I agree. Questioning the valor of anyone who has served is wrong. This stuff does matter. I believe that people who are questioning Kerry's record (not valor) are doing so because Kerry has a problem with being consistent and truthful. Kerry himself has created a state of disbelief about himself. There is a difference in questioning the truthfulness of Kerry's record and questioning Kerry's valor. If Kerry record doesn't stand up to the test, that in itself stands in testiment to Kerry's character. No one needs to go further to question Kerry's valor. It is just the record in question - that is bad enough.
That said, I agree that there are bizarre irregularities in this record. Maybe it is nothing, but maybe it is something. If the reports are true, I am personally offended by somebody that puts in citations for his own purple hearts for insignificant injuries.
I also have a problem with sometone that puts in citations for himself. I personally do not have the honor to draw blood for my country, but I do have family that have given life and limb for America. I have the utmost respect for them. There is something that should be noted about all of them; they do not/have not talked about their sacrifice (some obviously are not able) to embellish their love/service for our country. I have a big problem with John Kerry because he is using his war record after what he did when returned from Vietnam with the VVAW.
If his citations are true and correct, then we should-- we must-- drop the matter completely. I will not be a party to the vilification of honorable service-- even if the serviceman in question is John Kerry, someone for whom I have no other reason to have any respect for.
Agreed. That does not solve John Kerry's problem after he returned from Vietnam. John Kerry was in the reserves and he protested against the war. He gave aid and comfort to the enemy. These are facts not to be disputed. I could care less about Kerry's war record after what he did when he returned from Vietnam. I see this as a matter of what "you have done recently." After he returned from Vietnam is more recent than when he was in Vietnam. His congressional campagin to disarm American came later, his terms as senator came even later. In each instance he has be strongly against military and intelligence spending. After 9/11 Kerry has still been unable to find his soul. He is firmly planted in notion of abdicating sovereignty of the United States to the United Nations. This I have signficant problems, and since it is more recent than his Vietnam record, I have even greater problems with John Kerry. If it turns out to be true that Kerry's record in Vietnam was less that stellar, and manipulated, it just shows an on-going pattern of deception of a liberal. This I have to say is a shame for those men that served their country in Vietnam with honor. Personally, I do not think Kerry has any honor or code.
If it turns out, however, that the citations are not in good order and that there is unearned embellishment of a service record for political gain... then this is the most vile and obscene violation that I can imagine.
It is a disgrace to all those that have given for America. It has an effect on some that would think other veterans are not worthy of their service. Personally, I will never sway on my understanding and feeling of those that have served their country with honor. All wars have a select few that dishonor their nation. They should be held as examples of what not to be, and in turn elevating the stature of true Americans.