Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Freeper Says she's sorry to Vietnam Vets. Many who believed Kerry and VVAW lies, now are crying.
Free Republic | 8/27/2004 | Freeper

Posted on 08/29/2004 4:44:09 AM PDT by stockpirate

To: stockpirate I am not sure this is the proper place to put this...but here goes... To All The Vets of Viet Nam,

I was born in 1955, a baby boomer...into an alcoholic and abusive family. I was 14 years old when Woodstock rocked this nation. I remember standing in front of a 12" black and white set watching it unfold on the 6 o'clock news. I also remember my father using the term..".long haired hippie pukes" and being totally disgusted with the whole mess. Being 14 with a father who like to use his fists..I naturally rejected anything he said as any kind of truth. He had lost my affection and my trust many years ago. My father also told the story of being wounded in the Korean war...he even had a scar to prove it. I later found out when I got older, that he had spent the entire war in England..so much for his credibilty.

My mother thought it would be good to alert me at that tender age of 14 about the drug scene that was waiting to prey upon me. She handed me a bunch of Life magazines with an expose of the underground culture of drugs. Living in a small town in Central NY..this was definitely a foreign concept. I was mesmerized by the pictures of hippies and the freedom they appeared to have. Oh how I longed to have a place in this world where I could breathe without fear of being hit. I was ripe for the picking.Within 6 months I found myself hobknobbing with drug dealers and the like.

The next couple of years I was entrenched in the drug scene..my friends were of like thinking..we had all bought into the Love, Peace, Free Sex and drugs doctrine being perpetuated on the youth of this nation. I became a sympathizer of the likes of Abby Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. Their books became gospel for me....I devoured the book.."Soul on Ice" by Eldredge Cleaver. I hated the Viet Nam war...not because of it's political significance...but the idea of war and chaos in general. I had seen too much of that as I was growing up...I longed for peace in my soul. I drank and drugged to relieve some of the inner pain.

I bought into anything that my father hated....and hated anything he bought into. My father was a veteran and stood by the President..even though he was a democrat.....He stood by his brothers in arms. So it was natural for me to take the opposing view. I hated war. Our little town had 3 casualties in the Viet Nam war..two of whom rode on my school bus....they were older than me but each had made a distinct impression on me as I rode the bus....I remember Joe who used to make the sound of a cricket as he ran his fingers along the roof of the bus...he was so tall!!..and Ron was the cute older brther of my sister's friend. Both gone, both dead and for what purpose? My teenaged brain couldn't comprehend the whole idea of death and war.

In 1975, I was 20 years old...a survivor of years of self abuse through my reckless lifestyle..and now a mother of two children. I sat in front of another TV and watched as they were airlifting people out of Saigon. A plane full of refugees were taking off when the plane, carrying children, crashed on takeoff. I sat in front of the TV set and cried...sobs coming from somewhere so deep inside of me....I realised as I was sitting there...that this was the first time I had ever cried for anyone else but myself. My heart was starting to unthaw from years of guarding it.

When the war ended I didn't abuse the vets who had served bravely for my country, no my attitude was worse than any abuse bestowed on them...mine was one of indifference, one of apathy, a "so what and who cares attitude." I never spoke a word that brought shame to a vet, but my heart was full of hatred for anyone who would willingly go and make war.

On Memorial Day, my father would put on his legion uniform and march in the parade and shoot his gun off at the village green in remembrance of those fallen. I watched with a mocking spirit within me. It was a big deal to him (dad) when he became post commander..all I could see was another opportunity for him to drink. I saw him as a hypocrit..a man who espoused peace and freedom ...who oppressed his family with violence and bondage.

But something happened to me over the years...an ideological change, a paradigm shift of thought. I woke up in the mid 1990's and I found myself with the same ideals my father had about his country. I fell in love with where I live and what it stands for. Maybe it was watching my children growing up and wanting better for them or Maybe it was watching CNN during the first Gulf war knowing my brother was in a tank somewhere inside Iraq... or maybe it was the day I sent my youngest son off to the Marines for safe keeping. Maybe it was coming to have faith in Christ. But something definitely changed within me. Maybe it was turning off the TV for a moment and allowing God to speak to me without all the static.

