Posted on 10/06/2004 8:35:23 PM PDT by Interesting Times
When John Kerry testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 that American troops in Vietnam were ravaging the country with widespread atrocities, it was based on a pack of lies. I know, because I told some of those lies after Kerry coached me on what to say.
I was wounded in 1969 and when well enough to walk and return to the US I was spit on, ridiculed and had feces thrown at my uniform. I was mad at my country for sending me to a war it was not committed to win and bitter at being vilified for serving my country.
After discharge from the Army I met a representative of “Vietnam Veterans Against the War.” He wore jungle fatigues, spoke like a Vietnam veteran and held out a hand of friendship, a kind of Vietnam era VFW. I joined, not knowing they were radicals.
After several VVAW meetings my recruiter said we were needed in a Detroit meeting called Winter Soldier to support members recounting bad experiences in Vietnam, and there would be a free concert.
I rode to Detroit with John Kerry and others in a freezing cold van. While Kerry was interested in atrocities, I hoped to meet pretty women.
In Detroit Kerry pressed me to testify but I told him I didn’t see any atrocities in Vietnam. They needed me for their purpose because I was one of the few present who had been in combat.
During a break, John Kerry and some moderators surrounded me. Kerry said, “I need you to say you saw war crimes and atrocities in Vietnam.” Others said “Come on man, the brothers need you!” and “Don’t you want to help save lives in Vietnam?” Someone whispered in my ear “It’s a long walk back to Baltimore.”
I reluctantly agreed to say something, and Kerry said “OK, we’re going to have a dialogue with you recorded before you go out there. I need you to talk about the beating of civilians and enemy personnel.”
Kerry coached me to “Specify indiscriminate artillery on villages, racism, brutality and rape.” He said he’d help me with specifics.
When the camera came on, Kerry asked “What brings you here to Detroit?” Was he kidding? I felt betrayed, I tried to evade by mumbling how hard that was to answer and I felt a strong desire to leave.
But I didn’t. Following Kerry’s prompting I told false stories, a rambling bunch of generalities sprinkled with references to racism, atrocities, and an organized underground in country, along with some half-truths to please the mob.
When it was over I went on with my life, rejoined the military, and buried VVAW as a dark memory. When I later discovered Kerry had been meeting with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in Paris and repeating their talking points in the US while our boys were still dying, I was sick at having helped him.
I have noted the backlash against veterans who speak out against Kerry now that he wants to be President. Many call it dirty politics. But it makes no difference to me whether Kerry is a Democrat or Republican; this is a matter of keeping faith with my country. Whatever you say about me, I now must tell the truth about Kerry and about myself.
Recently in Washington DC a group of Vietnam vets held a rally. At the last minute I was given a few moments to speak to the crowd of thousands. I nervously stepped up on the stage, gripped the podium with shaking hands and as I confessed to the crowd what I had done long ago I could see anger on their faces. But when I asked them to forgive me, I heard someone shout "You're already forgiven!" I saw aging veterans, wives and their adult children standing in the sun with tears on their faces. There were also smiles. From these people I felt closure, my dark conscience brightened. As I stepped off the stage, many lined up to shake my hand and hug me, and I was overwhelmed.
I failed those I owed the most loyalty long ago. That’s my fault, not John Kerry’s. But Kerry did use me, and he knowingly used lies to denounce a generation of fine American troops.
Kerry played on people’s fears to gain his own political advantage 33 years ago, no matter the danger to our troops. He’s doing the same thing again today.
This time it’s Iraq.
Steve Pitkin
Boca Raton, Florida
See also: Yesterday's Lies: Steve Pitkin and the Winter Soldiers by Scott Swett
I'd take several weeks of fecal rain to insure what I came back to never, no NEVER happens to the brave men and women who serve our Country in Afganistan,Iraq, The Phillipines and all the small places that don't even make page 27 of the local fishwrapper.
I pray that what's left of my hearing doesn't catch wind of a disparaging word.
While we're on the subject, there may be some who may want to go a bit further to show your appreciation to those people and go to WWW.OPERATIONAC.COM and send some appreciation in the form of boots, A/C etc
bump
Bump!! Great story from an honest man!
BTTT!!!!!!!
Thanks for the ping.
From an anonymous email:
I went to the store the other day. I was only there for about 5 minutes when I came out there was a policeman writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said "Come on, don't be a jerk. How about giving a senior citizen a break." He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a bad name, he glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires.
I didn't care -- my car was parked around the corner and this one had an "ELECT JOHN KERRY" Bumper sticker on it.
"I rode to Detroit with John Kerry and others in a freezing cold van. While Kerry was interested in atrocities, I hoped to meet pretty women."
"I rode to Detroit with John Kerry and others in a freezing cold van. While Kerry was interested in atrocities, I hoped to meet pretty women."
Agreed
JFKerry sure has built up quite a tab for himself.
Really ticks me off to see him out there demanding President Bush admit he made mistakes.
Kinda like the devil himself.
BTTT
Thank you for your service and welcome to FreeRepublic.com .....
Typical demoncRATS. They're against any war they didn't start. Clintoon, a draft dodger and protestor, bombed 7 countries in 8 years of office, more than any other president in history. Did anyone protest? No! Now the demoncRATS are trying to foist a revised clintoon in the form of a traitor named Botox Ketchupman onto the American consciousness. I rec'd below via email this a.m. Thought I'd share:
I'm confused but after thinking over this is what I came up with. Am I wrong?
