Vet with L.B. roots backs Kerry

Long Beach Press Telegram ^ | 08/27/04 | Greg Mellen

[conservative in nyc]

Vet with L.B. roots backs Kerry

Sanders says hopeful took enemy fire during Vietnam missions.

By Greg Mellen Staff writer

LONG BEACH — Before the controversy about John Kerry's service in Vietnam, launched by a group called Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth, fully runs its course, a swift boat commander with Long Beach connections wants to reiterate that Kerry was a legitimate war hero.

Wade Sanders, who attended Long Beach area high schools, Long Beach City College and graduated from Cal State Long Beach, served with Kerry in Vietnam, took on enemy fire alongside the Democratic presidential nominee and bristles at the claims by the rival veterans group that questioned Kerry's service.

Although several of the swift boat veterans group's most serious charges have been discounted by official records and eyewitnesses who fought with Kerry, the issue is not quite dead.

Sanders, now a lawyer in San Diego, has been an active campaigner for Kerry, a longtime friend and one of his staunch supporters and allies.

Describing Kerry as "the kind of guy you want to have your back," Sanders said he was a fellow swift boat commander in Vietnam and fought with Kerry on several missions during which the boats faced enemy fire.

"When you're directing 50 caliber machine gun fire, you're fully exposed to enemy fire," Sanders said. "We could see each other and what we were doing."

Sanders said in those instances, Kerry was aggressive, brave, focused and well-respected.

These are sentiments that many who served on the boat with Kerry have echoed.

Although not a part of any of the missions in which Kerry received his three Purple Hearts, Sanders, who has a Purple Heart of his own, has no doubt about the veracity of Kerry's claims.

It has also been the source of humor.

"I always joke that I was faster than he was," Sanders said.

There was nothing funny, however, about their time in combat

Sanders said he and Kerry "got into the (Mekong) Delta during the most vicious period in the war."

As the Kerry campaign gained momentum, particularly among veterans, for Kerry's war service, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, led by Kerry's former swift boat fleet commander, retired Rear Adm. Roy Hoffmann, launched political advertisements assailing the candidate, questioning both his war record and his patriotism. It continues to run ads on a Web site.

Sanders and others in the Kerry campaign have been quick to note that some of the leaders of the anti-Kerry group formerly supported the senator and praised him both verbally and in written reports. And when it comes to war conduct, Sanders has a particularly harsh appraisal of Hoffmann.

Democrats have accused the swift boat group of being orchestrated by President Bush's re-election campaign. It has been bankrolled by a group of conservative Republicans with ties to Bush, including Texas millionaire Bob Perry. On Wednesday, Benjamin Ginsberg, national counsel for the Bush campaign, acknowledged he had done legal work for the group and resigned. Also Ken Cordier, a member of the group who appeared in an ad, was later dismissed as a volunteer on the Bush campaign.

Bush finally criticized the commercial Monday, more than a week after the ad stopped running and more than three months after the anti-Kerry group launched its campaign. Bush said such attacks had no place in a presidential campaign.

On Thursday, after Sen. John McCain renewed calls to condemn the ads, the president said he would team with McCain to crack down on independent groups spending millions of dollars on political attack advertisements. The president did not disavow the ad, but did say he did not believe Kerry had lied about his service, according to The New York Times.

The Times also reported lawyers for Bush were filing two lawsuits. One, they said, is intended to expedite their complaints that Moveon.org, The Media Fund, and America Coming Together, liberal groups running ads against the president, were illegally coordinating with Kerry. The other lawsuit, they said, would seek tighter restrictions on the groups' fund raising.

The swift boat group recently released a new Internet advertisement, again calling Kerry "a liar."

Nationally, reports of overlap between local Republican committees and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth continue and several county Republican parties from New Hampshire to California were directing visitors to their Web sites to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth site, according to, The New York Times .

Sanders' connection with Kerry dates back to before when the two served in Vietnam. Sanders and David Thorn, Kerry's brother-in-law, were shipmates and shared an apartment in Belmont Shore, where Kerry "became a resident of our couch," according to Sanders.

Through the years, Sanders said he and Kerry have remained friends. Sanders, who was a former deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, has been campaigning for Kerry across the country. He has also been critical of Bush on veterans' issues for many years.

As the Republicans head into their national convention on Monday, the swift boat issue appears to be receding, which is just fine with Sanders.

"I think it's a dying story," Sanders said. The anti-Kerry group has "so lost credibility. I think they're at the end of their rope."

[conservative in nyc]

A largely friendly interview with Wade Sanders, one of Kerry's Band of Brothers. He seems to think the Swift Boat Vets have lost credibility and it's a dying story. He's so wrong.

[ThreePuttinDude]

"Although not a part of any of the missions in which Kerry received his three Purple Hearts, Sanders, who has a Purple Heart of his own, has no doubt about the veracity of Kerry's claims.

Let me get this straight, the Dems say if your not physically on his swift boat, you don't know what your talking about. Now this guy says he should be listened to, even though he wasnt on Kerry's boat. (???)

(scratching head in disbelief) What are these guys series?? Do they think no one will notice their double talk?? OH YA, I almost missed it, He's a lawyer in California....that says it all.

[Dudoight]

Ask Sanders how many other of his fellow soldiers brought their movie cameras to record/reenact their activities in Viet Nam? How did he explain his 'acting out' of his activities to whomever he had running his camera? Geeze, all those medals, purple hearts, diary, movie making, completed in 4 months. It is a wonder he had time to sleep.

