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Jack Murtha's "Fake" Purple Hearts, An Open Letter
Strange Military.com ^ | Jan 12, 2006 | Kelly Anne & Don Bailey

Posted on 01/15/2006 4:00:20 PM PST by armydawg1

Jack Murtha's 'Fake' Purple Hearts - An Open Letter

May 5, 2002

Dear Jack,

I’m writing on matters of joint concern. A number of weeks ago I was talking with someone who is a mutual acquaintance and your name came up. It was an unusually frank discussion and I considered it private. I did relate some opinions about you and shared some recollections about experiences with you in Congress. I was, to be honest, critical about how you misled me about ABSCAM where you convinced me you had voluntarily told federal agents about the offer of money to you and I learned later, after I had successfully defeated the ethics charges against you, that you had merely manipulated the system to cooperate with federal agents to avoid prosecution.

I also shared my recollection of when you admitted, back in our corner, that you didn’t earn your purple hearts (you indicated you had small scratch on your cheek that wasn’t even directly related to an APC that ran over a small anti personnel mine that was behind you). The other purple heart you even declined to explain.

At the time you were feeling particularly vulnerable, because it wasn’t too long after you had called me crying and sobbing, thanking me for “saving your life” before the ethics committee. There was no doubt in my mind that you were expressing to me that you did not believe you did anything sufficient to earn the purple heart, and that you didn’t want to be active in my efforts to laud Vietnam Veterans that served with us.

Given what I know about the brave men who served in the Marine Corp., I did not criticize you, but to be honest, I was shocked and disappointed in you personally. We both knew what was at issue, and we both know what happened and that you wanted to avoid the limelight. Later, we ended up having to run for the same seat. It was a good clean race and I admit I knew I couldn’t win, simply on the basis of voter turn out alone. During that time some people came to me with documents indicating you had used influence, after the fact, or had embellished your purple heart awards. I did not respond, and I said nothing. In doing so I may have betrayed my comrades in arms because I knew then what you had told me in the corner of the house - but I had told no one about that and I stood mute. But a few weeks ago my conversation was private and I was not seeking to do you any harm, though it would be ridiculous for me to infer that I have any respect for what you’ve done.

Regardless, shortly thereafter a reporter called me and I was put in a very different position. I could either deny what I said in private conversation, and thus lie, or I could fess up to the truth, or, I could take the cowards way out and stand mute. If I say something, I should either have the courage to back it up, or I shouldn’t open my mouth. Regardless it was too late, and I did not choose to lie. So I admitted to what I had said. However, I later received two calls from two different aides of yours, and later I was called a liar in the press. I am not a liar and I want an apology for the remarks you authorized that I didn’t tell the truth about our conversation. I don’t know how you got yourself awarded the purple hearts, but I know you indicated you didn’t earn them.

By the way. I’m not an ingrate. I deeply appreciate the help you gave me for the last governor’s primary. In fact, out of respect for you, when I realized that the race was going no where, I didn’t even cash the check you sent, (which I kept). Being grateful for your help, I have not sought to hurt you - but I will not betray or exploit the young men who died while fighting, with me, for this country. Never coming forward is one thing - I never have. Lying is another. Coincidentally I just settled an 11-year old law suit with Barbara Hafer where she apologized in writing for campaign defamation and admitted that federal agents (Thornburgh’s political friends) lied to her. I will not accept your falsehoods now. Enough is enough.

You clearly indicated to me in a moment of weakness, that you hadn’t deserved the purple hearts and there was no confusion on that. You may deny that all you wish - but you and I know that that conversation took place. Please apologize now. You may fool a few reporters into believing that merely because you got some perfunctory paperwork made out by a friend, that that means you earned the purple hearts. But even if you were awarded the medals later, there should be affidavits from witnesses. These things should be easy to get - where are they? I bet they don’t exist Jack because you are the one who’s lying. Luckily there’s one easy way to settle all this. Call a press conference. Explain where you were and what you were doing when you got the purple hearts. Explain who was with you and treated your wounds, but most important Jack describe your wounds or the lack thereof, as you did for me, years ago. I am absolutely certain that you won’t do that - because, though you may have manipulated some paperwork that says you were awarded the medals (for political purposes) you can’t produce the witnesses or documents to show any wounds or circumstances under which they occurred.Unless the Marine Corps gives out medals for unsubstantiated non -combat related telltale scratches, procured for use in political campaign - then show me the money Jack - because there should at least be evidence by affidavit, or record of the scratches, that’s what getting a purple heart requires - show me.

You may be able to take advantage of a few Washington reporters who don’t have sufficient experience to understand - but you can’t fool combat veterans of the Vietnam war by hiding behind “Unit” losses - we’re used to those stories. I have my orders describing my combat awards Jack - to back up my DD-214. Where’s your’s? And Jack - don’t ever call me a liar.

