Topic: wounds that never heal
in Forum: Humor
Lt. Kerry’s widely televised statements were dramatic and persuasive, made all the more credible by the fact he had been there, said he had witnessed many of these same atrocities. His testimony catapulted him to international prominence and the ranks of leadership in the American anti-war movement, launching his once failing political career. It also permanently branded in the American psyche the image of Vietnam veterans as murderous “baby killers” and “drugged out losers,” a perception that persists today, one deeply embedded in our history.
That single act earned for Kerry the lasting enmity of Vietnam veterans, especially those who had borne the brunt of his accusations, that small percentage of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who actually served on the frontlines. Many of these combat veterans would carry the scars of their service for life. Kerry’s repudiation of their sacrifice represented yet another war wound, one that would never heal. As compelling as Kerry’s Senate testimony was, these men knew it was lacking in one key element … truth. They knew from their own combat experiences virtually all his allegations were lies; the U.S. military would never countenance such brutality. And, they also knew his actions were a deliberate betrayal of all of them, especially the more than 58,000 who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
But, perhaps, more than any living group of combat veterans, it was the America ’s POWs who suffered most, forced to endure the immediate consequences of Kerry’s treacherous falsehoods. In 1971, some 700 of these men were reported as captured or missing in action, most presumed held prisoner by the North Vietnamese Communists in such places as the notorious Hanoi Hilton. Already subjected to years of torture, solitary confinement and unspeakable psychological and physical abuse, their lives were literally hanging by a thread when Kerry issued his damning testimony. In mere moments, Kerry had willingly given the Vietnamese Communists what they had spent years of torture and blood-letting to drag out of their American hostages, an unqualified “confession” they were all war criminals.


Jon,-Majestic Glass Corvette Club-....Red #72,blk.interior,1979 C3 Corvette-TH350,Weiand,Holley,glass tops,Pioneer,3.55's,K&N,Dynomax,Flowmaster 40's,Energy Suspension,Spicer,VB&P(pics soon); 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme 350/350,Dk. Blue 2-door Coupe-Hotchkis,PST,K&N,XM...'99 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ V6,black/grey leather,intake,strut bars,tint... |IMG|http://www.msnusers.com/cutlasscorvetteworkinprogress/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=63|/IMG|
John Kerry opposed helping the Contra's in their struggle for freedom from Communist rule in Nicaragua and openly supported the Sandanista Communists;
John Kerry opposed the deployment of the Pershing II missiles in Europe which forced the then Soviet Union to the negotiating table for substantive arms reduction talks;
John Kerry opposed the Strategic Defense Intiative which ultimately bankrupted the Soviet Union, leading to its fall;
John Kerry opposed virtually every major weapons system we now rely on to defend ourselves and to take the war to the terrorists;
John Kerry opposed Operation Desert Storm even after President G.H.W. Bush received UN approval for a resolution to use force, thus failing to support his own "global test";
John Kerry voted to reduce the intelligence budget $7 billion even after the 1993 terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center;
John Kerry failed to go to virtually every intelligence committee meeting following the first World Trade center bombing;
John Kerry stated in an interview that on 9/11 he was unable to think or comprehend anything from the time he heard about the World Trade Center attack until after the Pentagon was attacked...about a forty minute period of being befuddled and comatose for lack of any better description, then has the 'nads to criticize President Bush for waiting about seven minutes so as not to upset the children he was with.
John Kerry certainly has the right to have his opinions and to vote whatever way he sees fit. The truth of the matter is that whenever John Kerry is faced with a choice on American policy and defense matters, he instinctively and/or reflexively chooses the side opposed to common sense and what is best for American interests. His record demonstrates that clearly.
While I certainly do not agree with all of President Bush's policies, and he is certainly not the best public speaker, I look at John Kerry and his record and there is simply no way we can afford to have him in the oval office. This guy is bad news.


