Some on this forum and most in todays society do not understand how personal this is with vets of my generation. Republican, democrat or independent, we all share a loathing for John Kerry. We will continue to do so, even after he is long gone, and we will carry this to our graves.
You hit the nail on the head. I was at a FReep of John Edwards arrival in Jacksonville, Fl, this past Monday and I was holding my anti-Kerry Vietnam signs and wearing my "Stop Hanoi John Kerry 2004" . One of the Bush supporters (there were about 65 of us), a lady in her 30's, stated "I don't have a problem with what Kerry did to protest the war. This is America and it's free speech. I don't want him raising my insurance costs and making my business go bankrupt because of trial lawyers and regulation." I about lost it! I emotionally explained to her what Kerry's words and actions did to a whole generation of GI's. About how many lived in shame for many years and some are still living that way. I explained to her how Kerry's using Vietnam as his main qualification is like re-opening those wounds and pouring salt right in there. She could see the look in my eyes. Although she didn't say much after that, I am quite sure she got it.
There was also an young (late 20's) active duty sailor there at the FReep. He said he knows all about Kerry and his betrayal of Vietnam Veterans. He learned it from his dad, whom he said hates Kerry with a passion. I suspect his dad is a lot like me, and I am glad to know that he has taught his children about him. I think Kerry did us all a favor by portraying himself a war hero. It is motivating our whole generation to make our voices heard, when it really counts!
I was on Bill Bennett's radio show, "Morning in America" about a week ago. I called when they were talking about the Swift boat Veterans for Truth as I was listening while driving to work. I told Bennett in no uncertain terms that our fight with Kerry is NOT a political issue as much as it is a disrespect of all Vietnam and Vietnam era veterans, and that if they think the media and lawyers and talking heads think they are gonna muzzle us, they got another thing comin'! I told him that there is an entire generation of American veterans, that have had this wound festering in us for the past 33 years, and sKerry had the audacity to re-open those wounds and pour poison in them with his attempt to portray himself as a genuine war hero after he dishonored all of us with his treasonous lies 33 years ago! I told him we would NOT be muzzled and we will use this forum of Kerry's campaign to repudiate this traitor and expunge the Hanoi Kerry poison from our lives once and for all! I said when Kerry did that to us we were kids then and didn't have a forum and had to live under the curse of his words,
BUT WE AIN'T KIDS NO MORE, AND WE AIN'T GONNA BE MUZZLED!
I was white hot and Bill Bennett knew it!
Bennett did say that it was a political issue because John Kerry chose to make it one, by making it the center piece of his presidential campaign. I told him that we aren't gonna back off regardless of what the Bush campaign, or anyone else may say.
I had a couple guys call me right after and they were ALL SMILES! They said 'Hey man, you lit the radio on FIRE! Any vet who heard that is ready to go stomp a hole in Kerry right now!
Thank you for your service; I have always felt bad about how the Viet Nam vets were treated upon their return to the states.....
Good for you! He has angered a whole bunch of folks who have moved on a long time ago: They came home, went to college, got married, had a family and a career, but they never forgot what happened during that time. And then Kerry came along and reopened all the old wounds. As you said, its different now. The men are no longer powerless, they have the resources and the will to right this longstanding wrong and are doing so by speaking out. God bless them all!!
Welcome home and God bless each and every Vietnam veteran!
I was not there (too young) so I can not possibly feel the same hurt you all do over John Kerry's betrayal of all service members at that time. What I can do is relate his actions to the 11 years I did spend in the service and wonder how he can look himself in the mirror to shave every morning.
I can sympathize with the young lady you spoke with - she simply did not understand because she did not live through it. To many young people today, Vietnam is as much ancient history as the War Between the States. The only difference is that there are still a lot of living Vietnam veterans who can teach younger generations the truth, just as the older soldiers I knew were kind enough to do for me.
589th engineers, Phan Rang AFB, RVN, 1969-70, Kerry is a serious joke.
That's what really steams me...how the White House treats the Swiftboat Vets and their ad. I personally have yet to see John Kerry disavow, condemn or otherwise distance himself from the ridiculous antics of Moveon.Org, George Soros, Michael Moore, et al. But for some reason, our side is supposed to be a bunch of Milquetoasts.
Pardon my French, but screw that. We need to fight the Leftists at every turn. This "higher road" approach is noble, but it loses elections when the opponent fights dirty.
A retired Marine friend of mine, a great man, who carries a 7.62x39mm souvenir of that war in his leg, would rather strangle himself with his own large intestine than vote for Kerry.