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Navy Veteran Van Odell Responds to Kerry
SBVT ^

Posted on 08/19/2004 12:50:51 PM PDT by gilliam

Statement by Navy Veteran Van Odell, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, in Rebuttal to Michael Dobbs, Washington Post, August 19, 2004

A courageous, soft spoken man of the Midwest, Larry Thurlow has a heart bigger than the great plains and a commitment to truth and honesty that is boundless. He is under attack, because John Kerry is feeling the heat of truth at the hands of this honest man and others like him.

The Kerry Campaign is attacking the truthfulness of this man and the Bronze Star he so richly deserves for his actions on March 13, 1969. I was there. I saw what happened.

The mine’s detonation lifted PCF-3 completely out of the water just yards ahead of me. All boats commenced suppression fire in case enemy small arms fire ensued. None did.

All boats came to the aid of PCF-3, except one: John Kerry’s boat. Kerry fled.

Larry Thurlow piloted his boat straight toward the mine-damaged PCF-3 from which thick, black smoke billowed. He jumped aboard and personally led damage control operations that saved the boat and rescue operations that saved the lives of badly wounded men. Larry’s leadership was in the highest traditions of the naval service. His leadership allowed the other men and boats of the mission to exit the river safely.

This “single act of meritorious service” – the chief requirement of the Bronze Star – should be honored, not ridiculed, by the Kerry campaign and its allies in the mainstream media.

To reiterate, only one enemy weapon was deployed that day – the command-detonated submerged mine that disabled PCF-3. Larry Thurlow’s citation contained references to “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire,” because that was the language chosen by John Kerry who penned the “spot report” on the action that day. There was no “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire” received that day. John Kerry’s report was fiction – a hoax on the entire chain of command.

Larry Thurlow’s heroism and meritorious service, however, is real. To me Larry is one of the heroes of our country. He is a man who served his country when called and who returned home to be a productive citizen. Larry and men like him are the strong backbone of our society. I am proud to have served with him.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: houseboy; keptman; kerry; kerrylies; larrythurlow; manchuriancandidate; swiftboatveterans; swiftvets; thurlow; vanodell; zombie
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To: Solson

Well 7 and the entire media establishment. It is sickening the lengths the left is going through to muddy the reputations of these honorable men.


21 posted on 08/19/2004 1:06:17 PM PDT by vpintheak (Our Liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain!)
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To: Stentor
I am waiting for a very clever troll from another thread to show up here.

Then you must use this

22 posted on 08/19/2004 1:06:53 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: pabianice

..he's French, afterall!


23 posted on 08/19/2004 1:07:04 PM PDT by mystery-ak (The most dangerous place in the world...between Moore and Ronstadt in the buffet line!)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
The devestating part is Thurlow never expected a medal. He was just doing his job, like any real hero!

Pray for W and Our Troops

24 posted on 08/19/2004 1:07:47 PM PDT by bray (Yaaaawn Tax , Tax , Tax & Kerry wants your paycheck!)
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To: gilliam
All boats came to the aid of PCF-3, except one: John Kerry’s boat. Kerry fled.

That's the point we hammer on. He fled. And then filed a false report afterwards - and then has the unmitigated gall to use his own LIE to disparage an honorable vet who is telling the truth.

25 posted on 08/19/2004 1:08:00 PM PDT by dirtboy (Forget Berger's socks - has ANYONE searched his skin folds for classified documents?)
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To: gilliam

Thurlow never asked for nor did he put himself in for the Bronze Star he unexpectedly received THREE MONTHS after the incident.


26 posted on 08/19/2004 1:10:08 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn't be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: ConservativeWarrior
The ABB crowd won't care

And that's the insanity.

American socialists/pervs/gun grabbers/dims are so committed to their pet causes they would gladly elect one of their own just to keep sanity out of the White House.

I remember when Klintoon was disgracing America with his perversions and some female (reporter?; politician?) saying she would gladly join his perversions if it meant abortion would remain legal.

These people are scum.

