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Vietnam Vets Speak Out on John Kerry
NewsMax, copied from WinterSoldier.com ^ | July 2, 2004 | Interesting Times

Posted on 07/03/2004 2:26:36 PM PDT by Interesting Times

Although John Kerry accumulated a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts in a relatively brief 4-month tour in Vietnam as a Swift Boat skipper, many of those who served on the combat patrol vessels in that era have come out swinging against the Democratic presidential candidate:



JOhn O'Neill"We resent very deeply the false war crimes charges he made coming back from Vietnam in 1971 and repeated in the book "Tour of Duty." We think those cast an aspersion on all those living and dead, from our unit and other units in Vietnam. We think that he knew he was lying when he made the charges, and we think that they're unsupportable. We intend to bring the truth about that to the American people.

We believe, based on our experience with him, that he is totally unfit to be the Commander-in-Chief."

– John O'Neill, spokesman, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

 

Adm. Hoffman"I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty and trust -- all absolute tenets of command. His biography, 'Tour of Duty,' by Douglas Brinkley, is replete with gross exaggerations, distortions of fact, contradictions and slanderous lies. His contempt for the military and authority is evident by even a most casual review of this biography. He arrived in-country with a strong anti-Vietnam War bias and a self-serving determination to build a foundation for his political future. He was aggressive, but vain and prone to impulsive judgment, often with disregard for specific tactical assignments. He was a 'loose cannon.' In an abbreviated tour of four months and 12 days, and with his specious medals secure, Lt.(jg) Kerry bugged out and began his infamous betrayal of all United States forces in the Vietnam War. That included our soldiers, our marines, our sailors, our coast guardsmen, our airmen, and our POWs. His leadership within the so-called Vietnam Veterans Against the War and testimony before Congress in 1971 charging us with unspeakable atrocities remain an undocumented but nevertheless meticulous stain on the men and women who honorably stayed the course. Senator Kerry is not fit for command."

– Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman, USN (retired), chairman, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

 

Capt. Plumly"During Lt.(jg) Kerry's tour, he was under my command for two or three specific operations, before his rapid exit. Trust, loyalty and judgment are the key, operative words. His turncoat performance in 1971 in his grubby shirt and his medal-tossing escapade, coupled with his slanderous lines in the recent book portraying us that served, including all POWs and MIAs, as murderous war criminals, I believe, will have a lasting effect on all military veterans and their families.

Kerry would be described as devious, self-absorbing, manipulative, disdain for authority, disruptive, but the most common phrase that you'd hear is 'requires constant supervision.'"

– Captain Charles Plumly, USN (retired)

 

Andrew Horne"Thirty-five years ago, many of us fell silent when we came back to the stain of sewage that Mr. Kerry had thrown on us, and all of our colleagues who served over there. I don't intend to be silent today or ever again. Our young men and women who are serving deserve no less."

– Andrew Horne


 

Jeffrey Wainscott"In my specific, personal experience in both coastal and river patrols over a 12-month period, I never once saw or heard anything remotely resembling the atrocities described by Senator Kerry. If I had, it would have been my obligation to report them in writing to a higher authority, and I would certainly have done that. If Senator Kerry actually witnessed or participated in these atrocities or, as he described them, 'war crimes,' he was obligated to report them. That he did not until later when it suited his political purposes strikes me as opportunism of the worst kind. That he would malign my service and that of his fellow sailors with no regard for the truth makes him totally unqualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief."

– Jeffrey Wainscott

 

Robert Elder"I signed that letter because I, too felt a deep sense of betrayal that someone who took the same oath of loyalty as I did as an officer in the United States Navy would abandon his group here (points to group photo) to join this group here (points to VVAW protest photo), and come home and attempt to rally the American public against the effort that this group was so valiantly pursuing.

It is a fact that in the entire Vietnam War we did not lose one major battle. We lost the war at home... and at home, John Kerry was the Field General."

– Robert Elder

 

Joseph Ponder"My daughters and my wife have read portions of the book 'Tour of Duty.' They wanted to know if I took part in the atrocities described. I do not believe the things that are described happened.

Let me give you an example. In Brinkley's book, on pages 170 to 171, about something called the 'Bo De massacre' on November 24th of 1968... In Kerry's description of the engagement, first he claimed there were 17 servicemen that were wounded. Three of us were wounded. I was the first..."

– Joseph Ponder

 

Grant Hibbard"While in Cam Rahn Bay, he trained on several 24-hour indoctrination missions, and one special skimmer operation with my most senior and trusted Lieutenant. The briefing from some members of that crew the morning after revealed that they had not received any enemy fire, and yet Lt.(jg) Kerry informed me of a wound -- he showed me a scratch on his arm and a piece of shrapnel in his hand that appeared to be from one of our own M-79s. It was later reported to me that Lt.(jg) Kerry had fired an M-79, and it had exploded off the adjacent shoreline. I do not recall being advised of any medical treatment, and probably said something like 'Forget it.' He later received a Purple Heart for that scratch, and I have no information as to how or whom.

Lt.(jg) Kerry was allowed to return to the good old USA after 4 months and a few days in-country, and then he proceeded to betray his former shipmates, calling them criminals who were committing atrocities. Today we are here to tell you that just the opposite is true. Our rules of engagement were quite strict, and the officers and men of Swift often did not even return fire when they were under fire if there was a possibility that innocent people -- fishermen, in a lot of cases -- might be hurt or injured. The rules and the good intentions of the men increased the possibility that we might take friendly casualties."

– Commander Grant Hibbard, USN (retired)

 

Lt.Col. Zumwalt"Lt. Kerry returned home from the war to make some outrageous statements and allegations... of numerous criminal acts in violation of the law of war were cited by Kerry, disparaging those who had fought with honor in that conflict. Had war crimes been committed by US forces in Vietnam? Yes, but such acts were few and far between. Yet Lt. Kerry have numerous speeches and testimony before Congress inappropriately leading his audiences to believe that what was only an anomaly in the conduct of America's fighting men was an epidemic. Furthermore, he suggested that they were being encouraged to violated the law of war by those within the chain of command.

Very specific orders, on file at the Vietnam archives at Texas Tech University, were issued by my father [Admiral Elmo Zumwalt] and others in his chain of command instructing subordinates to act responsibly in preserving the life and property of Vietnamese civilians."

– Lt. Col. James Zumwalt, USMC (retired)

 

Barnard Wolff"We look at Vietnam... after all these years it is still languishing in isolated poverty and helplessness and tyranny. This is John Kerry's legacy. I deeply resent John Kerry's using his Swift boat experience, and his betrayal of those who fought there as a stepping-stone to his political ambitions."

– Barnard Wolff


 

David Wallace"In a whole year that I spent patrolling, I didn't see anything like a war crime, an atrocity, anything like that. Time and again I saw American fighting men put themselves in graver danger trying to avoid... collateral damage.

When John Kerry returned to the country, he was sworn in front of Congress. And then he told my family -- my parents, my sister, my brother, my neighbors -- he told everyone I knew and everyone I'd ever know that I and my comrades had committed unspeakable atrocities."

– David Wallace

 

Capt. Elliott"I served with these guys. I went on missions with them, and these men served honorably. Up and down the chain of command there was no acquiescence to atrocities. It was not condoned, it did not happen, and it was not reported to me verbally or in writing by any of these men including Lt.(jg) Kerry.

In 1971, '72, for almost 18 months, he stood before the television audiences and claimed that the 500,000 men and women in Vietnam, and in combat, were all villains -- there were no heroes. In 2004, one hero from the Vietnam War has appeared, running for President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief. It just galls one to think about it."

– Captain George Elliott, USN (retired)

 

Capt. Lonsdale"During the Vietnam War I was Task Force Commander at An Thoi, and my tour of duty was 13 months, from the end of Tet to the beginning of the Vietnamization of the Navy units.

Now when I went there right after Tet, I was restricted in my movements. I couldn't go much of anyplace because the Vietcong controlled most of the area. When I left, I could go anywhere I wanted, just about. Commerce was booming, the buses were running, trucks were going, the waterways were filled with sampans with goods going to market, but yet in Kerry's biography he says that our operations were a complete failure. He also mentions a formal conference with me, to try to get more air cover and so on. That conference never happened..."

– Captain Adrian Lonsdale, USCG (retired)

 

William Shumadine"I was in An Thoi from June of '68 to June of '69, covering the whole period that John Kerry was there. I operated in every river, in every canal, and every off-shore patrol area in the 4th Corps area, from Cambodia all the way around to the Bo De River. I never saw, even heard of all of these so-called atrocities and things that we were supposed to have done.

This is not true. We're not standing for it. We want to set the record straight."

