Posted on 10/10/2004 11:19:46 PM PDT by quidnunc
Midnight in South Vietnam, and the river is black. Past the rice paddies and shacks, small fires are burning by the shoreline as Lt. John H. Davis' 50-foot aluminum swift boat — PCF 19 — makes its routine patrol through the reeds.
In a split second, rocket fire shatters the silence, and through a plume of oily smoke, the boat sinks to the river's bottom.
"My whole crew lost their lives that night. I was the only one who survived," Lt. Davis says.
Lt. Davis, now 62, lost his left eye. The bones in both legs were shattered. But the scars of war are nothing compared to the demons that wake him from his sleep, leaving him drenched in sweat and trembling with fear.
"My latest nightmare was that I was pulling my crew out of the water. When it came to the last body, it was me."
Lt. Davis has come to Washington at his own expense, along with 89 other Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, to tape the eighth 60-second TV spot questioning Sen. John Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief.
They come from Oshkosh, Wis., and Orlando, Fla., San Francisco and Virginia Beach. One is on crutches. Others, former prisoners of war, walk stiffly, a result of being bound and tortured. Some wear their medals. Two are in cowboy boots.
Snow-haired Bud Day, a 79-year-old former POW, stands at attention. He is wearing a brown leather flight jacket befitting an Air Force major, complemented by the Medal of Honor around his neck. Others have donned "Swift Boat" baseball caps.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Did you note that they just got a wire for $500,000? 50 more wires like that and it might just get interesting. Seriously, though, they need about $20 million between now and election day to really have a dramatic impact. All the more reason to donate and get your friends to donate. I have seen no more effective ads on TV than these for either candidate.
Soros may have bought and paid for McCain, but even Soros won't get McCain to open his mouth against Bud Day.
Well, I doubt McCain would say a word against Bud Day, but I imagine he'll still go on and on about how Kerry would be a fine President [gag!]. Hope you're right, though.
Swift Vet donation link:
https://www.swiftvets.com/swift/ccdonation.php?op=donate&site=SwiftVets
Ya know, if that 'checkmate'(photo) exisits, I'd be suprised. I'm skeptical
Now THAT'S a great campaign slogan. BURY KERRY.
So poetic....
You guys seen this?
Drudge just posted the link to this Washington Times article on his website.
He also posted the NY Slimes link about Sinclair airing the "Stolen Honor" documentary on its stations nationwide just prior to the election.
Since Drudge has a much bigger megaphone than we do, hopefully the SwiftVets and the POW's will get more coverage (especially their message) as we head for the home stretch of this election.
John Kerry's Discharge - He won't sign Form 180 - What is he hiding?
http://acuf.org/issues/issue21/040929pol.asp
What a young man did more than 30 years ago should not be a primary criteria in determining his qualifications to be President of the United States. George Bush has had almost 4 years now as Commander and Chief of the World"s largest military force and he should be judged on how well he has done. Yet John Kerry and the Democratic left won"t give it up. On almost a daily basis he says I served this country honorably as a young man in Vietnam (4 months/12 days) and I will serve this country honorably as Commander and Chief. Then the Left yells that George Bush got preferential treatment in getting into the National Guard and even failed to complete his guard obligations; even forging documents to prove their point.
The facts are that George Bush served honorably in the National Guard obtaining service points far in excess of the 50 annual service points required to meet his obligation. Records show that in 1968/69 he accumulated 253 points, 340 in 1969/70, 137 in 1970/71, 112 in 1971/72, 56 in 1972/73 and 56 in 1973/74. Points far in excess of the service agreed to and that required to meets his obligation and be Honorably Discharged. George Bush has never made his National Guard service a qualification to lead this country, nor has he ever questioned the service of John Kerry.
While the Left and the mainstream media have never questioned the Vietnam era service of John Kerry, they seem to feel that the record of George Bush 30 years ago should be of concern to voters in November. But what about John Kerry's record? We are told that he was a decorated veteran. We are also told that he was deeply involved in anti-war activities on his return from Vietnam in violation of his oath as an officer in the US Navy. By his own account of his actions and protests, he violated the UCMJ, the Geneva Conventions and the U.S. Code while serving as a Navy officer. Further he met, on two occasions, with North Vietnamese negotiators in 1970 and 1971, while a Reserve Officer, willingly placing himself in violation of Article three, Section three of the U.S. Constitution, which defines treason as "giving aid and comfort" to the enemy in time of warfare.
From here the record of John Kerry becomes unclear and the mainstream press won't demand that John Kerry sign a Department of Defense (DOD) form 180 that would release all of his military records. Records released by his campaign are confusing. There are indications that he was Honorably Discharged on Jan. 3, 1970, Feb 16, 1978, July 13, 1978 and even lately Mar. 12, 2001. Why the confusion on a relatively simple service event. Could it be that John Kerry received a less than honorable discharge in the early 70"s because of his anti-war activities? And then was pardoned for those activities when then President Jimmy Carter on January 21, 1978 ( Proclamation 4483) granted a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all persons who may have committed any offense between August 4, 1964 and March 28, 1973 in violation of the Military Selective Service Act or any rule or regulation promulgated there under.
Did John Kerry request that his service be granted an Honorable Discharge and it was finally granted in 1978? Only a complete release of his military records will show what actually happened during this period. And, to date John Kerry has refused to sign the necessary DOD form 180 which would allow for this release. If the Democratic Party, the media, and the Bush critics are going to demand, as they do on almost a daily basis, that George Bush release all of his records, should they not do the same for John Kerry?
Michael Ashbury is a noted researcher and author, and the author of ''Who is the REAL John Kerry?'' (Booksurge.com 2004). His website is at http://www.whoistherealjohnkerry.com
You were asked to stuff it and expected to ignore it because there was no place to turn for any sort of support. Even within families.
When I returned from my last tour in Viet Nam, I arrived at the Cleveland Ohio airport and was met by my father. He looked at me kind of funny, and kept saying, “You’re home now. You’re safe. There’s nothing to worry about now.”
I guess that the couple days I had away from combat while heading home hadn’t really allowed me to regain a “civilized” appearance. I had lost more weight and had a good tan. Dad kept looking at my eyes.
My dear Dad was in a hurry to get me home, so he took a short cut through the woods. The trees came right to the edge of the narrow dirt road – there were no fields of fire and I was unarmed. I realized I was crouched down on the floorboards when he once again told me that I was now safe.
I must have heard “You’re safe now, don’t worry – relax, forget about it” a thousand times during that 30 day leave. I was actually glad to report back to the Army.
BTTT!!!!!!
Last Friday Michael Medved aired a three hour (I think) commentary on the Anti-War movement during the Vietnam War. I don't know if it was something that he had on tape or if Friday was a new program. It was scholarly and thorough. He was there in the late sixties and included a lot of firsthand views and stories.
If young people could hear what he said, and what David Horowitz says about those years, there would be such a clear understanding of the true impetus and foundations to the antiwar protests.
Very good definition!
"He's just a Kerry" becomes a super putdown.
"He cannot believe anybody can have a mind and vote for Kerry."
I share your brother's views.
It is humbling to know that our country, her fathers and mothers, produce men such as this.
The second sentence of the quote is a painful contrast to the senator who would like to be president.
Thanks Tonk!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.