I joined Free Republic over a year ago at the request of a friend. And today I watched a video clip of the VVAW throwing their medals. I must have watched it 6 times. It was this clip that prompted me to write this piece. After so many years I wonder if it would really make any difference to the men and women who served our country by going to Viet nam, if I were to say.. from the bottom of my heart...that I AM SO SORRY for not giving you the Honor you so richly deserve. I am sorry for the indifference I showed you when you returned...of turning my eyes and closing my ears.. when I heard a derogatory remark aimed at you. Would it make a difference if I told you that I am proud of the service you gave to us on behalf of our freedom..that I appreciate your sacrifices and the blood shed for the freedom we all share today. It is 30 years late but I couldn't let another day pass with writing these thoughts down.Please Forgive Me.....


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2004; aidandcomfort; airforce; antiamerican; army; betrayal; bronze; cambodia; christmasincambodia; command; communism; communists; credibilitygap; crushkerrydotcom; discrepancies; duty; election; elections; fbifiles; flipper; geraldnicosia; hanoi; hanoihilton; hanoijohn; hanoikerry; hochiminh; houseboy; iaintfondajohn; johnkerry; keptman; kerry; kerrybio; kerrylieddotcom; kerrylies; ketchup; ketchupmoney; liar; liarliarliar; lurch; lyingliar; manchuriancandidate; marines; mia; military; militaryrecord; navy; nicosia; nixonblaming; nlf; nocallnoshow; noshow; nva; powmia; pows; purpleheart; sailor; scambodia; sedition; shovelit; skerrykerry; soldier; southeastasia; swift; swiftboat; swiftboatvets; swiftvetsdotcom; tang; tellingawhopper; thatstheticket; traitor; treason; unamerican; unfit; unfitforcommand; vc; vet; veteran; veterans; veteransforbush; vets; vietcong; vietnam; vietnamveterans; vvaw; warcrimes; warcriminal; whenever; wintersoldier; wintersoldierdotcom; zombie
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 281-284 next last
To: stockpirate; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA

Tell whoever sent you this that I am glad they wrote and glad you shared it.

I had only a brief plunge into the cultural chaos in my 17th year, 1971. As I saw the hate of America escalating under the guise of free love I snapped out of it and joined the USAF right out of high school.

I served stateside during the waning years of Viet Nam. I was a warrior in a different war, the Cold War. I encountered the hate anytime I travelled to a major city in uniform. I'll always remember an incident at LAX. I was called a baby killer by someone who looked like I had looked only a few years before. Only an old WWII vet who had bought me a couple of drinks on the flight kept me from probably getting arrested. Had it not been for the Vet, a hippy would have been hurt.

God Bless all those who served and serve today. Whether in combat or stateside, active duty or National Guard, every branch, including the Coast Guard. Wearing the uniform is sacrificing freedom for freedom.

I hope the FReeper someday forgives her father for his deception. In some small way he was probably dealing with an undeserved guilt of not seeing combat. I doubt he avoided combat but just wasn't chosen to send.

God Bless all who serve and those who wait for them.


121 posted on 08/29/2004 9:35:56 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (I'm Conspiracy Guy and I approve this message. "John Kerry is a liar!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: FRMAG

In '63, at 10 years old, I was still trying to figure out what the JFK assasination was all about, and while pondering that question I discovered politics.

And again, at 10, I was uncaring, but aware enough to stay tuned, well at least until I discovered "girls". <|:-)~~

Semper Fi


122 posted on 08/29/2004 9:38:52 AM PDT by JoeSixPack1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: Conspiracy Guy

To all the Vets on this board (and off):

THANK YOU


123 posted on 08/29/2004 9:40:40 AM PDT by tertiary01 (Kerry for Chief of Self Aggrandizement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: Conspiracy Guy

To all the Vets on this board (and off):

THANK YOU


124 posted on 08/29/2004 9:41:55 AM PDT by tertiary01 (Kerry for Chief of Self Aggrandizement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: tertiary01

You're Welcome and Thank You as well.