Jon,-Majestic Glass Corvette Club-....Red #72,blk.interior,1979 C3 Corvette-TH350,Weiand,Holley,glass tops,Pioneer,3.55's,K&N,Dynomax,Flowmaster 40's,Energy Suspension,Spicer,VB&P(pics soon); 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme 350/350,Dk. Blue 2-door Coupe-Hotchkis,PST,K&N,XM...'99 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ V6,black/grey leather,intake,strut bars,tint... |IMG|http://www.msnusers.com/cutlasscorvetteworkinprogress/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=63|/IMG|




Jon,-Majestic Glass Corvette Club-....Red #72,blk.interior,1979 C3 Corvette-TH350,Weiand,Holley,glass tops,Pioneer,3.55's,K&N,Dynomax,Flowmaster 40's,Energy Suspension,Spicer,VB&P(pics soon); 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme 350/350,Dk. Blue 2-door Coupe-Hotchkis,PST,K&N,XM...'99 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ V6,black/grey leather,intake,strut bars,tint... |IMG|http://www.msnusers.com/cutlasscorvetteworkinprogress/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=63|/IMG|
First...in the interests of full disclosure, I never had the priviledge of serving in the military, nor have I ever seen combat, though some of what I dealt with as a police officer gave me some small insights into what combat may be like. Anything I say regarding anyone's military service has to be seen through this prism.
I have always heard the axiom that those who saw the most action don't have a need to brag about it or even talk much about it at all. Those REMF's (you vets know what that means) and other base camp commandos generally have the big mouths and do the bragging. My observation is that this is generally very true.
My late Mom's four brothers all served in World War II and all saw combat to varying degrees. My Mom was very lucky that all her brothers survived and came home, though her older brother was grievously wounded and wasn't expected to survive. I knew my uncle had served in Europe, but never knew the details, and he never talked about it. I only knew he had been nearly mortally wounded in a French town called St. Lo. Several years ago I happened to be visiting him in Augusta, GA and stopped by his place of business (nearly 90 years old and still works at his business). In his office I spotted a certificate on the wall...it stated his name and "29th Division Association, 116th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, First Wave". I was literally stunned to know my Uncle was one of the first Americans to set foot on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944! I found from his son...my cousin, that my Uncle was a platoon leader who hit the beach with 40 men...by the end of the day he had less than 10 left. I talked to my Uncle about his service and all he talked about was non-combat related things...never about combat. I asked him if he saw the movie "Saving Private Ryan". All he said was "That's just Hollywood!" He didn't need to say any more, and that was the end of that conversation.
One of my closest buddies is a Vietnam vet who was in the field artillery. When his firebase was under attack, he had his leg laid open from a morter round and still has occasional problems...sometimes I'll see him stop walking and just grimace from the pain he still gets. He rarely talks about his service as well, though I have seen him talk to fellow combat vets about it freely.
John Kerry never passes up the chance to bring up his service. He even had subordinates film him making reenactments of events after the areas were made safe. He knew then he was going into politics, or why have the filmed record of him playing commando?
My Uncle doesn't talk about his combat experiences, nor do my other Uncles (one is deceased). My buddy rarely talks about it. None of them consider themselves heroes...just doing what had to be done. While I haven't asked, I'm sure they would laugh if someone called them heroes.
Sorry for this long post, but it is simply something I had to get out. As a police officer I had to conduct investigations and decide who was truthful and who was a liar many times. I'm not saying I was the best at it, but every sense I have...all my experience and intuition tells me John Kerry is a phony. A vet who saw some combat, yes...who officially served honorably...I won't question that. He's also a man who whenever you criticise his record or judgement, he accuses you of impugning his patriotism. Real men are better than that. With due respect to the Governator of California...John Kerry and his running mate are nothing more than wannabe "girlie-men".

|UPDATED|10/17/2004 11:15:33 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Jon,-Majestic Glass Corvette Club-....Red #72,blk.interior,1979 C3 Corvette-TH350,Weiand,Holley,glass tops,Pioneer,3.55's,K&N,Dynomax,Flowmaster 40's,Energy Suspension,Spicer,VB&P(pics soon); 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme 350/350,Dk. Blue 2-door Coupe-Hotchkis,PST,K&N,XM...'99 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ V6,black/grey leather,intake,strut bars,tint... |IMG|http://www.msnusers.com/cutlasscorvetteworkinprogress/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=63|/IMG|