It seems American troops have given and given and given. Kerry is sure that they can give a little more, for his own personal cause.
Posted on 08/08/2004 12:04:09 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The last time the Vietnam War loomed so large in a presidential election, it was 1972 and U.S. soldiers were still fighting in Southeast Asia.
But the war has taken center stage again as both parties seek the support of Vietnam veterans - turning to them as the emerging elder statesmen among U.S. war veterans.
At a conference this past week, on the 40th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the Vietnam Veterans of America urged its members to make their voices heard.
"This election is probably more important than any election for president since the Vietnam era," Navy veteran Ed Vick, recently retired chairman of advertising giant Young and Rubicam, told the roughly 550 veterans at the convention Wednesday. "We must vote."
For Vietnam veterans - many of whom once felt disconnected from mainstream politics and ostracized by other veteran groups - it’s surprising to be an important part of the 2004 presidential election.
"I had no idea I would be in the position I am now," said David Chung, a VVA member who said he returned from the war homeless. "A lot of people thought or hoped Vietnam would go away, but 30 years later it is at the center of things."
Many veterans see parallels between the current war in Iraq and the one they fought in. The enemy uses guerrilla tactics, casualties are mounting and public opinion is wavering.
Bill Chapman, a VVA member from Cocoa, Fla., remembers joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars when he returned from Vietnam and being told he didn’t fight in a real war.
"Back then, VFW, the American Legion really didn’t want anything to do with us," said Tom Meinhardt of Michigan. "Now they are begging us to join their outfits."
Democratic candidate John Kerry, a founding member of the VVA, is making his Vietnam experience a key part of his campaign, partly to highlight that President George W. Bush avoided serving in Vietnam. In response, conservative groups are bringing out veterans to question Kerry’s service.
That conflict sometimes evokes memories of the divisiveness that gripped the country during and after the Vietnam War, veterans said.
Many VVA members at the convention were hesitant to talk about the current political scene for fear of seeming to publicly endorse one candidate over another. Along with the group’s connection to Kerry, its members include officials of the Bush administration such as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who also addressed delegates Wednesday.
Others, like Chung, hold a strong opinion that Kerry abandoned his comrades by returning home and opposing the war. The VVA said it never endorses a candidate.
Putting their war in the middle of an election battle threatens to fracture the group.
"It has caused some inner strife in the chapters," Chapman said. "You have die-hard Republicans, and you have Democrats, too, and it’s tearing some chapters apart like never before. After the election, we need to remember we will still be brothers."
The VVA is pressing the issue of Veterans Administration health care, hoping the political focus on their war and their members will translate into more money for what they say is an underfunded hospital system that denies benefits to 200,000 veterans because it runs out of money annually. It also wants to make sure the current crop of soldiers gets better government support.
Thanks for the ping!
It seems American troops have given and given and given. Kerry is sure that they can give a little more, for his own personal cause.
Reflecting back to 1973, USMC, Camp Lejeune, 2nd MarDiv and Force Troops, FMFLant stationed on base, had issued a base directive which recommended wearing civilian clothes while off duty or on leave outside of any non-military related town. IOW, wear your civies while on leave or face extreme harassement by the anti-s. Jacksonville & Fayettevill, N.C. as an example were OK for uniform wear 24/7. NYC, Baltimore, etc., were not. I'm sure a copy of that directive would be pretty explosive right about now if available.
Semper Fi
Over my dead body!
Back when the earth was still cool and I was 12, I read a book by Dr Tom Dooley, it was about Vietnam back in the days when France was involved there.
I thought then that the war against Communism was right and I still think it. During my teen years , I was strongly pro US and was an outcast in my high school.
The Vietnam Vets were screwed royally. Their contribution was honorable and valiant. The politicians screwed the war and the unwashed , smelly cowardly liberals screwed them again.
It is time for the Vietnam vets to pay back the left and throw one of their icons , and a political charlitan on the trash heap of history.
Well put!
It makes sense to me. I got out one day before the cease fire in '73. It took many months to get a job. At the time I didn't realize or didn't admit that it seemed like most of the employers had some problem with me. I now realize that if some of them had dared, they would have had a question that said "Did you kill anybody? If yes, what were their ages?" (I didn't see combat, not that I would've minded killing that commie filth).
I want that sonofabitch Hanoi John to be disgraced by all of us he placed such a curse on by his selling us out. I want the younger generations to know what we went through because of him.
But most of all, I want out GI's now fighting in Iraq to be welcomed home by the American public and PRAISED and APPRECIATED for their service by a Commander-In-Chief and their fellow citizens who will NEVER SELL THEM OUT!
Thanks again my FRiend for responding!
Can anyone tell me if Kerry said, "I am releasing all my military records." ??????
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