Your poster name is confusing. Are you the third 01? Who are the Primary01 and Secondary01? Is it a family name?

So many questions and so little time.


125 posted on 08/29/2004 9:44:29 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (I'm Conspiracy Guy and I approve this message. "John Kerry is a liar!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
A friend of mine says that a Taxocrat comes into where she works and tells her that if Bush gets reelected Bush will start the draft back up

This is just another fear tactic with the DemonRats. Funny, I've only heard them talk about a draft. After Bush lays out social security reform, they will start scaring seniors as they always do too.

126 posted on 08/29/2004 9:46:57 AM PDT by rhombus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

Good..... a very good group of guys! Take care.


127 posted on 08/29/2004 9:48:25 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Free Martha Mitchell......... and Jail Teraaaaaayza)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
I too feel for all of the leftist, so-called underground, clap-trap of those years and likewise had my eyes opened. Now when Memorial Day comes around I make it a point to shake the hand of the veterans that I know and say "Thank you for serving".
128 posted on 08/29/2004 9:49:02 AM PDT by fella
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
YOUR FRIEND'S APOLOGY HAS BEEN LINKED ON THIS THREAD
129 posted on 08/29/2004 9:49:07 AM PDT by doug from upland (John Kerry cried and asked TaRAYaz to make the SwiftVets stop)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: R. Scott; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; SAMWolf
In other words, you grew up and matured.

But Kerry hasn't. I know some of you could never forgive him for what he did with the VVAW. But I would be willing to overlook that as the excesses of youth. However, even today he refuses to point out the devastation he caused, and he continues to undermine our national security by opposing missile defense, defense budget maintenance, and other weapon systems. He also gets his nose into Vietnam, Cuba, and other 3rd world issues that leave our enemies wondering if they can take advantage of us.

Kerry hasn't grown up!

130 posted on 08/29/2004 9:54:10 AM PDT by risk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rhombus
I also learned that the power of the media can not be underestimated and their selection of "facts" can not be trusted.
 
AMEN

131 posted on 08/29/2004 9:55:45 AM PDT by TexasTransplant (I made my Fortune selling Sugar Coated Cat Turds on a Stick at the DNC Convention)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
How many of us were in that place oh so many years ago?

I was a democrat back than but I never disrespected the military.
132 posted on 08/29/2004 9:58:26 AM PDT by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
But something happened to me over the years...an ideological change, a paradigm shift of thought.

Reminds me of one of my favorite anecdotes:

"When I was 17, I thought my father was the most ignorant, pigheaded individual on the planet. But when I came home after college and sat down and talked with him, I was amazed at how much my old man had learned in four years."

133 posted on 08/29/2004 9:58:44 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (If you decide to kick the tiger in the ass...you'd better be prepared to deal with the teeth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

"But don't let the "code" be the be all, do all."

You couldn't buy a clue. Like sKerry I think you watch too many Movies.

Test me.


134 posted on 08/29/2004 10:01:17 AM PDT by TexasTransplant (I made my Fortune selling Sugar Coated Cat Turds on a Stick at the DNC Convention)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks
Col. Nathan Jessup: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand at post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
135 posted on 08/29/2004 10:05:35 AM PDT by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate

Tears just ran down my face. When I think of all the guys who fought, and died, I have no words. What they did changed the world just as much as the Berlin wall coming down.Its time they get the honor that they deserve!


136 posted on 08/29/2004 10:07:11 AM PDT by Old anti feminist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks; stockpirate; uncbob

I know uncbob remembers the following post from last night. I think Stashius's words bear repeating. Thanks to your friend, stockpirate. Threads like this one and last nights have brought me to tears all week.

