Ex-POW Corrects Sen. Kerry- war hero

Internet Commentary ^ | February 3, 2004 | Mark A. Smith

[tvn]

WHO IS JOHN KERRY, WAR HERO?

Everyday the media tiptoes around John Kerry as if he is an icon of service to the Nation. But why is his service to the nation in war not balanced against his return to longhaired freakdom to march against his fellow veterans still in the war, including myself? I was especially incensed when my communist captors quoted him in propaganda.

I had a discussion with Senator Kerry in Bangkok, Thailand. He made some surprising statements during that exchange. He stated emphatically that I should provide him with any information I had on missing Americans. This he stated he would take to Hanoi to discuss with the Communists. He didn't seem to understand the Communists knew where the POWs were and needed no help from him to "find them." Expert on war? Hardly! He then stated that no matter what I had there would be no military operation to rescue them. In other words, Senator Kerry felt that Americans were worth talking about, but not worth fighting for.

Kerry brought up his service on patrol boats in Vietnam in a very defensive way with me, "you weren't the only one in that war, I was on those patrol boats?" My answerer "surely you are not attempting to compare anything you did in that war to my contribution to that endeavor!" I did not say that to belittle the Senator, but to only give him a reality check. He said he had an important appointment. The insinuation was it dealt with the MIAs. Then a small child came up to us and said, "my Mom said it is time to go." Kerry sheepishly moved away. "All show and no go," just another paper thin ego.

I was invited to lunch by his staffer Francis. She stated in an adoring manner that John Kerry would some day be the President of the United States. My answer was short and succinct," Based on what?" She said, "He's a war hero." I said, "but he then marched in a filthy uniform and threw his medals over the White House fence." She then told me the medals were someone else's. I merely stated it showed disrespect to honors received on the battlefield by "Someone." End of discussion on that.

Someone in the Asian customs stated a rumor that Senator Kerry purchased a tiger skin in Vietnam and officials were told to ignore it. Somehow Vietnam Veterans got the story and as far as I know, there has never been a denial from the great "environmentalist" John Kerry. But true or not it gives a good look at how Kerry operates. Take the "war hero" the next. Take the "Champion of MIAs" one day and the "we aren't going to war for them" the next day and you have John Kerry.

Senator Kerry threatened to order me before his committee unless I gave him intelligence to carry to Hanoi. My answer? "you do not have to order me before your committee, I'll be there." I waited but, when I called Francis and said I was in America and ready to put the record straight on the rumor about Ross Perot being spread by committee staff, she said." I'm sorry Mark we have run out of money to bring you here." I said; "I have miles to burn and will pay my own way." She said she would discuss it with Kerry and get back to me. I never heard from her or the "War Hero" again. Vietnam Veterans beware. The best way to describe John Kerry's attempts to be all things to all people is, "Heinz 57."

There has been much sniping at President Bush for being a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. Liberals who seem to believe September Eleventh was somehow our fault and most surely the President's, laugh at his flying to an aircraft carrier to welcome home U.S. Troops. They said he looked silly dressed as a pilot. No candidate for President had more right to dress like that, than George Bush; he is a fighter pilot. Where were these people, when the draft dodging Clinton wore a "Tanker Jacket" when visiting the troops? A part of a uniform he evaded wearing in time of war. I hope Kerry does not show up to see the troops, if elected, in the ragged field jacket and head ban, he wore in the peace marches. When time to honor a battlefield hero, I hope he does not have a "flashback" and throw our Nation's highest award over the White House fence. After all, he does think throwing other people's medals over that fence is all right.

Lastly, as Guard and Reserve Troops fight and die for our freedom, I don't want any Commander In Chief who would think their service a joke. Further, if the big time Vietnam Veteran Kerry knew a thing about the Vietnam War, other than how deep the river was, he would know Guard and Reserve Pilots regularly flew combat missions in Vietnam. I for one appreciated the support.

"War Hero?" O.K., he received the Silver Star. But, "Expert" on war? No John, but those of us who are, will take the honest leadership of President Bush anytime over you. You have not changed a bit from the time of the Vietnam War. Your wet finger is still in the air checking the political winds, before making any decision or changing one already made. We are at war and I know war. Your brand of equivocation on every issue costs lives in a war and I don't want more dead and wounded here and abroad. You went to war and then marched against it and those of us who still fought. I know you as "Springtime Patriot" and then as a "Winter Soldier." People should look up what you said during your "Winter Soldier" days. You voted for the present war and now you condemn it. You may be an Ivy League graduate, but, your war record is minor league and your leadership is straight out of the "Waffle House." If being President is going to be based on medals earned in battle, there are a whole lot of us in front of you, John Kerry. There is one last thing that places all of your fellow veterans ahead of you in the honor department, with the exception of a few of your fellow "Winter Solders." We had too much respect for our fellow warriors, who fell on the field of battle, to throw even our lowest award over the White House fence. If you keep running on the "warrior ticket," you will lose sailor! For on that ticket, you are who you have always been.......NOBODY.

Mark A. Smith - DSC Major, USA, Retired Member, The Legion of Valor Returned Prisoner of War 2723 West 179th Street Torrance, CA 90504

[tvn]

Why have we not heard from the other crew members of Kerry's boat involved in the attack in the Mekong Delta??????

[XHogPilot]

bump

[solo gringo]

where are they

IMO they are ashame they were connected with a commie navy officer.

[jigsaw]

John F. Kerry, (D., Waffle House)

Rational Americans for Bush.   The Moron Vote for Kerry.

This is an interesting article.   Thanks.

