Letter to KKK Byrd (from USN retired)

personal email ^ | 5/20/03 | Lewis f. McIntyre

[Elkiejg]

Senator Byrd,

As a retired Naval Officer, with two Gulf carrier deployments under my belt, I find your criticism of President Bush's visit to the Lincoln offensive in the extreme! This is the first time that the Commander-in-Chief took time out of his busy wartime schedule to pay a visit to thank those who served in the line of fire, in way that was both dramatic and meaningful to those on the carrier. Perhaps if LBJ got off his fat ass to do something similar, our troops' morale in Vietnam might not have been so low.

As a Naval officer, I am extremely sensitive to styles of leadership. That is, after all, our stock in trade. And it was not lost on me that the President spent about thirty seconds shaking hands with the Admiral, CO, and CAG (If you don't know these abbreviations just look them up in your Funk & Wagnalls!). He then spent the next forty-five minutes putting himself at the disposal of the people who make that ship work, the yellow shirts, the green shirts, the purple shirts, the chiefs, the sailors. If you don't know the significance of those colored shirts, look it up in your Blue Jacket's Manual. Not dressed out in formal uniform (I understand at Bush's request), but in their greasy, smelly, sweaty working uniforms... working a flight deck is hot, hard work. And yet he, in his flight suit, put himself at their disposal, this was their moment for 19 or 20 something year old kids a few years out of high school, to get a picture of themselves with the President of the United States, his arm draped around their shoulder. That is a moment that those kids never dreamed would ever happen to them, maybe not even when they knew he was coming aboard. Surely, he would see the brass, not the troops. But it was the troops to whom he gave his time... and it was the most natural moment in the world. You might have thought it was a family reunion, and in a way, it was... Bush is one of them, the common man, and while he is still the most powerful man on the planet right now, he hasn't lost his touch for them.

Attached are some photos that I, for one, intend to treasure.

Was it a political moment? What moment of a president's life is NOT a political moment? Was it grand standing, to come in to an OK pass to a 4 wire, a bit high in close, correcting, left of centerline? Well, hell, he didn't fly the approach anyway, though I understand from the pilots who flew him that he did a pretty good job at formation flying, tucked in close for a lead change. You can always tell a fighter pilot, you just can't tell him very much. And apparently after thirty years, it all comes back, with a little coaching, I am sure. Frankly, I would have liked to see him come aboard in an FA-18, but the Secret Service vetoed that, and Bush accepted their judgment... again, a mark of a good leader.

If you had spent some time in the service, instead of the Klan, you might understand the significance of that moment to all the men and women aboard the Lincoln, and indeed to all the men and women in the service who shared that moment vicariously. But you chose the bedsheet instead of the uniform, and so you don't.

I am half-tempted to move to West Virginia just so I could vote against you in your next election.

Lewis F. McIntyre
CDR, USN (Ret)

Hughesville, MD

[Elkiejg]

I just received this email from a retired Spec. Ops. military guy who hears from active Spec. Ops. folks on a regular basis, so I'm inclined to believe it's authentic.

Note to Moderator - if you think the writer's address and phone # should be eliminated, please do so -- I posted exactly what I received.

[judicial meanz]

If you had spent some time in the service, instead of the Klan, you might understand the significance of that moment to all the men and women aboard the Lincoln, and indeed to all the men and women in the service who shared that moment vicariously. But you chose the bedsheet instead of the uniform, and so you don't.

Thats hilarious!

[D. Brian Carter]

That is great! (I would suggest removal of the contact info though... who knows what psycho trolls might do with that info?)

[Bahbah]

What a great letter. God bless this wonderful man.

[Mean Daddy]

Per Yahoo people search, it's a valid name, address and phone.

[b4its2late]

If Lewis isn't a FReeper, someone should send him an invitation. The letter is great. I'd love to see Byrds face as he read it.....if he can read that is...

[sam_paine]

I think most people inherently understand this, which is why the dimmy complaints have fallen flat.

[chatham]

My Compliments to the Commander (Ret.) and that third rate KKK Byrd should be relegated to the Out House where he and his type belong, He is still not ready for Prime time.
Old Shake and Bake Byrd, his goose is cooked.

[Wphile]

What a great letter! I hope he got a thousand of them just like it.

[rovenstinez]

I am loathe to the Senators name in so many places, probably he is worried seeing Saddam's name/monuments/pictures are coming down in Baghdad, he may be next in the Beltway to suffer shame.

[MJY1288]

Thanks for the ping, A great letter indeed, But maybe the Moderator should pull his personal info before one of those DU trolls gets a hold of it

[Admin Moderator]

Fixed. Thanks.
AM1

[MJY1288]

NO... Thank you :-)

[Sunshine Sister]

Great letter and right on the mark. I doubt the rotton senator recognizes himself however. People with their head in a certain oriface rarely recognize themselves when there are consequences to pay!

[Mo1]

I am half-tempted to move to West Virginia just so I could vote against you in your next election.

*L* ... GREAT LETTER!!!

[Xthe17th]

retired Navy ping re your "favorite" sinator, Kevin.

[Ugly Truth]

It's the CDR's form of leadership, that kept me in service in the Navy for 20 years. Honest, forthright and maintains decorum and dignity. Those that have never served, will never understand.

[Xthe17th]

MOUNTAIN STATE BYRDROPPINGS )))))))

[ODC-GIRL]

Thanks for the ping. This was a great letter. One can only hope he actually got to see it. Of course, that assumes the doddering old fool can actually see anything.

[WVNan]

Sounds about like the letter I sent to the ole byrd. I flamed him a good one and promised to work against him in every way I could. Haven't heard back from him yet. He may not answer since I think he's become accustomed to receiving flaming letters from me on a regular basis. :)