The following is from this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201884/posts

I was at my combat ptsd group on Friday. I'll tell you how we are doing.

Most of us are really getting torqued up. To hear that man's testimony again, and hear that he 'stands by it' is almost too much to bear. You see many of us came back with some very painful memories. We had to do things to survive that were not pretty. It is normal to be affected by that.

However, the reception we got on our return, convinced most of us to just try and forget about it. That is the WORST thing you can do with war trauma. You have to be able to process it so it will not haunt you as much.

I, and many other Nam Vets, hold Kerry, the VVAW, and Fonda personally responsible for this. What they did was despicable. The damage is irreparable. That is not even counting what they did to the POW's.

I am so sick and tired of seeing guys with that 1000 yd. stare who have had a living hell for the past 35 years. Most of this was preventable. This is Kerry's legacy.

On Friday, one of our guys was finally able to talk about when his chopper (he was a door gunner) went to extract a copter team that had been shot down. When they got there, the crew had been stripped, strung up my their feet, genitals cut off and in their mouthes. They knew all of them. As they returned, they came upon the VC wearing the clothes of the copter team. There were no prisoners taken. A crew member had to pull him off the .50 caliber gun.

He still is dealing with the sting of being called a war criminal. Was that a war crime? Go witness what he did, find the perpetrators and tell me what you would do.

You see, Kerry never presented any information about the VC or how any of these 'war crimes' happened. He never related the horror stories of how the VC treated prisoners, dead, wounded or alive. He doesn't talk about a whole village's children who had their left arms cut off, because the US Medics had gone there to vaccinate them, and the VC found out. He didn't talk to a Vietnamese woman who did some work for us whose 3rd husband had been killed by the VC because she worked on the American base camp.

Anyway, he will not be getting many votes from his 'band of brothers'.

43 posted on 08/28/2004 3:47:36 PM MDT by Stashiu ( Yeah, I am a Vietnam Vet, not a War Criminal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]


137 posted on 08/29/2004 10:14:47 AM PDT by valleygal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate
Geez- I'm really touched by this. I was born in 56 I can totally relate to you.Except my parents were avid lefties. Some of my family were even members of 'the party'. I was taught very early that Stalin(uncle Joe) and Castro were great men.My mom used to brag that she went to the first peace demo in Detroit.We went to see Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden in Detroit - I wonder if Kerry was there? I have home movies of the peace march on Washington. A strange commie woman use to visit our home -yet she would park blocks away and walk to our home.I think she was trying to recruit my folks into something very traitorous.But at that point they backed out. We took Eugene McCarthy to the airport when he was running for pres.Does anyone remember those daisy flower McCarthy stickers? -our car- a 67 Caprice was covered in them. My cousin was SDS, my bro was a CO.As a teen I was a volunteer for McGovern- Shriver. I saw Teddy K from about ten ft away and was soo disappointed -he looked like a hung over sot!Also I came from a mixed race family so I was taught to hate the 'white man'.But Jesus smiled on me and changed my life mind and soul.I was one screwed up girl.My family is still the same.Just a few days back I was thinking about the Vietnam Vets and all they have gone through. I wanted to tell them how sorry I was.But the Lord moving in his mysterious ways is taking care of this.

Oh yeah -I'm married to a VV -69

138 posted on 08/29/2004 10:17:55 AM PDT by rubofthebrush (I think I'll fade into my own parade)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Lenin

Perfect timing with that post, it was one of the Movies that must have motivated Joenobucks to write the latest sKerry Screenplay (Working title "Codes")


139 posted on 08/29/2004 10:22:15 AM PDT by TexasTransplant (I made my Fortune selling Sugar Coated Cat Turds on a Stick at the DNC Convention)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: TexasCowboy; Rhodedust

I really think you two should read this PING!


140 posted on 08/29/2004 10:24:57 AM PDT by Maigrey (Kerry: Up-the-Mekong-without-a-paddle... - Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 281-284 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson