Hardened Hearts: A Vet Speaks Out

Insight on the News - Commentary ^ | 9/25/04 | Theodore Pierce

[Elkiejg]

I celebrated my 18th birthday by joining the United States Army. I wanted to go to Viet Nam to fight the communists. I got my wish; from October of 1969 to October of 1970 I was in the central highlands of the Republic of South Viet Nam.

Unlike JF Kerry I found the Vietnamese to be an honorable, industrious people worthy of the fight to protect them from communism. I did not see a lot of action there, but my life was in danger to varying degrees, every day for my one year tour.

Now I mention this not to wear it as a badge. Not to go into my boss's office and demand his job because he did not go. I don't crow about it, brag or call people cowards for getting deferments. I only wish to put my following statements in context.

I returned from Viet Nam with the normal commendations for doing a soldier's job. I received no purple heart, nor did I want one. I had no political aspirations. I wanted to be on the giving side. I wanted to provide "Charlie" with as many as possible. My tour of duty is imprinted into my memory.

It rests within me and gives me strength in hard times. Friends made, friends lost; a teenager became a man in a far off alien country. A lot of my memories have now become hazy; over thirty-four years can do that.

What has not become hazy is the treatment I got on my return home. I received what I call my "hardened hearts".

The first was handed to me in the Seattle Airport where, in uniform; I was waved over by a beautiful young woman. After a year away from home my heart was fluttering, until she called me a "baby killer". I was hurt but I shrugged it off.

My next award occurred when I was outside walking down a street trying to hail a taxi. An "Easy Rider" Peter Fonda look-alike on a Harley made a corner. I looked at him with an admiration of the free spirit he appeared to exemplify. He flipped me off and spewed expletives in my direction (from a safe distance). At this point I felt a jolt of anger, and my heart began to ossify.

My last hardened heart, one of cold steel, came in April of 1971 when John "turncoat" Kerry testified that my fellow soldiers and I were war criminals committing atrocities on a daily basis.

His fallacious testimony gave aid and comfort to our enemy while we had soldiers in the field and prisoners in the Hanoi Hilton. He played a major role in the portrayal of brave men as "baby killers". He established himself as the "New Soldier" as his book states, just like the new patriots who turn their back on the flag during the national anthem.

The typical democrat peaceniks that despised me because of my uniform I would expect to have a disdain for the military, but now we have Senator JF Kerry wanting me to forget what he did after he left Viet Nam.

Now over the years my hardened hearts have been softened by marriage, children and working hard on my own American dream. But now this patrician collaborator wants to be my president. The man who created an environment where returning soldiers were spit at and castigated as "baby Killers" wants to be Commander -in-Chief.

My heart is not as hard as it was, but my mind is still sharp enough to see a lying manipulative, opportunistic, hero of the Vietnamese resistance when he reports for duty.

Flush the John's.

[Elkiejg]

A traitor is a traitor is a traitor.

[risk]

What has not become hazy is the treatment I got on my return home. I received what I call my "hardened hearts".

Never again.

[Jet Jaguar]

Never.

[GailA]

I totally concur both with this fine man's assessment of hanoi john and you.

[Cricket24]

I agree!

Flush the Johns!

This should be our rallying cry!

Flush the Johns!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Thanks for posting

Welcome home Theodore Pierce. Hope you had a chance to see your brothers and sisters speaking out on CSPAN.

[Elkiejg]

Hope you had a chance to see your brothers and sisters speaking out on CSPAN.

DITTO. I watched the entire event - very emotional. I would hope CSPAN would run it again.

[xtinct]

[Iowa Granny]

God Bless you Theodore Pierce. And Welcome Home.

[wildcatf4f3]

I find it ludicrous that the dems say Bush is a divider and then nominate the front-man for the VVAW. Anyone else see the contradiction?

[AFPhys]

I was personally spit on, as were many of my friends.

A buddy of mine here at Cornell had blood thrown at him, and others were assaulted.

This was due to sKerry's "testimony" of lies at the "hearings" as much as anything else. sKerry gave great credibility to knee-jerk egotistical pacifist isolationists. His charges against our brave military men have not been forgotten - but the Swifties are reminding the 'Nam vets and their families EXACTLY WHO did that testimony, and many of us who remembered that testimony had forgotten who had created such lies.