27 posted on 08/19/2004 1:11:24 PM PDT by PinnedAndRecessed (O.K! I made the "about" page. So read it, already!)
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To: vpintheak
They did it during and after Vietnam and they're doing it now. Kerry and the protestors spit on these troops then and they're spitting on these vets now.

Nothing changes...

28 posted on 08/19/2004 1:13:55 PM PDT by Solson ("Ugly knows ugly though." - WorkingClassFilth)
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To: dirtboy

Dosen't JFK's senate transcript claim that the mine lifted *his* boat 2 feet out of the water.


29 posted on 08/19/2004 1:14:49 PM PDT by Triple (All forms of socialism deny individuals the right to the fruits of their labor)
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To: Dog

FYI Ping


30 posted on 08/19/2004 1:15:10 PM PDT by Mo1 (FR NEWS ALERT .... John Kerry over dosed on Botox and thinks he's Bob KerrEy)
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To: gilliam
Swift vets do a commercial and a book about Kerry and the media avoids them... Rassman rebutes one of the swift vets and the AP rushes it out to every paper and media outlet in the country.

Welcome to the brave new world people! We have been selected for extinction.

31 posted on 08/19/2004 1:15:50 PM PDT by johnny7 (“Benteen. Come quick! Bring packs. PS Bring packs!” -last written message from G. A. Custer)
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To: hawkaw

Already has been spun. One of Kerry's crew said that they had to turn around to avoid obstructions in the water (maybe like mines!), and that this was SOP. I guess all of those other boats were not following standard CYA procedures....


32 posted on 08/19/2004 1:16:35 PM PDT by richardtavor (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem in the name of the G-d of Jacob)
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To: Mo1
Any comments from the media on this???

waiting

waiting

waiting

crickets

33 posted on 08/19/2004 1:20:21 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: gilliam

bump


34 posted on 08/19/2004 1:21:09 PM PDT by newsgatherer
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To: gilliam
....Larry Thurlow’s citation contained references to “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire,” because that was the language chosen by John Kerry who penned the “spot report” on the action that day. There was no “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire” received that day. John Kerry’s report was fiction – a hoax on the entire chain of command.

Can't that "spot report" be found and released? I want to see kerry's signature on it.

35 posted on 08/19/2004 1:22:23 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: gilliam

Van Odell, thank you for your courage before and now. Thank you for rising in defense of your fellow veterans whom served honorably.

Larry Thurlow, despite Kerry's attacks on you, WE support the bravery exemplified in your service.



36 posted on 08/19/2004 1:22:55 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Certainly shoots holes in Kerry’s story.

I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the comment that Kerry’s boat fled. For a foot soldier at least, if you get caught in an ambush the best way to get out of it is to sometimes run out of it. Immediately stopping and shooting back keeps you in the kill zone that has already been predetermined by the enemy that launched the attack. Immediate action could be: run through the kill zone, especially if you are at the front of the ambush area, turn back and support the guys caught in the line of fire. If Kerry’s boat fled and then came back, that may have been the correct course of action.

Kerry served his country in combat. I have nothing negative to say about that. He did more than most. Kerry’s exaggerations of his heroics are just ridiculous. I have found that those that brag about their heroics are almost always exaggerating. Seems to be the case here.


37 posted on 08/19/2004 1:23:45 PM PDT by Combat Override Button
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Yes, this is a devastating statement by O'Dell. The more the media digs into Kerry's Vietnam record, the more trouble Kerry will get himself into. The Kerry campaign is in big trouble here. Also, Hugh Hewitt apparently has uncovered another fabrication by Kerry about fictional missions to Cambodia.


38 posted on 08/19/2004 1:24:14 PM PDT by carl in alaska (Suddenly the raven on Scalia's shoulder stirred and spoke. Quoth the raven..."NeverGore")
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To: gilliam
Alright. I'll say it.

I question the timing of this...

39 posted on 08/19/2004 1:24:26 PM PDT by THX 1138
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To: gilliam

I'm PROUD of these guys!


40 posted on 08/19/2004 1:29:51 PM PDT by BillK God Bless Texas
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