I'll reserve judgement until I can read Rood's piece later today (or whenever it becomes available on the web). But I have to say that the reporting of his comments does get to the heart of the one thing that bothers me about the Swifties: Albeit unintentionally, it casts doubts in the minds of the public on the honorable service of a lot of good men and women. It's not a side effect they seek, but I think it's a real consideration. My father is a Purple Heart recepient, and when I think of how this story might make other people wonder whether or not its legitimate because of how easy this story makes it seem to get one fraudulently, it tears me up inside.
No body is questioning the honorable service of our vets. We're questioning Kerry's misuse of that service for his personal political gain.
Don't worry, no one will question a purple heart from someone who doesn't write their own reports or have an agenda to run for office before he enters military service.
when I think of how this story might make other people wonder whether or not its legitimate because of how easy this story makes it seem to get one fraudulently, it tears me up inside.
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I understand what you are saying, and the swift vets story does cause more pain to more people who are trying to keep painful Vietnam memories way back in their minds.
But these men are entitled to make their concerns public about a man who came home and TRASHED his fellow military "brothers" in a disgusting way for years.
The net result is your father's service is dishonored by Kerry, and honored by the swiftees.
"This story" is Kerry's doing not the Swifties. Why should honorable men who've been blasted as neanderthal baby killers let him get away with his fraud?
Your dad knows how he got his Purple Heart, that's all that matters. Sometimes we worry too much about what other people think.
And another thing. How's your father's character? I bet it supports his purple heart. Your father knows the truth and I strongly suspect he has the character to withstand any doubts.
I'm sure people who know your father (as with any other vet or anyone else) have a pretty clear idea of what he's like, an impression that can only be reinforced by knowing about the Purple Heart. The Swift Vets are -- in some part -- so indignant, though, because they agree that awards should not be cheapened by those who used chicanery.
Realistically, though, I doubt that there's an honor or award in any field or area that doesn't have at least a few poseurs sporting it. Yassir Arafat won the Nobel Peace Prize, as did Mother Theresa -- it didn't change my opinion of either of them.
A lot of us know awards are given for politics, and to just give away an award to someone they want to motivate for service, also.
I know a well deserving Navy Achievement Medal given to a Marine I served with, me and him were almost equal in talent and abilities in our MOS at the time, but he was more mature than I and also figured out a way to hook up the comm equipment so we could communicate better, a way that was not in the books. I could set up camp better than he, operate as well, do Tactical Marine stuff better or as good, but he was just a little sharper than I in my MOS, and on one deployment, he was awarded the medal, and I think he was a fitting recipient.
I saved many swimmers from drowing in Hawaii, we handed them off to the lifeguards after we saved their sorrybutt in the waves off K-Bay.
But, the one time I escorted an officer back to shore, who had absolutely no trouble, she was just gone longer than her friends thought safe and they caled PMO and they launched a SAR aircraft to find her, well, because she was an officer, we all got letters signed from the Commanding General, our own C.O. and all that, stood up in formation, had a presentation, it was a hoot.
So, I know personnaly that some awards that are deserved are never given, and some awards are given just because of who was there and who you did the act for/with.
And some are given to dead men who are the salt of the Earth who deserved much more than a Purple Heart.
I'm glad you said this! I have two uncles who served in WWII. Both purple heart & bronze star winners. One landed on D-Day, the other fought through Africa & Italy right through the Battle of The Bulge.
Both had the same reaction to this debate. 'Many men don't get medals who deserve them because the guy gets killed or because there are no witnesses or because their C.O. is a jackass.' The idea that anybody could fake not one, but five, medals is a bit hard for them to swallow.
They're certainly not Kerry voters but they are really ticked off by this mess and both feel it's likely to backfire. At the very least they both feel that it casts doubt on every soldier's medal if the Swifties keep asserting that the system can be 'gamed' so easily.
And despite the fact that William Rood says he will not give more interviews (likely to avoid becoming embroiled in this fiasco)...he did post the photo of his Bronze Star citation as well as a photo of the after action report signed by Hoffman. It's possible that he doesn't feel that it's his obligation to subject himself to interrogation by the talking heads. He posted his statement and back-up evidence and leave it to the public to decide for itself.