Posted on 08/19/2004 12:50:51 PM PDT by gilliam
Statement by Navy Veteran Van Odell, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, in Rebuttal to Michael Dobbs, Washington Post, August 19, 2004
A courageous, soft spoken man of the Midwest, Larry Thurlow has a heart bigger than the great plains and a commitment to truth and honesty that is boundless. He is under attack, because John Kerry is feeling the heat of truth at the hands of this honest man and others like him.
The Kerry Campaign is attacking the truthfulness of this man and the Bronze Star he so richly deserves for his actions on March 13, 1969. I was there. I saw what happened.
The mine’s detonation lifted PCF-3 completely out of the water just yards ahead of me. All boats commenced suppression fire in case enemy small arms fire ensued. None did.
All boats came to the aid of PCF-3, except one: John Kerry’s boat. Kerry fled.
Larry Thurlow piloted his boat straight toward the mine-damaged PCF-3 from which thick, black smoke billowed. He jumped aboard and personally led damage control operations that saved the boat and rescue operations that saved the lives of badly wounded men. Larry’s leadership was in the highest traditions of the naval service. His leadership allowed the other men and boats of the mission to exit the river safely.
This “single act of meritorious service” – the chief requirement of the Bronze Star – should be honored, not ridiculed, by the Kerry campaign and its allies in the mainstream media.
To reiterate, only one enemy weapon was deployed that day – the command-detonated submerged mine that disabled PCF-3. Larry Thurlow’s citation contained references to “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire,” because that was the language chosen by John Kerry who penned the “spot report” on the action that day. There was no “enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire” received that day. John Kerry’s report was fiction – a hoax on the entire chain of command.
Larry Thurlow’s heroism and meritorious service, however, is real. To me Larry is one of the heroes of our country. He is a man who served his country when called and who returned home to be a productive citizen. Larry and men like him are the strong backbone of our society. I am proud to have served with him.
Devastating.
WOW
Ooops. Methinks Kerry is attacking the wrong man. Kerry's helping a guy out of the water does not play well to Thurlow jumping aboard the damaged boat and leading damage control.
Wow ... fld the scene. IF this gets spun .....
These guys are GOOD.
The bottom line is: someone lied! These vets have NOTHING to gain from lying, whereas John Kerry is seeking THE MOST POWERFUL job on earth...if I was a lawyer, I'd say the motive requires further investigation.
Sounds like Thurlow did infinitely more that day in the heroic realm than did Jean Fraude Kerri.
I am so glad that these guys rapidly respond to the attacks on them! Like Rush pointed out today, notice their story HASN'T CHANGED.
But Kerry's does!
254 versus 7. Any attack on the 254 will be met with strong retorts like this one. Good!
Two words that should be seared, seared into the minds of all Americans.
I can see Kerry and Edwards huddled beneath their desks saying:
"Who are those guys?"
...fled the seen...Kerry is not only a traitor, but a coward...I guess the two go hand n hand.
Kerry: "When you need someone to flee....call me"
The Dems'next commander-in-chief.
I am waiting for a very clever troll from another thread to show up here.
This is great information. I just wish it would get the coverage and dispersement it deserves.
The ABB crowd won't care, but the truley undecideds might be willing to listen. (maybe)
Any comments from the media on this???
Hello Rassman.
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.