Sincerely,

Don Bailey

Submitted by Kelly Anne


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; fraud; marines; murhtaspastishere; murtha; murthamedals; murthawatch; purplehearts; usmc; veterans
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To: river rat

river rat : Your words of wisdom reposted on this thread

320 posted on 01/14/2006 9:03:55 AM PST by river rat

(You may turn the other cheek,
but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1557630/posts?page=320#320

The "Move On" folks -- aren't still carrying the memories and obligations to fallen brothers that many of us are still dealing with......

The "Move On" folks -- don't have brother's names on that cold stone Wall on the Mall....

The "Move On" folks -- don't have any vested interest in exposing and destroying the lying traitorous bastards of OUR era....

Yes, I'll "Move On" just as soon at the battle is over, and the bastards are dead or dishonored and we're pissing on their graves...

The country STILL owes the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth - an unpayable debt....
THEY were singularly responsible for preventing Kerry from becoming President....
Thank GOD, they were not ready to "Move On"..

Folks - there are STILL a lot of enemies out there that DESERVE our attention -- and we OWE it to the dead that can not speak for themselves or salvage their reputations which these traitorous cowards besmirched..

Semper Fi

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1557630/posts?page=320#320
320 posted on 01/14/2006 9:03:55 AM PST by river rat


41 posted on 01/15/2006 5:02:28 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Be wary of the "Move On FReepers" who scream and howl "Move On Tonk, Get Over It")
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To: bcsco
Lying about military service is a crime.

But, I'm not picky, I don't mind which crime he is investigated and charged with. There are lots to choose from.
42 posted on 01/15/2006 5:04:11 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Peach

"It's one thing for vets to go after Murtha; have at him. I don't want to see this connected to conservatives or Republicans."

You seem to forget without the Viet Nam Vets
you'd be saying president hanoi kerry

I'll listen to Karl Rove, thanks

Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345603/posts


43 posted on 01/15/2006 5:05:27 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Be wary of the "Move On FReepers" who scream and howl "Move On Tonk, Get Over It")
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To: Peach

What about blue state denizens? We can't have valid elections when our congress critters are corrupt.

(NJ and PA are very intertwined...see McGreevey's bulletin board scandal)


44 posted on 01/15/2006 5:07:56 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

River Rat's words rank among the best every posted on FR.

Many would be well served to remember that the traitors of "Our Era" are todays leaders, shakers, movers, and funders of the first seditious major political party in the history of this great republic - The Democrat Party

I, for one, will never forget what they did to this country during the sixties and seventies. Unfortunately, their conduct then, pales in comparison to what they are doing now.


45 posted on 01/15/2006 5:09:13 PM PST by centurion316 (Democrats - Al Qaida's Best Friends)
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To: bcsco

And who would those service comrades be...One weekend a month marine reservists that might never have seen Muthra because he was performing an alternate duty while in Washington DC as a congressman?

Or a bunch of grunts that never would have known that he was their intelligence officer or who he was while he was in Viet Nam.

Unlike Kerry who was actually in command of a small unit, Muthra would have been almost invisible to anyone that would be believed if they came forward.

Here he is being challenged by a comrade, a fellow congressman from his state that served with him in the halls of congress, and that former Congressman is also a decorated Viet Nam Veteran.

As long as his bonifides are not challenged, his words that hurt our troops and aid our enemies have weight, and nothing anyone can say on the issue of Iraq will trump his words.


46 posted on 01/15/2006 5:09:57 PM PST by usmcobra (Liberal=progressive...Conservative="Retro?" That's way cooler than being just a Neo-con!)
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To: armydawg1

Murtha sure cries a lot, doesn't he?


47 posted on 01/15/2006 5:10:14 PM PST by billhilly
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
You seem to forget without the Viet Nam Vets you'd be saying president hanoi kerry

I said, you vets go after him. Have at it. Which part of that didn't you understand?

48 posted on 01/15/2006 5:10:44 PM PST by Peach
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To: Peach
I don't think we should pursue this. Murtha is not running for higher office, he is elderly and he is doing more damage every time he opens his mouth than anything we can do to him.

The damage he is doing is to our military and to our country. Cut him a break because he is elderly? Not a chance. He knows exactly what he is doing. This is not some dottery old man running off at the mouth. This is a traitor using his position in high office and his military "honors" to bolster his credibility. Let's see how brave he is hiding behind Code Pinko.

49 posted on 01/15/2006 5:13:08 PM PST by N. Beaujon (http://www.nbeaujon.com)
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To: Calpernia
No argument. I'm all for going after him tooth & nail. I simply believe the accusation against his military service ought to come from his service group; not Freepers, or anyone else for that matter. What made the Swift Boaters so successful was their relationship to Kerry. If it is to have the same effect on Murtha it should be handled the same way. Not only would add to the charge the benefit of being from 'someone who was there' but it would be an eerie reminder of Kerry's problems during the 2004 campaign. Boy, would that hit home with the American public.

Believe me, there's method in my madness. However, I'd still rather see him investigated and arraigned for all the other stuff. There's probably a lot more jail time involved. What would that do to Pelosi's corruption argument?

50 posted on 01/15/2006 5:13:20 PM PST by bcsco ("The Constitution is not a suicide pact"...A. Lincoln)
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To: Peach

"I said, you vets go after him. Have at it. Which part of that didn't you understand?"

