Letter from a Vietnam Vet
Dean
I served twelve months with the Mobile Riverine Force, in the Mekong Delta, during 1968 and 1969, manning automatic weapons on an Armored Troop Carrier. During the first three months of 1969, I operated in and around the little village of Ha Tien, at times, with Kerry's Coastal Division 11 Swift Boats. If one of the men I served with was running for President, I would be extremely proud. If there was any way I could support him for President, I would. The bonds that are formed in combat are special. They are strong.
But there's more. May I suggest you read the whole thing?
More here.
Very simple: most folks in the US have never been members of the armed forces, much less shot at. Simply put, they have never experienced that bond, which has been observed for centuries.
It's certainly been well-documented for armies in the 20th Century.
So when normal folks hear something like that, nothing registers. They don't understand what combat soldiers will do to stay with their team.
This, by the way, is another grievance that vets have with Kerry; that he abandoned his men. Recall that he requested that transfer out. At least one milblogger has said that Kerry is the only US officer ever known to have desterted his men under fire. (his words, not mine, so no flames, please)
While I'm thinking about it, I may have an answer to the question "why didn't the men from SBVT speak up two, four, or ten years ago?" Simple: Kerry's official bio hadn't come out. From a couple of the articles I caught just the other night, that was the spark that got O'Neill and others fired up. Apparently they had never heard Kerry's side of things before.
What I'm saying is why aren't more bloggers, etc. pounding away on this angle rather than the "he said/he said" dispute over which medals were deserved, who was in Cambodia when and so on? So it WILL register with people. Not saying the medal exaggerations and all aren't important, but the facts there are obscure and deniable enough that soon, for Mr. and Mrs. Undecided Voter, the whole debate is just an annoying tangle of charges and countercharges that are as likely to be blamed on SBVT and Bush as anyone.
But this... Kerry bailed on his "brothers"! And the facts are right there, hiding in plain view, undisputed:
Light wounds? Shortened tour? Requested out, rather than ordered out? Yes on all counts.
And now he wants to be "leader of the free world"? No thanks.
1) They want to talk about the medals, which is the most contentious issue, and
2) They want to talk about who gave the Swifties money, as if a measy two hundred thousand dollars from a few Republican donors somehow proves that everthing these guys are saying is a pack of lies.
You're asking the really tough questions: what is this business of three boo-boos and you're out? What is this business of lying about war crimes that never happened? That's the real story, and that's what most real military people are pissed about.
Why won't Senator Kerry release his military records? What is he afraid of?
Her "Youth and inexperience", nah....I didn't say that. It is my mind. Everywhere I go my stupid, stupid stupid brain goes...go figure!?!
No...it is her, "OUTWARD BEAUTY!?!", nah....I didn't just write that did I!?!
It is because she is A MINORITY!!! Yep, that's what it is!!!
Well blown me down, said Popeye the Sailor Man!
You mean I just went back in this brain and remembered an old cartoon all the while I was
thinking of Michelle!?!
Could it be possibly she loves this country with every word she tries to tell in truth and on the outside she is very petite, young, some say...shhh...wisper now Sexy, smart and uses her words wisely and and she oh yes...of another color and she allowed herself to have a child with her husband while trying to have a career too!?! She found her own nitch working through the....I agree....It was all just to easy.
What do I know, I'm an ole' grandma. Sick, stupid, worn out, ready for the old folks home!
YIPPIEEE! An Old Folks Home, maybe I will get to meet Joe Gandelman there from the Moderate Voice!!!! YIPPIE!!!!! Joe does PUPPET SHOWS!!!
If you notice, the SBVT themselves are (perhaps) skipping that topic, and going straight on to the Testimony Which Dare Not Speak Its Name: Kerry's 1971 session before Congress.
Here's the thing: as you say, no one will ever be able to nail down, 100%, just what happened the times Kerry got awards. Can't do it. But we can nail down exactly what he said, and when, about his war crimes accusations.
Some of the juicier comments JK made at the time included disparaging remarks about traditional veterans groups, and that he would never join a group such the Veterans of Foreign Wars, since he was too ashamed of what he did in Vietnam.
He made more than one remark like that. And now they're all going to come back and bite him on the ass.
...And no one can say that Kerry is a secret Republican smear agent, can they? Heh.
Don't worry, amigo, they have 10 weeks left... :)
/I'm just sayin'....
I am not understanding why Bush had to release records. He is the POTUS and he opened his past as far back as pulic demanded.
Viet Nam veterans were well, in Viet Nam, doesn't that say something to Kerry?
You know sometimes I just try to make people laugh and post things like I did above. I know Michelle gets attacked. This arguing is not insane?
Kerry does know he opened this pandoras box he must. If he doesn't then why not?
But since Kerry was never "shot up" I don't see how this applies to him. :)
Yes, Michelle is sexy and intelligent (the two go together). Both Michelles, Malkin and Catalano.
Casey Tompkins:
Yes, let's do it. Bite Kerry in the ass with his own words. I want Bush to win.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.