– William Shumadine

 

Richard O'Meara"In 1971, when John Kerry spoke out to America, labeling all Vietnam veterans as thugs and murderers, I was shocked and almost brought to my knees, because even though I had served at the same time and same unit, I had never witnessed or participated in any of the events that the Senator had accused us of. I strongly believe that the statements made by the Senator were not only false and inaccurate, but extremely harmful to the United States' efforts in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. Tragically, some veterans, scorned by the antiwar movement and their allies, retreated to a life of despair and suicide. Two of my crewmates were among them. For that there is no forgiveness. "

– Richard O'Meara

 

StevenGardner"My name is Steve Gardner. I served in 1966 and 1967 on my first tour of duty in Vietnam on Swift boats, and I did my second tour in '68 and '69, involved with John Kerry in the last 2 1/2 months of my tour. The John Kerry that I know is not the John Kerry that everybody else is portraying. I served alongside him and behind him, five feet away from him in a gun tub, and watched as he made indecisive moves with our boat, put our boats in jeopardy, put our crews in jeopardy... if a man like that can't handle that 6-man crew boat, how can you expect him to be our Commander-in-Chief?"

– Steven Gardner

 

Robert Brant"I served in Vietnam as a boat officer from June of 1968 to July of 1969. My service was three months in Coastal Division 13 out of Cat Lo, and nine months with Coastal Division 11 based in An Thoi. John Kerry was in An Thoi the same time I was. I'm here today to express the anger I have harbored for over 33 years, about being accused with my fellow shipmates of war atrocities.

All I can say is when I leave here today, I'm going down to the Wall to tell my two crew members it's not true, and that they and the other 49 Swiftees who are on the Wall were then and are still now the best."

– Robert Brant

 

James Steffes"I never saw, heard of, or participated in any Swift boat crews killing cattle, poisoning crops, or raping and killing civilians as charged by John Kerry, both in his book and in public statements. Since we both operated at the same time, in the same general area, and on the same missions under the same commanders, it is hard to believe his claims of atrocities and poor planning of Sea Lord missions.

I signed this letter because I feel that he used Swift boat sailors to proclaim his antiwar statements after the war, and now he uses the same Swift boat sailors to support his claims of being a war hero. He cannot have it both ways, and we are here to ask for full disclosure of the proof of his claims."

– James Steffes


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: johnkerry; kerry; newsmax; pilfery; swiftboats; swiftboatveterans; swiftvetsfortruth; swipeage; unfit; vietnamvets; wintersoldierdotcom
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To: Interesting Times

#19. Thanks for that link, also.


FReegards, D2


21 posted on 07/03/2004 3:03:42 PM PDT by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: Interesting Times

Thanks for this and Thanks to all these men and God bless them for winning all the battles in a war that Hanoi Jane and Hanoi John ruined every effort they made to preserve Liberty and Freedom. God Bless them all!


22 posted on 07/03/2004 3:12:42 PM PDT by JOE43270 (JOE43270 My vote goes for President Bush because he is a great leader and a good man.)
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To: Interesting Times
Kerry Heckled at Memorial Day Event

Excerpt:

Sen. John Kerry's record as an anti-war protester came back to haunt him on Memorial Day when he was confronted by a heckler as he tried to pay his respects to a soldier killed in the Vietnam War.

"How much money are you getting to betray our POWs?" an unidentified middle-aged woman shouted as Kerry visited the Vietnam Veterans memorial on the Washington Mall.

"Are you paying tribute to all the people you spat on, Senator Kerry?" she added.

< snip >

The heckling episode served to underscore the resentment many veterans still feel towards Kerry from his days as a leader with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, when he teamed up with anti-American actress Jane Fonda.


Lost Wallet

A guy was traveling through Mexico on vacation when, lo and behold, he lost his wallet and all identification.

Cutting his trip short, he attempts to make his way home but is stopped by the Customs Agent at the border.

"May I see your identification, please?" asks the agent.

"I'm sorry, but I lost my wallet," replies the guy.

"Sure, buddy, I hear that every day. No ID, no crossing the border," says the agent.

"But I can prove that I'm an American!" he exclaims. "I have a picture of Ronald Reagan tattooed on one butt cheek and a picture of George Bush on the other."

"This I gotta see," replies the agent. With that, Joe drops his pants and bends over in front of the agent. ! "By golly, you're right!" exclaims the agent. "Go on home to Boston."

"Thanks!" he says. "But how did you know I was from Boston?"

The agent replies, "I recognized the picture of John Kerry in the middle."





