Posted on 07/14/2004 2:50:14 AM PDT by kattracks
CNSNews.com) - Some of John Kerry's former swift boat crewmates will have a high-profile role at the Democratic National Convention later this month, as they attempt to portray Kerry as a decorated Vietnam War hero. But an even larger number of veterans say that's not the case.As news spread Tuesday of the convention's framework, members of a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth dismissed the Democrats' plans. On the last night of the convention, an undisclosed number of Vietnam veterans plan to endorse Kerry.
"Preceding John Kerry and playing an important role will be his swift boat crewmates, who have stood by Kerry for more than 30 years since Kerry led them through the dangerous waters of Vietnam's Mekong Delta," a Democratic press release said.
A number of the veterans will speak glowingly about Kerry. Jim Rassman, a Green Beret who said Kerry rescued him from a Vietnam river in 1969, will lead the group.
Members of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were quick to dismiss the effort, which they said amounted to a public relations push by the Kerry campaign to remake the candidate into a war hero despite lingering questions about his actions in Vietnam.
"The facts are that 250 of Kerry's former shipmates, including 17 of the 24 officers in his division, signed a public letter saying he's not fit to be the commander-in-chief," said retired Rear Adm. Roy Hoffmann, who commanded the fleet of swift boats during Kerry's tour of duty.
Hoffmann is one of the most outspoken veterans to oppose Kerry's candidacy. During a May 4 press conference announcing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, he called Kerry a "loose cannon" because of his actions in Vietnam. After the war, Kerry adopted an anti-war position that angered many veterans.
Since the press conference, which attracted throngs of reporters and a quick rebuttal from the Kerry campaign, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have continued to work behind the scenes on ways to refute Kerry's claims about his Vietnam service.
One veteran who served alongside Kerry in another swift boat said the story of his rescue of Rassman was exaggerated.
"I have an eyewitness, firsthand account of what happened," said Larry Thurlow, who commanded a swift boat. "And the story he now tells is so drastically far from what actually happened, if I didn't know he was recounting this particular day, I wouldn't even recognize the story."
It was on that day that Kerry sustained an injury to his arm that resulted in a Purple Heart medal. Thurlow said Kerry didn't deserve that medal based on his recollection of events that day. Thurlow said the rescue wasn't nearly as dangerous as Kerry has described.
"He's a rhinestone cowboy,"" said John O'Neill, a veteran who helped organize Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. \ldblquote He literally is a guy who parades around and pretends to be something he's not. He was in Vietnam for four months; everyone else was there for a year. He obtained three Purple Hearts from self-inflicted wounds. And then he left."
O'Neill also criticized the mainstream news media for not looking outside Kerry's small circle of Vietnam supporters. The actual number who will appear at the Democratic convention wasn't disclosed, but O'Neill said it would be nowhere near the number of critics.
"The media continue to go to the same six or seven people, although 254 people have signed our letter,"" O'Neill said. \ldblquote They're ignoring that."
Kerry's campaign headquarters didn't respond to CNSNews.com 's offer to rebut the veterans' charges. But in response to the May 4 event, at which nearly 20 veterans spoke, Kerry supporters hastily called a press conference.
Wade Sanders, a former deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, said Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has a partisan motive in its attack of Kerry, a charge the Republican National Committee dismissed at the time.
"I don't think that many of the people who are following this gentleman, Capt. (sic) Roy Hoffmann, really understand the political implications of what's going on here, I mean what's fronting this," Sanders said.
But each of the veterans interviewed by CNSNews.com Tuesday were adamant that their disapproval of Kerry was driven solely by personal knowledge of him and his actions.
"We're taking him on, not because of his politics, but because he's lied about us and he specifically lies about his own actions," Thurlow said. "He's just blown them out of proportion to the point where it's ridiculous. We're madder than hell and we're not going to take it anymore."
See Earlier Story:
Kerry Was a 'Loose Cannon' in Vietnam, Says Ex-Commander (May 4, 2004)
E-mail a news tip to Robert B. Bluey.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
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JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320
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Kerry is a turd!
And he's a dem, I've heard. One of the honest ones, it seems.
I had not heard that he was a dem! Amazing! I did hear that he was discovered by the Nixon administration to counter Kerry and that he met with Nixon. He later dropped everything because he got disguted with politics and refused to be drawn back into public debate. Until now. I can't verify this, though. I think I read it somewhere on FR.
Yes, I heard it maybe on cspan, during the running of that old debate, or else it was somewhere here on FR.
It really stuck in my mind though!
Remember teh doc's name?
Thanks for the ping!
And he's a dem, I've heard. One of the honest ones, it seems.
This is from the Kerry campaign makes record Hispanic ad buy
thread.
Kerry served two tours of duty in Vietnam - one tour as commander of a Navy Swift Boat in the Mekong Delta. Kerry's action during the Vietnam War resulted in his being awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat "V", three Purple Hearts, the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, three Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon. (Selective Service System National HQ)
Here they are plainly claiming THREE Republic of Vietnam Campaign medals in addition to Vietnam Service medal,CAR
Stars etc.
I don't get it, why pad the resume?
Anyone else know or see this claim anywhere else?
Maybe it's just semantic and they are claiming Vietnam Service medal campaign stars but it sure seems funny to me.
First of all, Kerry is obsessed with his medals. It (1)must make him feel superior; (2)deflect criticism about his antiwar activities; and (3) represent the only thing meaningful (in his eyes) that he has ever really accomplished. I think the three campaign medals are really the stars on his Vietnam Service Medal. It is interesting to note that Kerry amended his DD214 in 2001 and added an additional star to his VSM. His amendment (DD215) is listed on his website.
IMO Kerry has some real psychological problems. He has been using Vietnam in all of his campaigns for public office. When it suited his purposes, he played the decorated war hero or the antiwar activist attacking the establishment. Like so many other things, he wants it both ways. So far, his MO has been successful, i.e., Lt Gov (Mass), 4 term senator, and now a Presidential candidate. Hopefully, this time he will be exposed for the poseur he really is.
IMO Kerry has some real psychological problems.
Probably so, I wonder, since he had all this combat experience if he's been treated for PTSD.
But of course, we'll never know.
I think he has guilt feelings for bugging out after a little more than 4 months and for fabricating a war record, which he self-promoted to get undeserved medals. He also knows that most of his shipmates know what a real fraud he is.
I hope the GOP turns Adm. Denton and Zell Miller loose on the Kerry campaign, and soon.
He's talking about himself.
Exactly! They all attended the press conference, shown on CSPAN-2 back a few months ago. None of the mainstream media chose to report on it though! Too bad more folks didn't get to see it; it was very compelling.
Hey, thanks for the update ping! Maybe this information is going far and wide, soon; we hope, eh?!
I hope what an earlier post said in this thread by GraceCoolidge is right on the money.
".... now I'm hoping that these veterans are just "holding their fire" for the convention. I hope there is a big onslaught planned by this group..."
Keep up the good work Interesting Times!! Can't wait for the upcoming onslaught, LOL.
Bump! (thanks for the ping) :-)
"I wonder, since he had all this combat experience if he's been treated for PTSD. "
LOL, tet68.
As you are VN veteran yourself, I'm sure you must know a few guys who do have PTSD, I would guess. Me too. And I believe/know a person has to have a heart and soul -- and be so ashamed of his experience, or so traumatized by what he's seen, is why PTSD occurs. They can't live with their memories.
Kerry don't fit that description. He just keeps on and on about his service.
In case you haven't seen this.
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