he wasn't happy.  He wanted to go back into the military.  I talked him into joining the Air Force because I just knew that if he went back into the Army, he would be right back over to Nam.  He wasn't crazy about being in the Air Force, but having a wife, he accepted it.  He served 26 years and the last 7 years of his service, he was a 1st Sgt.  He loved his troops and he loved serving his Country.  My hubby was ALL MILITARY!  They must be born with it. :)

[F.J. Mitchell]

Weasley Clark exposes his contempt for his subordinates in this dismissal of these vets. He reminds me of Major Frank Burns on Mash.

THe liberal media are showing no respect for these Veterans, by ignoring their legitimate exposure of Kerry's many, many faults and fakery that render him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief. The media are treating these Heroic Patriots just as badly as they treated them thirty years ago.

The media are active members of the Kerry-Edwards Campaign. The media are worthy of nothing but contempt.