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

Skip to comments.

Kerry awakened the sleeping giants (three million Vietnam veterans)
Hampton Roads Daily Press, VA ^ | September 17, 2004 | John E. McCown Sr. - Letters to Editor

Posted on 09/17/2004 1:16:07 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Japanese Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku, the man responsible for planning and organizing the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, later told his staff officers, "I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant, and filled him with a terrible resolve."

It appears that Sen. John F. Kerry has awakened another sleeping giant - that of more than three million Vietnam veterans who have silently carried the physical, mental, emotional and moral scars of that era for more than 30 years.

Vietnam was a dark chapter in this nation's history. Given the chance, and with perfect 20/20 hindsight, all of the leaders involved, both Democrat and Republican, probably would have done things differently. But who's to say how even that would have turned out?

Most who served in Vietnam did so proudly and honorably. Yet, there were those at home who directed their disdain for the war toward those veterans, with cruel public abuse and harassment that, to use Kerry's word, "seared" those events into the veterans' memories. These veterans did what their country's leaders ordered them to do, and they take personal exception to that service being sullied.

As for my right to speak - two Vietnam tours, wounded at 10 months into the second tour, Purple Heart, one month in the hospital, and nine more months of nursing an oozing wound that just refused to heal.

John E. McCown Sr.

Newport News

(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antiwar; election; issues; johnkerry; kerry; veterans; veteransvote; vietnam; vietnamveterans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

1 posted on 09/17/2004 1:16:07 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

And that disgusting, indefensible ad on Moveon.org comes out showing an American soldier surrendering. I sent them a scathing email telling them what I thought of them.

Thank God for the brave men and women who have fought, and are presently fighting for the USA - and the rest of the world.


2 posted on 09/17/2004 1:24:25 AM PDT by border bud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

I think it is so exquisitly just that Kerry gets paid back in full measure, by those very men he smeared and slandered.


3 posted on 09/17/2004 1:30:59 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

And - as Mark Steyn has pointed out -- the truly weird thing is that Kerry was utterly blindsided by the reaction from the Vietnam vets he publicly labeled baby-killers, etc. It just never occurred to him that anyone would hold it against him, and he still doesn't understand why.


4 posted on 09/17/2004 1:34:01 AM PDT by maryz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited

Isn't that just right. Kerry spent his entire life cheating, lying, and stepping on people. Now it's his turn and those he injured most are giving him the boot.


5 posted on 09/17/2004 1:38:37 AM PDT by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: maryz

It never occurred to Kerry that 'little people' were important.


6 posted on 09/17/2004 1:39:13 AM PDT by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: zip

ping


7 posted on 09/17/2004 1:39:26 AM PDT by Mrs Zip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I believe Mr. McCown is correct. I, personally, was distressed that Kerry undermined my service and reminded me so often.

It got me thinking and I can't help but think that this guy is the Frenchurian candidate. X42 and Kerry's VVAW buds were in England and Eastern Europe at the same time. coincidence?

8 posted on 09/17/2004 1:44:21 AM PDT by Navy Patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Kudos to the writer but I have to stand by one of my rules:

1. Any article, essay, or speech that references Yamamoto's quote in the first 2 or 3 sentences loses me immediately.

Another of my rules is "Any article, essay, or speech (particularly a Valedictorian speech) that quotes John Kennedy anywhere deserves to be given up on immediately."


9 posted on 09/17/2004 1:45:32 AM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: border bud

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (L) and President George W. Bush (R), seen here in separate recent photos, are again running neck and neck less than two months ahead of the November 2 election (AFP/File)
10 posted on 09/17/2004 1:45:57 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: maryz

Then he's a fool.

He'd never be able to protect and defend anything.


11 posted on 09/17/2004 1:46:34 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited
I think it is so exquisitly just that Kerry gets paid back in full measure, by those very men he smeared and slandered.

It's his just reward.

12 posted on 09/17/2004 1:47:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: hershey

Someone posted a column a week or two ago that made the point that Kerry was trying to treat Vietnam vets more or less as stage props supporting whatever psychodrama he was acting out starring himself. The writer said it better, but the point remains and is apparently true not only of how he thinks of vets.


13 posted on 09/17/2004 1:47:34 AM PDT by maryz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: HitmanNY

Noted.


14 posted on 09/17/2004 1:47:42 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

I just pray that all three million of them are registered to vote.


15 posted on 09/17/2004 1:48:54 AM PDT by demkicker (I'm Ra th er sick of Dan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: border bud

John Kerry continues to try to demoralize our Soldiers who are fighting as we speak. I really loathe that man and all he stands for.


16 posted on 09/17/2004 1:51:20 AM PDT by Lovergirl (Bush/Cheney / 4 more years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
"... are again running neck and neck less than two months ahead of the November 2 election."

Gallup reports Bush up by 13% in likely voter poll 9-17-04

17 posted on 09/17/2004 1:53:42 AM PDT by capitan_refugio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: border bud
And that disgusting, indefensible ad on Moveon.org comes out showing an American soldier surrendering. I sent them a scathing email telling them what I thought of them.

Thank God for the brave men and women who have fought, and are presently fighting for the USA - and the rest of the world.



It looks like Bob Dole also got on the stick!!!
18 posted on 09/17/2004 1:54:11 AM PDT by danamco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: capitan_refugio
Gallup reports Bush up by 13% in likely voter poll 9-17-04

Bump!!

19 posted on 09/17/2004 1:55:36 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

In Vietnam when we signaled the helo pilots where to touch down...there was always someone with a rifle over head ...raising the rifle over head and then lowering it was the signal telling the pilot when to touch down...

The pic was used in a totally distorted manner....as per usual for these liars


20 posted on 09/17/2004 3:16:20 AM PDT by joesnuffy ( "Two Heads Are Better Than One"...."Unless They're On The Same Person" -Andy Sipowicz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 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