Posted on 08/23/2004 6:24:32 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
America has no kings or queens but we do have nobility – our nobility is called Veterans. That nobility is responsible for the bounty that is America but tragically their influence has faded in recent years and the values they died for are under attack. But this election year they are back in demand and some have said the veteran vote could decide this election. It may have put Bush in the White House. With this in mind, John Kerry is seldom seen with out his band of brothers and constantly plays the” hero” card as a cornerstone of his bid for president, indeed, as the definition of who he is. Kerry defines patriotism as “keeping faith with those who wear the uniform of this country. He also brags that he “defended this country as a young man”. If Missouri is the show me state, Veterans are the show me voters – we are not much for words, deeds are our stock in trade. Lets look at Kerry’s deeds.
Before Kerry played his “hero” card, he played the atrocity card. When Kerry came back from Vietnam he joined with Jane Fonda and in 1971 denounced “those who wear the uniform” as terrorists-like rapists and assassins who “cut off heads, taped wires … to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, shot at civilians, razed villages, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks” … and said he “committed the same kinds of atrocities as thousands of others”. He made these charges under oath. Kerry says today that he would have framed some of what he said in 1971 differently. But he does not say he lied, which he did, nor does he apologize. How can one properly frame the denunciations of ones comrades in arms as modern day Genghis Khans?
The very day that Kerry was calling Vietnam veterans’ war criminals the family of one of those “war criminals”, Michael Blanchfield, was posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor for Michael who had thrown himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades. How different from Kerry was the way this man kept faith with those who wore the uniform with him. How different from Kerry was the manner Michael defended his country.
He could have attacked the war without attacking the warrior. He could have questioned policy without supporting the communists’ claim that our soldiers were war criminals. He could have kept faith with those who wore the uniform with him. But he did not and he should be held accountable.
By every measure, the Vietnam veteran has been an exceptional citizen; but there is one disturbing statistic -- their suicide rate. In the first 5 years after discharge the rate was 1.7 times higher than non-veterans. After 5 years it was less. This may have been due to the treatment the Vietnam veteran received from the media – and the anti war movement led by Kerry -- in the early years after the war. Living with the scars of war is difficult, for some unbearable, but all veterans suffer. The Vietnam veteran suffered physically as much, perhaps more than any veteran of the past century, but no veteran has suffered the mental agony of that veteran.
What Kerry/Fonda and the media elite did to the Vietnam veteran and his family is deplorable. They opened a gash in his psyche and then rubbed salt in it. Not just the living but also those who died and their families who questioned if a loved one is a war criminal. And the POWs some who believed the Kerry/Fonda cartel extended the war, increased their torture and filled more body bags. Whether Kerry and Fonda have blood on their hands is debatable but there is no doubt they have salt on them.
Kerry’s “hero” card is based on medals he received in Vietnam and is much celebrated, and unchallenged, by the mainstream media. I know many Medal of Honor recipients who have received less publicity for their medal than Kerry has for his. But medals don’t make a hero. It is how one uses medals that make a hero. Every honest soldier knows that medals are a function of circumstance, even happenstance, but most of all the support of ones fellow warriors.
I was awarded the Medal of Honor; but my fellow soldiers who supported me in the actions and took the time to write it up earned it. I wear it for them, they own my medals. And every Medal of Honor recipient and hero I know believes as I do. Medals should be a sign of patriotism, a symbol of sacrifice, support and defense of a great nation. The highest form of patriotism is service to our youth; heroes also wear their medal for them to signal the importance of courage. Heroes do not use their medals for personal political gain. As I said they are not theirs to use.
Senator Kerry threw his medals away (or ribbons, they are symbolically the same), a political act very difficult for any veteran to understand. He must have been proud of them for he wore them even on his fatigues, in violation of all regulations. But they were not his. They belonged to those who he served. By that act he symbolically denounced his fellow veterans -- again. Does one keep faith with those who wear the uniform by throwing away their medals?
But perhaps most telling of his leadership qualities is his use of his Purple hearts to abandon his band of brothers, his command, on a technicality. Kerry may be the only person in history who took advantage of a Navy regulation that allowed him to leave his command after 4 months for 3 purple hearts none of which ever caused him to miss a day of duty. In my experience men fought to stay with their band of brothers, especially commanders. All the commanders I know would get out of a hospital bed to be with their men. Some one had to take his place; someone probably less experienced who would have to learn the ropes. That put his command more at risk than if he stayed. It is not hard to understand why those who stayed in combat for the full year are upset with Kerry.
And veterans today would be upset with Kerry’s support of Flag Burning his non-support of weapons systems and his 12 votes against military pay raises. But his use of veterans and mis use of his medals should bring into serious question his loyalty, integrity and character all of which equal leadership. He is not fit for command.
Major (later Major General) Patrick H. Brady, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade. Near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1968 demonstrated conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. He distinguished himself while commanding a UH-1H ambulance helicopter, by volunteering to rescue wounded men from four sites in enemy held territory all of which were reported to be heavily defended by and in close proximity to the enemy forces. Throughout that day, Major Brady utilized three helicopters to evacuate a total of 51 seriously wounded men, many of whom would have perished without prompt medical treatment. Major Brady's bravery was in the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army. Major Brady was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery that day. Major General Patrick Brady was inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame on 17 February 2001. |
Thanks for the ping!
Bump.
Thanks for a very good article.
bttt
Along with this he provided aid and comfort to the enemy, worsened conditions for POWs and advocated a policy that ultimately led to millions dead in Communist purges.
John Kerry has contempt for this country and for liberty and freedom. How can he be fit for command at a time of war, how strong will he stand against our enemy, how resolute will he be in Afghanistan and Iraq. Like his runnig mate said, ask the men who served with him.
It is hardly a moot point. Does anyone think Lyndie is qualified to be CIC? What kerry did in Viet Nam was a lot worse than putting panties on terrorists heads. By his own account, he committed war crimes. He should be in Leavenworth, not the Oval Office. Acknowledging this fact does not in any way dimish the seriousness of his crimes and misdeeds since that time.
good post bro..
Bull! I was at Dewey Canyon III and I saw and listened to Jf'nK. I've told the story before, but I've put a few things together in my mind since then ...
I'd been working for the Army/AF Exchange System in Northern Virginia. Inventorying vending machines, for crying out loud. I found out about the veteran's in the Mall by observing army training at the forts. Both for that event, but primarily in riot suppression training for the MayDay events that followed. Really an ugly time.
I was working and living in N.Va, and went into town and found the dudes in the Mall. They were trying to police the perimeter, and you were asked who you were with and non-vets weren't let in, unless the were black, wearing black berets. I worked during the day, then went to the Mall, then crashed in back in Alexandria. The Marines that I found were bonafides, and it was obvious in our bs. None of the little click I was hangin' with was really antiwar, more into pro-party. Anyway, I missed the silliness of the search and destroy in the Monument area, but the dudes told me about it, how ridiculous it was, but how they laughed like children.
I don't remember what day it was, but some of the black beret'ed commies came over to our group and solicited us to go listen to a 'bigtime hero', a Navy Cross winner. Well, we got off our duffs and went to listen to this NC awardee. Marines hold NC awardee's in extreme high regard. What we heard was this commie puppy, John Kerry. His rhetoric was extremely Leninist, replete with references to the proletariat and the worker's struggle, and throughout mixed with comrade this and comrade that. He was introduced as a NC recipient, and did not deny this. For years, I accepted as fact that he had an NC. It was only during this campaign that I realized otherwise. We were not impressed with this commie, and laugh and ridiculed his dogma as we left.
It was shortly after this that our group was solicited to testify before congress to things we had actually done. We refused, on different levels. That what we had done had been done in honor, and that we had no intention of damning our brothers who were still there. The black beret's tried intimidating us into testifying, saying if we did not do it they would have people pretend and to tell the stories for us. It got really hot at this point almost came to blows. I don't remember if I was being held back or holding someone back, I think the former, but the black beret's beat a retreat. It was either this day, or the next that the medal ceremony took place. There was a dude with a bag of who knows what type of medals for whomever would care to pitch them onto the steps. To the best of my knowledge, there was no attempt to limit this to vets, and the majority of those were hippies, pretending to be vets.
This Hubbard dude was there with sKerry, wearin' a black beret, and sKerry had a gaggle of these clowns around him at all times, like handlers/bodyguards. My mates and I recognized Hubbard as a liar right outta the gate. Also in attendance were the wheelchair brigade. 4 of them. I think one was Kovic, but I'm not sure. I do remember my bro's and myself envying the babes that they attending to them, (seemed like they were the onliest ones who were allowed babes). We joked it was no doubt why they were in the antiwar movement.
When Kerry ran for senate, his name rang a bell, and his picture, well, was his picture. He was a whiny communist back then, and he is still a whiny communist. Phuc Hanoi John Kerry!
Thanks for the ping to a GREAT article.
We all know this to be the major cause of distress for all Vets of the era, but the problem is that the general voting public majority knows or cares little about Kerry's anti-war BS.