The effect on the morale of our troops was devastating. The leadership of the country was devastated, too. They had already been in a defensive mode to begin with instead of an aggressive "win the war" mode - they went into a "buy our way out of it" mode. Some pointed with credibility to sKerry's "we'd have to protect 3000 S.Vietnamese who might be harmed by the NV" --- that was always complete bunk, but people WANTED to believe it. Over Three million were killed after we left. sKerry was wrong there, and he lied about the rest, too. If the hearings had been more positive, it might have defused the peaceniks a bit, and we may well have gone on to make an attempt to stop micromanaging that conflict, and let our guys win the war.

Many of the culprits have recognized they were wrong - take David Horowitz as an example, as well as many FReepers who have stated as much here. sKerry is still trying to defend his indefensible actions.

Kerry's a bona fide liar. He and his VVAW buddies encouraged others to lie. He is as close to a traitor as anybody I know of.

I stated (at length in discussions) on a thread a some time ago that this is now not only a battle between the SwiftVets and the peaceniks of the 60s, but that this campaign has become a battle - a great battle - between the Old Media Fraudcasters and other mediots, and the New Media - with talk radio/ internet/ blogs.

This has become a battle to the death. Only one will be left standing. The 'Nam Vets (including me and many of my fellows in arms) are not going to be able to be silenced by the President or by the Demodogs or by the Fraudcasters. We know the truth. There is a great well of support we can draw on, and righteous anger about the way we have been treated. Many others are just as angry about how they have been misled by the Fraudcasters and the NYSlimes, et al, and they are now seeing a way to "get a bit of their own back."

Give the VietNam Vets the Parade they Never Got.

DEFEAT KERRY

[RVN Airplane Driver]

THE VIETNAM VETERAN IN 2004

People who never served in Vietnam have a hard time understanding the absolute disdain for John Kerry harbored by most Vietnam Veterans.

It starts with the fact that he turned his back on his Brothers in Arms and returned home early after lying about the action’s for which he was awarded 3 purple hearts. Then due to his “station” in life, and associated contacts, (the Kennedy’s) he next set about to make himself a national figure, which he did, culminating with his false testimony before Congress about events and atrocities that never happened. He then proceeds to hold “peace talks” with representative of the North Vietnamese government in Paris, which most view as a federal crime.

It is pretty obvious that the North Vietnamese knew that he had no role in the peace process, but they let him play the part of a “useful idiot” to exploit his actions later. POW’s in the North Vietnamese prisons were tortured as a result of his false testimony. My fellow pilots and I will never forget or forgive him for that seemingly treasonous activity.

As a result of John Kerry’s lies there may be as many as 20,000 names on the Wall that need not be. General Giap in his memoirs stated that after they were soundly defeated in TET 68 they were ready to capitulate. But then they began to watch the anti-war activity in the US carried on by the likes of John Kerry (whose picture hangs in a Museum in Ho Chi Minh City honoring the North Vietnamese war effort) and the VVAW they became embolden to carry on. Good Men Died because Kerry Lied.

Historians generally agree that John Kerry was the driving factor behind the US to completely withdraw, not only its forces from Vietnam, but more importantly the money to support the South Vietnamese; who at that time could have defended themselves quite well. As a result of his lies, before the Congress of the United States, and the ultimate fall of the South Vietnamese Government, it was labeled a war that the United States lost. Vietnam Veterans to this day are ashamed of their Government for abandoning their South Vietnamese people and the resultant deaths and misery.

John Kerry had a hand in million or more South Vietnamese dead…as a result of his lies.

John Kerry had a hand in perhaps as many as 3 million dead Cambodians, butchered by Pol Pot…. because of his lies.

Kerry’s actions affected every Vietnam Veteran in a deep and personal way. Yes there was some spitting on folks returning, but that was rare for the most part and could be washed off. Frankly, most of those freaks were not brave enough to try that on a battle tested veteran for fear of their lives.

What wasn’t rare is that it was a liability to put on a job application that you were a Vietnam Vet. I remember distinctly, a friend telling me…. don’t waste your time…nobody cares. I had falsely assumed that being in Command of 10 airplanes and all the Pilots and Maintenance folks in a Combat zone should indicate some management ability. My thinking was: Not bad experience for a 27 yr old college graduate. I soon discovered, probably largely as a result of John Kerry’s lies, that was not the case.

Also what wasn’t rare was the fact that you never mentioned that you were a Vietnam Veteran. I remember after the Victory in the first Gulf War feeling so proud for the first time for my fellow soldiers and Vietnam Vets as many of us were included in the welcome home parades some 20 years plus after most of us came home.

Many of the younger generation say: “Forget what happened 35 years ago; what does it have to do with the issues today”?

Our answer: Just three words need to be said: Duty, Honor, Country. Kerry has displayed in his every action since 1968 that he knows nothing of the meaning of those words. Never has, never will….. He truly is UNfit for Command. By the way John, an apology will not work. Don’t waste your time. We know that would just be another lie!!