23 posted on 07/03/2004 3:18:05 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Become a monthly donor on FR. No amount is too small and monthly giving is the way to go !)
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To: Interesting Times

Vietnam Veteran Bump


24 posted on 07/03/2004 3:37:48 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Member: International Brotherhood of Tagline Thieves!)
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To: Interesting Times

Thanks, appropriate time for this reminder.


25 posted on 07/03/2004 3:43:02 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: KeyLargo
The statements of these veterans will not see the light of day in the mainstream media.

You're probably right. This is why I'm encouraging all of you here to take these facts and put them in letters to the editor of your local paper. Believe me, people really do read the letters to the editor section! I'm drafting a letter now in which I will point out Kerry's communist sympathies and his lies about Vietnam. This may have some impact, as my area has many veterans. Please pull a few of these quotes and the facts we all have at our disposal about Kerry, and get them "out there" however you can.

26 posted on 07/03/2004 3:44:34 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: EGPWS

BILL Clinton wasn't the dangerous one....HILLARY Clinton was and remains the dangerous one.....

Of course she was the one making the decisions for 8 years....


27 posted on 07/03/2004 4:37:10 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Kerry renames the US The People's Republic of America)
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To: Interesting Times
Heheheh

Them rascals.

Interesting Times: Chris, where did you get this info, could you tell us?

Chris Ruddy: No Swett.

Interesting Times: Wanna bet?

Good catch, they didn't get off Scott free...

28 posted on 07/03/2004 4:42:17 PM PDT by Syncro
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To: MikeinIraq
Of course she was the one making the decisions for 8 years....

Ahm, of course HE was POTUS.

29 posted on 07/03/2004 4:43:58 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: EGPWS

sure HE was....but who do you think was making the decisions? I mean really.....come on now....


30 posted on 07/03/2004 4:45:27 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Kerry renames the US The People's Republic of America)
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To: SheLion
Put me on that "ping list" SheLion" or else.....Why if you don't, I'll, well I'll spend my time at FR with a feeling of disappointment! ; )
31 posted on 07/03/2004 4:47:44 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: MikeinIraq
sure HE was....but who do you think was making the decisions? I mean really.....come on now....Who was elected?

Who was able to deceive the people of our country to allow Hitlery to run things?

32 posted on 07/03/2004 4:50:04 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: mountaineer; Carl/NewsMax; Steve Malzberg; Interesting Times; Mia T; Travis McGee; ...
   K E R R I O K I   



SO WHY DID YOU LEAVE THEM?




         
          


  CUT AND RUN KERRY
33 posted on 07/03/2004 4:52:18 PM PDT by devolve (---------------- [--------------Hello from Sunny South Florida-------------)
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To: EGPWS

I didn't say that he wasn't the show man.....but she was running things behind the scenes....thats what I HAVE been saying all through these posts...


34 posted on 07/03/2004 4:52:49 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Kerry renames the US The People's Republic of America)
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To: MikeinIraq
I didn't say that he wasn't the show man.....but she was running things behind the scenes....thats what I HAVE been saying all through these posts...

I understand and agree with you, however Hitlery without Bill would have never, ever achieved the status she has obtained with the misguided in our country.

35 posted on 07/03/2004 4:55:44 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: EGPWS

of course not....

objectively, they are a helluva team......frightening huh?


36 posted on 07/03/2004 4:56:50 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Kerry renames the US The People's Republic of America)
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To: Interesting Times

Thanx


37 posted on 07/03/2004 4:57:01 PM PDT by nuconvert ( "Let Freedom Reign !" ) ( Azadi baraye Iran)
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To: MikeinIraq
frightening huh?

Yep, however a call to arms would be more appropriate!

Dubya MUST win this next election, and if not our personal concerns will change drastically!

38 posted on 07/03/2004 5:00:09 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: devolve
Good one !

39 posted on 07/03/2004 5:00:56 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Become a monthly donor on FR. No amount is too small and monthly giving is the way to go !)
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To: SAMWolf

I stayed my entire tour. Kerry became an expert on Vietnamese people in a few months? He told of atrocities he committed as well as others? He should return to congress and tell them exactly what , where and when he saw the atrocities. He was an officer and he was supposed to report these things. He did not do it until he had the limelight showing on him. He acted out a part and in doing that he sullied the reputations of thousands of men and women that served honorably. Kerry knew nothing of the Vietnamese people. He was plotting his political future and he was doing it while turning a knife in the back of his fellow soldiers. John Kerry is a despicable imperious fop. He deserves to be chastised by the congress for either lying and not doing his sworn duty as an officer in the military.


40 posted on 07/03/2004 5:01:00 PM PDT by oldironsides
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