And what did you not get from Karl Rove?

Are you claiming to be the "new Karl Rove"?

Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345603/posts


51 posted on 01/15/2006 5:15:29 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Be wary of the "Move On FReepers" who scream and howl "Move On Tonk, Get Over It")
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To: usmcobra
My understanding of Murtha's Vietnam experience was that he was part of an operational unit. I'm sure there are other unit members out there who can speak to his untruthfulness. If they can come forth for Kerry I submit they can come forth for Murtha. Maybe I'm wrong but I believe it would be far better coming from them than from others who may be criticized as having an axe to grind.

Don't' get me wrong; I'm all for going after Murtha if it can be proven beyond a doubt. However, I think he's more vulnerable on his ethics/corruption problems since being in office, would have a lot more jail time thereby, and what would such an investigation do to Pelosi's Republican corruption allegations?

Think about this long and hard. What would be the best way to both 1) Get at Murtha and 2) Bring the corruption home to roost with the Dimocrats?

Whether Murtha goes down for service fraud or corruption makes no difference to me. It just seems there's more than one way to skin this rat.

52 posted on 01/15/2006 5:21:25 PM PST by bcsco ("The Constitution is not a suicide pact"...A. Lincoln)
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To: bcsco

>>>>I'm all for going after him tooth & nail. I simply believe the accusation against his military service ought to come from his service group; not Freepers, or anyone else for that matter.

Why not anyone else? It was his service record that got him the position he holds. And, while in this position, his support and funding of the Afghan incident created funding for WTC'93.

Sheik Rahman was also instrumental in WTC'01 (see Lynne Stewart).

That makes it all of our concern.


>>> Believe me, there's method in my madness.

I'm listening. Share and maybe I'll agree.


53 posted on 01/15/2006 5:24:09 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: armydawg1

Damn..another REMF with a GW he didn't deserve.

Whats the chance of someone having built a political career on that...LOL.../wise-a**


54 posted on 01/15/2006 5:26:41 PM PST by Khurkris ("Hell, I was there"...Elmer Keith.)
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To: bcsco

>>>>Don't' get me wrong; I'm all for going after Murtha if it can be proven beyond a doubt. However, I think he's more vulnerable on his ethics/corruption problems since being in office, would have a lot more jail time thereby, and what would such an investigation do to Pelosi's Republican corruption allegations?

Why do these statements, which I'm seeing on these threads by others also, give me the impression that the service record is off limits to hide more? Who is being protected here?


55 posted on 01/15/2006 5:27:08 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Cobra64
Kerry still refuses to sign his release form for his medical records and just as Benadict Arnold was a trusted military leader at one time greed and power turned him into a traitor, Murtha needed his military record and expertise to help his family get military contracts. Now he and kerry are helping the islamofacists kill real patriots.
56 posted on 01/15/2006 5:29:11 PM PST by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Tonk thanks for the ping.

Is this what we really want to do? Seems like this is an old issue and although a big deal to many of us here, it may seem as though we're muckraking to bring this up. Besides, if there is even a mere hint of it in the MSM it will be damaging enough to Murtha's reputation.

For the Reps to dig in on this, would appear cheap in my opinion.
57 posted on 01/15/2006 5:32:25 PM PST by tongue-tied
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To: JRochelle

No one would be going after Murtha if he wasnt going after our troops and aiding our enemies.


58 posted on 01/15/2006 5:33:31 PM PST by armydawg1 (" America must win this war..." PVT Martin Treptow, KIA, WW1)
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To: Calpernia
"Why do these statements, which I'm seeing on these threads by others also, give me the impression that the service record is off limits to hide more? Who is being protected here?"

Good Question

My "hunch", and that's all it is,
is that certain FReepers are also
PROFESSIONL GOP fund raisers
and groups like the Swift Boat Vets
PERSONALLY cost them money and they don't
want anymore groups like them.
59 posted on 01/15/2006 5:33:42 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Be wary of the "Move On FReepers" who scream and howl "Move On Tonk, Get Over It")
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To: Peach
I don't think we should pursue this. Murtha is not running for higher office, he is elderly and he is doing more damage every time he opens his mouth than anything we can do to him.

Unfortunately, when we let the little things go, they have a way of coming back as bigger things.

The only reason that Murtha is becoming a media darling now is that the Democrats are desperate for a war hero to counter the argument that they are weak on national defense.

When you consider that Jimmy Carter was their last war "hero" as a Navy submariner, followed by Dukakis in the tank, Clinton the draft dodger, Gore the protected "war correspondent", Kerry's quick service and anti-war protests, and then fired NATO commander Wesley Clark, the Democrats are foisting Murtha on the public as their next greatest war hero.

I think it's more damaging to let them let Murtha speak from the cloak of authority as a war hero, than for Republicans to be seen going after an old guy who's not running for higher office. You just can't let these things go by anymore, not in today's tough political world. They made the rules, we have to play by them.

-PJ

60 posted on 01/15/2006 5:34:52 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (It's still not safe to vote Democrat.)
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