This was passed to me, maybe you can understand it, but I can't.
I'm trying to get all this political stuff straightened out in my head so I'll know how to vote come November 2. Right now, we have one guy saying one thing. Then the other guy says something else.
Who to believe! Lemme see, have I got this straight?
Clinton awards Halliburton no-bid contract in Yugoslavia - good...
Bush awards Halliburton no-bid contract in Iraq - bad...
Clinton spends 77 billion on war in Serbia - good...
Bush spends 87 billion in Iraq - bad...
Clinton imposes regime change in Serbia - good...
Bush imposes regime change in Iraq - bad...
Clinton bombs Christian Serbs on behalf of Muslim Albanian terrorists- good...
Bush liberates 25 million from a genocidal dictator - bad...
Clinton bombs Chinese embassy - good...
Bush bombs terrorist camps - bad...
Clinton commits felonies while in office - good...
Bush lands on aircraft carrier in jumpsuit - bad...
Mass graves found in Serbia - good...
No WMD found Iraq - bad...
Stock market crashes in 2000 under Clinton - good...
Economy on upswing under Bush - bad...
Clinton refuses to take custody of Bin Laden - good...
World Trade Centers fall under Bush - bad...
Clinton says Saddam has nukes - good...
Bush says Saddam has nukes - bad...
Clinton calls for regime change in Iraq - good...
Bush imposes regime change in Iraq - bad...
Terrorist training in Afghanistan under Clinton - good...
Bush destroys training camps in Afghanistan - bad...
Milosevic not yet convicted - good...
Saddam turned over for trial - bad ...
Ahh, it's so confusing!
Recently, John Kerry gave a speech in which he claimed Americans are actually paying more taxes under Bush, despite the tax cuts. He gave no explanation and provided no data for this claim.
Another interesting fact: Both George Bush and John Kerry are wealthy men.
Bush owns only one home, his ranch in Texas.
Kerry owns 4 mansions, all worth several million dollars. (His ski resort home in Idaho is an old barn brought over from Europe in pieces. Not your average A-frame).
Bush paid $250,000 in taxes this year; Kerry paid $90,000.
Does that sound right?
The man who wants to raise your taxes obviously has figured out a way to avoid paying his own.
The MSM will swing in and quickly 'discredit' this man. Afterall, the group that plotted to kill US Senators is much more credible in the eyes of the MSM. It is not radical group that plotted to kill numerous people are capable of lying.
For those reading about Steve Pitkin's Testimony for the first time today, a quick search on FR brings up many articles. The fact that he has ben ignored by legacy media is the message we should give our interested acquaintances.
According to the 'views' listed for each thread, thousands of Freepers have seen these articles.
Articles indexed to pitkin (in order of time indexed.)
68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Steve who? Steve Pitkins? Whose he? ^
Posted by newsgatherer
On News/Activism ^ 09/28/2004 7:19:11 AM EDT · 11 replies · 328+ views
Christian-news-in-maine.com ^ | 28 Sept. 2004 | Mr. Larry Austin
Vietnam Vet: I Lied About Atrocities [Coerced by Kerry!] ^
Posted by chilepepper
On News/Activism ^ 09/15/2004 9:47:52 AM EDT · 33 replies · 1,028+ views
FOX News ^ | 15 Sept 2004 | FOX News
Steve Pitkin coming on Brit Hume NOW ^
Posted by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
On News/Activism ^ 09/14/2004 6:04:21 PM EDT · 158 replies · 6,318+ views
68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Vietnam Vet: I Lied About Atrocities ^
Posted by alydar
On News/Activism ^ 09/14/2004 10:19:37 PM EDT · 17 replies · 981+ views
Fox News ^ | 9/14
Steve Pitkin to be interviewed by Mark Levin of LandMark Legal Foundation tonight on WABC ^
Posted by The Shrew
On News/Activism ^ 09/08/2004 6:36:27 PM EDT · 74 replies · 1,798+ views
WinterSoldier.com ^ | September 8, 2004 | The Shrew
Kerry Anti-War Ally Recants 1971 Claims of War Crimes ^
Posted by Bob J
On News/Activism ^ 09/08/2004 11:53:36 AM EDT · 49 replies · 2,915+ views
GOPUSA/Talon News ^ | 9-8-04 | Jeff Gannon
Vet: Kerry coerced me to testify of atrocities... ^
Posted by Bob J
On News/Activism ^ 09/08/2004 11:51:41 AM EDT · 84 replies · 3,629+ views
WorldNet Daily ^ | 9-8-04 | World Net Daily Editorial
Vet: Kerry coerced me to testify of atrocities ^
Posted by NavVet
On News/Activism ^ 09/08/2004 6:50:29 AM EDT · 29 replies · 1,812+ views
World Net Daily ^ | 7 Sep 04 | WND
VVAW ping.
Wonder if John can shed any light on Kerry trying to coerce anyone?
Semper Fi
Are you Steve Pitkin?
"90% of you baby-boomers can go f yourselves."
Easy, pal. I'm a boomer and I did an honorable tour over there in 1967-68. You've just insulted 90% of a lot of freepers.
Thank you for your service to our country. Your work today has been nothing short of heroic.
I'd like to see you on Hannity and Colmes again.
FReegards.
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