[ThreePuttinDude]

"I think it's a dying story," Sanders said. The anti-Kerry group has "so lost credibility. I think they're at the end of their rope."

Sounds like a comment from "Friends"...Chandler or Ross.

[faithincowboys]

Maybe it's harsh, but any man standing with John Kerry is standing against this Country.

[garylmoore]

Although several of the swift boat veterans group's most serious charges have been discounted by official records

That's a lie, what records? He won't release them, he can't, it would reveal the truth about the truth.

The anti-Kerry group has "so lost credibility. I think they're at the end of their rope." AND THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING ALSO.

[anglian]

he, see this. Share your thoughts about Wade Sanders' opinion columns here. Share your thoughts about Wade Sanders' opinion columns here.http://forums.military.com/1/OpenTopic?a=frm&s=78919038&f=5791961366

[anglian]

wade sanders; The events at Abu Ghraib should sober this country up and slap it out of its false pride. The United States should pick itself up, acknowledge its failure, and set a new path representative of the ideals it purports to sell. Then, maybe, we will be closer to the truth when we crow about our country. http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Sanders_Index,00.html

[Casloy]

Describing Kerry as "the kind of guy you want to have your back,"

And we all agree with that. I want him behind me, not in front, leading this counry as president.

[G.Mason]

Wade Sanders: "Senator Kerry, a decorated combat veteran, understood this issue and he identified with those veterans who were being turned away from, or delayed, care. He had stood alongside Senators Hagel, McCain and Cleland in their criticism of the Bush administration's attempts to cut combat pay, dependent benefits, and the failure to adequately equip our men and women in Iraq (some families have paid over $1000 to provide body armor to their sons and daughters)."

From ... http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Sanders_020504,00.html

Excuse me?

This from a campaign hack for Kerry?

Kerry who voted against funding the Iraq War?

McCain? Who with Kerry kissed off the POW's and their families?

Take a search engine ride on Wade Sanders. He's a real beaut.

[chainsaw]

Kerry was a legitimate war hero.

If Kerry is a legitimate war hero he would have no argument against releasing his entire military record. In fact he would be proud to do so. The fact that Kerry refuses to sign a Pentagon form 180 should tell everyone that his record is suspect, and Kerry knows it.

[Always Right]

Although several of the swift boat veterans group's most serious charges have been discounted by official records and eyewitnesses who fought with Kerry, the issue is not quite dead.

The 'official record' is Kerry's record of it, and many more eyewitnesses say Kerry is lying. Talk about major spin.

[chainsaw]

And we all agree with that. I want him behind me, not in front, leading this counry as president.

But I sure wouldn't want Kerry behind me on the battlefield. Or in a Swift boat backing me up.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

I have been in correspondence with Sanders for some time now and he is a dumbcrat shrill for sure. He never has an original thought, but the article says they served together, can't believe he never told me about that little gem...that needs checking.

Anyway the boy has visions of "Ambassadorships or Cabinet level positions" on his mind should Kerry be elected.

All he ever spouts is the bovine secretions of the Dumbcrat talking points. I haven't heard from the boy in about a week after I asked him if he was a graduate of Goebells school of "telling a lie often enough and people will believe it or did he pick it up somewhere else? He is a weasel that is almost as proud of himself as Kerry.

[Just mythoughts]

I wonder if there is a connection with Sander and Rassmann, who was in Southern California before retiring and moving to Oregon????

Rassmann said last January when he "parachuted" upon that stage in Iowa that he was visiting Southern California and had heard he was in the Douglas Brinkley book. He said that he went into a bookstore to see if it was true. (RIGHT).

Somebody has been in contact with Rassmann over the years and maybe this guy was the contact. Wonder if Sanders was ever a lawyer for Rassmann??????

[Landru]

Gee-whiz, I wonder if this guy the quislings managed to dig-up just happens to be a devout 'Rat.

Hmmmm...

...y'think? :o)

[kabar]

Wade Sanders "story" is in Kerry's book, The New Soldier. Here is the excerpt:

Wade R. Sanders Lt. Coastal Division 13 "Black Cat Division" NAVFORV May '68-May '69

In July 1968 I was in a swift boat operation patrolling the mouth of the Bo-De River -- a known VC area. At the time we were operating under the standard naval rules of engagement. There was a specific rule stating we were not to fire unless fired upon.

As we came out of the river, my gunners mate observed two individuals jumping a small stream near the river's mouth, about 200 yards away. They were unarmed. He didn't fire.

There was no reason to take action. No action was taken.

I sent a message in to my operational commander -- a routine report:

*Personnel observed moving. For your information, this unit while patrolling passed out of river, and observed two personnel running. Attempted to notify sector, but unable to establish communication. Personnel visible for only 10-15 seconds. No action taken by this unit.*

My immediate superior received the following reply:

*Reference A indicates possibility that Black Cat Division acting like *censored* cat division. Get this guy squared away. Area noted by reference A is definite Indian Country. Regardless of communication problem of sector, good judgment indicates that personnel should have been taken under fire.

Headquarters*

[facedown]

Puullleeeeez.....

WADE Sanders, shown at the Nevada Democratic Party headquarters, served with John Kerry during the Vietnam War.

[Stag]

Hey they found a vet that would support Kerry. Wonder what his price was

[Smokin' Joe]

Sanders said he and Kerry "got into the (Mekong) Delta during the most vicious period in the war."

...and Kerry got out of combat then, too--in record time for someone who was ambulatory with all their parts intact