[JOE43270]

I am not a combat veteran, I am a Viet Nam era vet. The combat vets are higher up the ladder than I and I Honor them and consider them my big Brothers. They did a Great job and fought Honorably. They won the war that Hanoi john eventually lost for us all. I stand with all of my Brothers and will continue to Honor them.

[PROUDAMREP]

My heart aches for the mistreatment these veterans received for following their orders and fighting for freedom. It is still inconceivable to me that Americans would do this to their soldiers, but communists and socialists know no bounds in their treasonous acts against our country.

My prayers are we will send Kerry and his ilk out of Washington and the statehouses on Nov 2nd!

[YOUGOTIT]

Thank You. You said it better than I could. My heart is still hard and I see it happening again with Iraq as the left-wing again spits on the protectors of freedom. Welcome home brother.

[SLB]

Keeper. Thanks for posting.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

I know of a certain young man who was a green beret who arrived at Seattle Airport after serving a tour in Viet Nam. While walking through the airport, he was confronted with a anti-war male hippie. The hippie kept calling the soldier(Green Beret)obscene names and made the mistake of following the soldier into the men's room. Well after afew more obscenities were uttered the hippie suddenly fell to the floor grimacing in pain. The Green Beret exited the men's room with a smile on his face caught his flight home to Alabama with grace. Everyday I remember this story which brings back that smile to my face. For God and Country. "Don't Tread On Us"

[sport]

Bump

[W. W. SMITH]

[People who never served in Vietnam have a hard time understanding the absolute disdain for John Kerry harbored by most Vietnam Veterans.]

When kerry lied in front of congress he maligned every man who has worn a uniform of this nation from it's inception to that far distant date when we are no more.
Vietnam Era Veteran

[FranApple]

Give the VietNam Vets the Parade they Never Got.

DEFEAT KERRY

Give the VietNam Vets the Parade they Never Got.

DEFEAT KERRY

Give the VietNam Vets the Parade they Never Got.

DEFEAT KERRY

[HurricaneD]

You are right. The war was not lost by the men and women serving their country. Victory was given to the communists by John Kerry, gutless politicians, a treasonous media and worthless protesters that had no appreciation for their freedoms. Kerry and company are still at it. He not only does not deserve to be president, he doesn't deserve to be an
American. He should move to France. They deserve each other.

[womcg]

Good job. Nobody spit on me, but: An executive told me that his bosses were afraid to hire a combat vet due to the stories about war crimes. A very pretty graduate student told me to stop arguing with a professor because "everybody knew there were only a few NVA volunteers in the south" ( an interesting comment since I had been with a recon uint of the 101st). 25 years later, after a career in law enforcement and academia, I was pointedly asked by a Federal interviewer if I was sure I didn't use drugs, or become violent, because my paperwork mentioned a Purple Heart and Nam service. John Kerry used his "ticketpunching" to add to and support the lies and propaganda of the Left, and of the Communist disinformation campaigns in the US. He, perhaps more than any single person, helped establish the vile myths about good men and honorable servce. GWB might have been a NG puke, but he never called me and my buddies "War Criminals".

[RVN Airplane Driver]

After the first time I was shot at I wished I was a NG "puke"... Actually the mission that the F-102's flew for ADC was no cake walk and for a brand new butter bar flying in all kinds of weather had to be a crotch tightner for sure.

[TedReed]

Thank you Mr. Pierce for your story. I am a Deasert storm veteran and we got back from Kuwait we got nothing buy cheers and congrats. I wish you and all Vietnam veterans would have
gotten the same. Thank You and all Veitnam veterans for sering.
Ted Reed

[womcg]

No argument. I respect his flying and mission. Think he's a good C-in-C, and my opinion of Kerry is unprintable. But I have an infantry soldiers biases, still. Front line combat infantrymen view the world through a selective (and perhaps unfair) portal. The longer he survives and the more combat he sees, the more he's convinced that everybody who is not a combat infantryman( or with him) is a REMF. It's not true, it's unfair, and it mellows with time. But it is also part of what makes a grunt do his job.
That's not to say that I didn't reflect on my judgement in volunteering for airborne infantry a few times. In fact, the weight of my ruck, the steepness of the mountains, and the amount of fire coming at us, tended to make me reflect like hell. But I wouldn't trade my CIB for a stateside Generals stars.

[citizen]

Vietnam Vet bump

[solo gringo]

John F'NG Kerry to this day embraces the communist and would do anything to bring them to power in the united states.Even try to win the highest office in our land to promote their cause.