The polling done on the second ad initially seems to show little effect, and I think it is for the reason above.
His anti-war antics seem to mean little to anyone under 50 years of age and it will not be enough to put his campaign on the skids.IMO
If being anti-war was a issue, it would have shown up in his prior election when the same subject was brought up time and time again. They just don't care that he hurt us worse than any wound could have.
Kerry must be shown for the opportunistic bastard he is.IMHO His bogus statement meant nothing at the time and since. John O'Neil, who fought him desperately and lost in the 70s can attest to this dilemma. He must be beaten by showing the public his total lack of character by putting all of it on the table. Including the acts after he came home as a part of the whole story.
Would you please repost this here
Exposing Kerry's Vietnam "record" WITHOUT mention of Swift Boat Vets Thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1197486/posts
I saw that too, but you know what? I ran it through my spell checker and it came out clean. I wish I could find a poem that a friend sent me years ago. It was awl about his spill checker. Many words where knot spelled write, butt of coarse, the spill checker did knot catch them.
VBR, here's a quick editing. Still long, but I hate to cut it any further.
Kerry titles his book about his Vietnam service, "Tour of Duty". He actually claims that he had TWO tours of duty in Vietnam because of his time on the USS Gridley.
You have to watch EVERY WORD THIS GUY SAYS. He has lied so long I think he’s forgotten what the truth ever was. KERRY NEVER EVEN SERVED ONE TOUR IN VIETNAM, LET ALONE TWO!
Yes, he was in Vietnam (for 4 months) and yes, he was on the deep-water coast of Vietnam on the USS Gridley (for 5 weeks), but a tour in the Nam was 12 months--one year, 365 days, one circle around the sun. Guys would count down the days until their time was up. It was a big deal. When you only had a few weeks to go until your year was up, you were "SHORT"--going home soon. John Kerry didn’t stay around long enough to even learn the language of the men he then went home & trashed to the world.
I have read.Unfit for Command. The Swifties could care less if John Kerry got medals; their issues are (1) that Kerry smeared their good name with his lies, (2) that Kerry cannot be trusted with this nation’s future..
Kerry embellished (lied) in his after action reports to get medals that he didn’t deserve. He lied when he came back from Vietnam when he spoke before the Senate Intelligence Committee when he said that his fellow Vietnam Veterans committed atrocities. He has never provided any proof that his accusations were true, and in fact now admits that his accusations were “over the top”. Over the top! They were the worst kind of what the Bible calls “Bearing false witness”.
POW’s who were in North Vietnam prison camps when Kerry was telling his lies to the Senate and the American public were tortured,threatened with being tried as War Criminals, & “would never go home” largely because of Kerry. What he did to them is unforgivable.
General Vo Nguyen Gaip , the Commanding officer of the North Vietnamese Military, and Bui Tin who served on the General Staff of the North Vietnam Army and received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975, both claim that North Vietnam was poised to negotiate a surrender because of the Communists’ military failures during the 1968 Tet Offensive and thereafter. But because of the antiwar movement in America (led by John Kerry and his lies) they felt that the demonstrations “gave us confidence that we should hold on in the face of battlefield reverses."
America was kicking the Communists’ butt in every battle. General Westmoreland had the Communists’ number and was winning the war in 1968 when American casualties were 10,000 instead of the final toll of nearly 59,000. Kerry & his demonstrators can claim most of the credit for America’s losing the war in Vietnam.
Because of John Kerry and others like him there are maybe 48,000 more names on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D. C. than there should have been--not to mention the slaughter of 3.5 million South Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians when America pulled out. (That “bloodbath” at the hands of the Communists that Nixon feared but Kerry assured Dick Cavett “would never happen”).
When I returned home to Los Angeles from Vietnam in 1971 my head was spinning as I walked through the Terminal at LAX, thinking about the culture of war that I had just left while looking around at the opulence of America. When I stepped outside onto the sidewalk a group of “Longhairs” walked by and one of them spat on me while the others called me a “Baby Killer”. I feel that the treatment that I received and have lived with for the past 33 years was due to John Kerry and his lies.
John Kerry does not have the moral integrity, judgment, or simple human decency to be the Commander-In-Chief of the world’s most powerful military. John Kerry is unfit for command.
BTTT!!!!!!!!
Spell-checkers are not ready for prime time, at least the one I used ONE time!
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WOW! I was just wondering yesterday if the book was online anywhere. Praise God! I heard John O'Neill saying yesterday he'd reprint it LOL.Wonder if he knows this.
good rhyhme
Bump.
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