Posted on 07/29/2004 10:29:06 PM PDT by kattracks
Democrats capped Sen. John Kerry's presidential nomination last night by showing a Hollywood-produced movie of his life, featuring amateur film clips and testaments about his service in Vietnam as commander of a Navy river patrol boat.
But a group of former sailors who served with Mr. Kerry are telling a different story. Rather than depicting Mr. Kerry as a war hero, they are quoted in a new book accusing him of exaggerating and falsifying his experiences.
The group says that of 23 crew members photographed with Mr. Kerry more than 30 years ago in Vietnam, only one supports his presidential campaign. They will announce a nationwide campaign by "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" to tell the American public about what they say is Mr. Kerry's true war record.
The biographical movie shown last night, "A Remarkable Promise," shows "family and friends talking about the courage he has shown as a soldier and a veteran, the fights he has waged for middle-class values and the faith in family he has exhibited as a father and husband," the Kerry campaign said before its prime-time convention appearance.
The film was produced by James Moll, a partner of director Steven Spielberg.
The book, "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry," from Regnery Publishing, is written by John E. O'Neill. Mr. O'Neill served in Vietnam at the same time as Mr. Kerry and followed him as commander on the swift boat.
Mr. O'Neill, riled by what he considered Mr. Kerry's false charge in 1971 of widespread war crimes committed by U.S. troops, has waged a public debate with the politician dating back to the "Dick Cavett Show" that year.
The book quotes Mr. Kerry's fellow combatants as saying two of his Purple Hearts came from friendly fire, not the enemy. The veterans also will dispute other stories Mr. Kerry has told.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
BTTT
Didn't he try to have his first marriage, which I believe produced 2 kids, annulled? Some father and husband!
There's just so much room for emotional, and therefore unpredictable, responses from the electorate.
But when the entire record of your public life screams "I am an empty suit", perhaps he didn't have another card to play.
He's a self-confessed war criminal, but nobody cares. Granted, I think he lied about committing atrocities, but I'm willing to take him at his word just this once.
I agree that Kerry's extremely reckless at best to make his Vietnam service such a mainstay of his campaign. There are questions about his medals and overall conduct in theater, no one had to drag him out of combat (he immediately put in for a transfer out upon awarding of his 3rd purple heart) and his anti-war activities are borderline treasonable.
Do you suppose John O'Neil will get an hour for his book review on 60 minutes?
#2 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0895260174/ref=pd_ts_a_2/103-7014311-2171030?v=glance&s=books&n=549066
#14 on BN.com
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?userid=fq6g3Em9yG&cds2Pid=3950&isbn=0895260174
Wow....they may have bumped up the pub date.....supposed to come out August 15 now according to Amazon.
It originally was slated for very late Sept.
BN still says Sept. though.
---strategically, I think it's foolish for kerry to make his controversial role in a controversial war during a controversial period in American history the central support of his campaign---
Young voters in particular aren't moved in the least by Vietnam. It's just ancient history. A lot of younger voters are tremendously motivated by the war on terror however and see Bush as an heroic figure in the here and now.
its a lie for sure..whatever he says...or his cronies up on the stage.
so far from my studies..it seems Johns boat only saw a few hot days of action...maybe not even 7
Yes..if Kerry was wounded...medivac'd out...major blood flow...laid up in hospital for weeks recovering,
then his claim would have some merit.
so far..it reeks of pencil pushing.
It does wreak. Sure wish somebody could find a good statistic on just how many folks were awarded 3 PH's. I did a year in Nam and didn't see a tremendous amount of combat, but would have to guess that there weren't very many of the million plus that served got more than one PH. This whole thing is phoney and I hope the 23 Swiftboat guys get the word out that it is. Sampling the 23 would be a good start.
There are questions about his medals and overall conduct in theater, no one had to drag him out of combat (he immediately put in for a transfer out upon awarding of his 3rd purple heart) and his anti-war activities are borderline treasonable.
Bushmeister, I don't think there's anything "borderline" about it they were simply treasonous. The memories of being termed a "babykiller" when I returned from Nam in 1971 are very vivid even today thanks to this traitor who wants to be CIC today.
There are questions about his medals and overall conduct in theater, no one had to drag him out of combat (he immediately put in for a transfer out upon awarding of his 3rd purple heart) and his anti-war activities are borderline treasonable.
Bushmeister, I don't think there's anything "borderline" about it they were simply treasonous. The memories of being termed a "babykiller" when I returned from Nam in 1971 are very vivid even today thanks to this traitor who wants to be CIC today.
Kerry's desire to bug out as soon as he (maybe) earned his three purple hearts suggests a cold-hearted, self-serving attitude and no dedication or feelings at all for those in his command - some of whom are now standing up and supporting him......
From what I understand, he was encouraged to take the Navy up on the 3 PH basis to leave after 4 months and 3 days. Since I did 12 months in Nam, guess that makes me 3 times more qualified to be president huh?
This guy is REALLY sad.
"The memories of being termed a "babykiller" when I returned from Nam in 1971 are very vivid even today"
I wish there were some way you could receive a meaningful apology and recognition for what you did. FWIW, thanks for serving.
Reflecting....The SwiftBoat Veterans testifying on CSPAN several months back may have used polite wording..yet the returning point many forwarded was that Kerry was aloof from command....selfserving...and not a team player.
Something I noticed and pondered..was Kerry riding his bike yesterday before the big speach.
Here is a guy who has tumbled on his bike before....to do this on such an important day is clearly a wreckless choice...and is another kodak moment showing this guy to be ..Impulsive?...lacking judgement?....wreckless!
A incident occured during Kerry's tour....[Think it was a B-40 grenade launcher]..anyhoo...the boat is on the river..and out of the blue...Kerry picks up a B-40 and fires once or twice into the shore..at a reptile or to just have a feel good moment.
The incident was disquieting to a few in his squadron..and gave them pause about this guys self control and foresight.
Wish I had been able to listen to more of the SwiftBoat interveiws on radio...there is a credible testimony on their behalf as to the claim..that Kerry is unfit to lead.
During last nights video at the DNC..with Morgan Freeman doing the voice over...*John Kerry...[Shawshank- Vietnam redemption]..several photos of Kerry standing in the background with a brooding sulk look..that aloof posturing.
Some of the command above John Kerry that testified about him during the CSPAN program hinted that their was *somebody overseeing this guys time in Vietnam...
myself..have pondered who that would be..who was writing this script....Kerry is unlikley to have self designed his film camera re-enactment..someone put him up to it.
and as mentioned in the main articles testimony by veterans who Kerry served with..the entire thing was weird and self serving.
I wonder why Kerry stopped mentioning "Benedict Arnold" companies outsourcing jobs overseas. I don't think it was just the fact that the Heinz Corp. has significant overseas operations.
conshack, may I offer a belated welcome to FR. Where did you serve in RVN? I came back not long before Kerry's infamous testimony before that Senate committee, Foreign Relations, IIRC.
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