[Mamzelle]

bump--Order of the Hardened Heart...

[AFPhys]

I'll reprint something I wrote a week or so ago...

...

Many of us who had a choice attempted to minimize the likelihood of our death while we were serving our country, and as I said before, I do not fault either President Bush or Sen.sKerry for the service route they chose. By doing so, they served their country in the way the country asked. Where they served was up to the country: for some (many) it was being a soldier slogging around the jungle (rainforest, for you in RioLinda) or keeping his head down in 'Nam; for a very lucky friend of mine, it meant spending his whole service as a carpool driver in Washington, DC. By doing what the country asked, and doing it well, they all did their duty.

That being said, I suspect that it didn't turn out as either of them really hoped it would... From what I read, it seems that when sKerry volunteered for SwiftBoats, they were not usually expected to
participate in combat, but that changed about the time he volunteered for them. From what I know, the F-102 aircraft Pres.Bush's Air National Guard unit flew had been used in 'Nam and was phased out of that service in favor of F4's about the time Bush volunteered for 'Nam - and BELIEVE ME - every fighter-qualified pilot wants to get into a combat situation (at least once).

...

I salute each and every one who performed the duty our country asked with honor, courage and integrity. Those who were unfairly demeaned after serving in VietNam are owed a great debt by America, especially by those who, like sKerry, were instrumental in causing that.

Soundly whipping sKerry and the philosophy he has represented is the best way now to thank them.
.

[AFPhys]

angkor, please forgive me for reposting this from something you wrote a while back... It more concisely illustrates the falsehood sKerry has perpetrated better than anything I've ever seen.

-------

My wife who is Vietnamese (now American citizen) grew up on the Delta, and has relatives everywhere in the area - Vietnamese extended families tend to be fairly huge: Sa Dec, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Ha Tien.

Until earlier this year my wife was unfamiliar with Kerry. But she's now heard of his 1971 charges, and they just don't jibe with reality. On the issue of "atrocities", she's never heard a whisper, a peep, a rumor or anything else from her family or friends while growing up on the Delta, nor anything from her many Vietnamese-American friends here in the States, many of whom are older and would certainly remember. After all, many of the Vietnamese oldsters remember and despise the French for their behavior before 1954.

They have no such memories of American soldiers and navy on the Delta.

Quite the opposite. My wife's single encounter with the U.S. military was to be escorted home by a sailor when lost as a toddler (yes, she remembers getting some candy). My brother-in-law told me last year (as we sat in front of a former Navy base on the Mekong) that "When the Americans were here we were all happy. Now there's only sadness."

When in Saigon last Novemeber, the USS Vangergrift docked in the Port Of Saigon, the first U.S. Navy ship to be there since 1975. The Vietnamese in Saigon were excited and happy to see Americans returning to the city. I saw many smiles and many happy people greeting our sailors.

Having spent a lot of time on the Delta, the worst thing I ever heard about America was that we withdrew our military support commitments in 1975, when they were most needed. This from a former air traffic controller who spoke flawless English with an odd 1970's slang.

To this very day, the South Vietnamese have high admiration for America and for what we tried to do in the 60's and 70's.

If there were atrocities committed on ther Delta, John Kerry seems to be the only person who knows about them.

One last thing: since he won Iowa in March (?), Kerry has been covered in the Vietnamese-American newspapers with more then the usual scrutiny. He is widely reviled as a "phan boi", or traitor, and is no friend of the South Vietnamese people now in America.

---

Give the VietNam Vets the Parade They Never Got.

DEFEAT KERRY !!!

/

[An American In Dairyland]

I was personally spit on, as were many of my friends.

Thank you for your service. I'd just like to add that this treatment wasn't limited to those who served in Vietnam. My husband was drafted into the Army in 1971 but was sent to Panama and served 2 years there. Upon returning to the states, he was treated to the same contempt and abuse as those who served in Vietnam.

[MortMan]

Just for those readers who do not understand the afectionate terms thrown about by servicemen, a "puke" is not really an epithet, folks. The service is a highly competitive environment, and trash talk is part of the landscape. Just ask a REMF (Rear Echelon MoFo:-)!

Bless all veterans... Myself included.

[Mamzelle]

phan boi...interesting. What is the literal translation?

Fan Boy!

[AFPhys]

Exactly.

The exciting success of Desert Storm was the first thing that really served to purge much of America's scorn. President Reagan gave the military respectability again, but it really took that 1991 victory to really bring us back, and all of us who served between 'Nam and then were looked down on, too.