[White Eagle]

Or Fat Teddy was supposed to drive them to the interviews.

[upchuck]

You may be an Ivy League graduate, but, your war record is minor league and your leadership is straight out of the "Waffle House."

Waffle House? I like it. He may have started something here. :)

Why have we not heard from the other crew members of Kerry's boat involved in the attack in the Mekong Delta??????

An excellent question! There were pictures of them on another thread with their names, etc. Seems like they shouldn't be too hard to track down. Perhaps the pubbies are saving this delight for later?

[The Wizard]

***The Hard & Fast Facts The Democrats & Media STILL Don't Understand***

1. Americans are glad Saddam is gone and his rotten kids are dead.

We're glad GWB had the balls Clinton didn't have, and we're glad that GWB gave us the reason, or even just the cover, to go kick his ass out of power...3000 Americans were killed by these bastards and Saddam was happy about it and WOULD have helped if he didn't.

This bastard was paying suicide bombers...Americans don't give a damn whether we ever find those WMD, we wanted his head and we got it.

That's why Libya came across and the others will too....they know that GWB means what he says and if they don't we're coming after them, next. You betcha.

The UN and the rest of the world knows GWB and America means what it says, this ain't the clinton's any more....

2. Kerry will never be elected President.

Americans have a deep sense of fairness, and even those of us who didn't go to Viet Nam, knew that our friends that did, didn't want to go, and those of us MEN, who were subjected to the draft, (and you women can just stay out of this...it's like having a baby....that's yours, the draft is ours) felt deep inside for the friends we lost, and that POS Kerry joining Hanoi Jane, (a woman not subjected to the draft, and a traitor) was a betrayal, and we are never going to forgive him for his testimony against the soldiers who were fighting....we protested the war, not those who were FORCED, OFTEN against their will, to go fight it.......

So you liberals in the press and the PC democrats can whistle any tune or tell any lie you want.....We're with GWB and that's the way it is.

[narby]

Every republican starts a comment about Kerry by saying "he's a war hero, but...".

I'm tired of the Reps saying that. Someone needs to point out that all Kerry did was shoot a Cong after he was likley already dead, and carry away his weapon.

It's pretty obvious Kerry, in 1966, figured his best resume gathering requirement to be president (which apparently is a goal he made as a teenager) was to go to war. By the time he got home, it was apparent that the opposite was true, and he became a war protester.

With his yale "bonesman" connections, I don't doubt that all the medals he received were more due to personal politicking, rather than any real "valor".

In at least two of his purple heart citations, his wounds were litteral scratches. I don't doubt someone like Kerry would scratch himself in battle, only for the medal. Particularly since by collecting three purple hearts, he got an immediate trip home.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[Dante3]

bttt

[kellynla]

What a person does during military service does not exempt them from criticism and immunity of what they do after they are discharged. The traitor Kerry's lies before Congress and on "Meet the Press" were scandalous and treasonous. I don't care how many medals they gave him! Semper Fi, Kelly

[catpuppy]

You may be an Ivy League graduate, but, your war record is minor league and your leadership is straight out of the "Waffle House."

Disagree. Senator Kerry can only wish that he possessed the management skills of those who created Waffle House. The leadership there must be doing things right as, according to the website, there are 1400 Waffle House restaurants in 25 states. They have served half a billion waffles which coincidentally is approximately the number of dollars Senator Kerry is currently married to and also the number of positions Senator Kerry has taken on various issues.

[NoLongerLurking]

Kind of have a problem with the writer's thinking on this subject. Maybe the whole quote wasn't repeated and if it was his interpretation would make more sense, but going from what it says I just don't follow.

He [Kerry] stated emphatically that I should provide him with any information I had on missing Americans. This he stated he would take to Hanoi to discuss with the Communists. He didn't seem to understand the Communists knew where the POWs were and needed no help from him to "find them."

Now the first thing I thought when I read that part is that Kerry would have wanted to have something to go to the commies with to make them hand over the POW's because we know where they are.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

If you keep running on the "warrior ticket," you will lose sailor! For on that ticket, you are who you have always been.......NOBODY. - Agreed!

[NutmegDevil]

Off subject: I've had only horrible experiences in "Waffle House" establishments. My kids call them the "Awful House". The are certainly not IHOPs. Enough of that.

[AmericanVictory]

It's about time we heard from someone like this.
Will the media listen and report, or will they decide (for those who might listen) that this should not make it through their "filter?" If so, will they admit the nature of that "filter?"

[not_apathetic_anymore]

You're right. I think the only fellow soldier heard from from the Kerry camp was the one wh's life was saved by Kerry who was on the stage in ?Iowa?.

Why haven't we heard from any of the others? Flattering reports from his fellow servicemen must not be out there because if they were I'm certain we'd have heard them over ABCCBSNBSMSNBSCNN.

[secretagent]

People should look up what you said during your "Winter Soldier" days.

Kerry testified April 1971 to the Foreign Relations Committee that a large number American soldiers

had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks,...

http://www.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/JohnKerryTestimony.html

If true, then no wonder Jane Fonda sided with the communists, especially since Kerry also said they had the better human rights record.

[harpo11]

""...and your leadership
is straight out of the "Waffle House"

Now that is classy. The whole article is superb. The writer's aim is right on the mark.

[MEG33]

I read an article describing how angry two of them were after Kerry's testimony..they said civilians were sometimes killed,never targeted and the scenes he described did not happen..Now one has forgiven and supports,the other can't forget his testimony,unsure of vote.I can't recall where I read it.