Our military sacrifices so much, even in peacetime, that it is unforgiveable to not recognize them as the true enforcers of the liberty we all have in this country.

Defeating sKerry very, very soundly would be quite cathartic, and the best gift that America can now give to the Vets.
.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

John Kerry phan boi

Rolls easily off the tongue

[Valin]

Why Kerry should not be president.

He was/is dumb enough to think that Viet-Nam/Viet-Nam era vets would forget what he did, and keep our mouths shut.

[Valin]

People who never served in Vietnam have a hard time understanding the absolute disdain for John Kerry harbored by most Vietnam Veterans.

It starts with the fact that he turned his back on his Brothers in Arms and returned home early after lying about the action’s for which he was awarded 3 purple hearts.

In reading "Unfit For Command" it appears that his "Band of Brothers" were not exactly overcome with grief at his leaving. He was considered a BAD, DANGEROUS officer, (according to the book) he was encouraged to leave early.

[Valin]

I was a cop in the AF. one night at a party I ran into a bunch of "Peace Activists" they started with the whole baby killer thing. I asked them if they were pacifists, "yes we don't believe in fighting!" "Oh good (says I) I'm not, and Uncle Sam has spent tens of thousands of dollar to teach me to do one thing...beat the crap out of people (incert evil smile here). And if you don't get out of my face and shut your trap I'll be happy to show you how good I am at it!"

The look on there faces even today brings a smile to my face.

[GailA]

My husband never went to Nam, he did his 4 year hitch doing A & E for the Mace Missile on first Santa Rosa Island, FL then on Okinawa. But he feels exactly the same as those who did go to Nam about hanoi john and hanoi jane...traitors both of them.

Those missing pages of his record makes you wonder just how bad were his performance reports. Did they show his cowardace?

[Valin]

Those missing pages of his record makes you wonder just how bad were his performance reports.

He'll NEVER release them. His whole political career is based on those 4 months.

"Reporting for duty!"
my ass.

[happygrl]

Thanks to both of you for deeply honest posts.

I worked with several men for a number of years before they alluded to their service in Viet Nam.

It was something that they couldn't trust to share with just anyone.

I truly believe that, just as God in heaven intervened to deliver George Bush as our president in 2000, that this campaign exposing Kerry is also Providential, and cathartic for the Viet Nam Veterans who now have a platform for the truth to be exposed.

Kerry, in his campaigning theis week, sounded just exactly like he did in those news clips from 1971 when he "testified" before Congress. What amazes me to this day is why he was received with such credulity by those elected officials. Their fawning over him disgusts me to this day.

Surely some strange Spirit was in the air at that time for such a self-aggrandizing young man to have been given such power and homage.

As you have indicated AFPhys, it was the Media that give strength and power to Kerry's message.

It was the Media that was Channeling a Maelevolent Spirit.

They must be Exorcised.

[happygrl]

a certain young man

"friend of yours" ?

>>grin<<

Good on ya!

[happygrl]

Your story brought a smile to my face as well.

Thanks for sharing.

[Bob]

He was/is dumb enough to think that Viet-Nam/Viet-Nam era vets would forget what he did, and keep our mouths shut.

He thunk wrong.

[combat_boots]

Amen to that comment. JFK.....KFJ. Kandidate of F'n JackS$'t, rising from a combat wannabe to a 2nd-hand gigolo, to a career patrician politician trying to buy the White House. Supported by communists and the godless around the world. For him, Iraq is Nam II. I can see the miles of yellow streaking down the desert now, straight down his back sitting comfortably here stateside, while he leave our guys there in the lurch, and many of theirs to face the fanatics, where again, we would see acres of skulls bleaching in the sun, a la Pol Pot.

Loser. This man is, as I say, a 9/10 man in a post 9/11 world. It is not a world he can talk, cheat or buy his way out of.

[nmh]

BTTT!

[greatgranny]

Thanks to all of the Nam vets and Welcome Home. It breaks my heart to think that those so called Americans would treat our vets this way.

I had an uncle that is still listed as missing or dead from WWII.

To think that he and all those that died in WWII and other wars died for these jerks so they have the freedom so they could go around and protest against anything they wanted. They have no idea what their freedom has cost. All the way from 1776 to the present, we have fought so that these ass holes could do what they are doing not just to our military but to everybody.

I had another uncle that was in the Navy who was a Japanese pow in WWII for 4 years. He got out alive, came home, but he couldn't or wouldn't talk or tell us about what happened. We all understood. He died year ago from cancer.

Both of my uncles are heroes in my book. All of our vets are heroes. I love you all.

Selfish &*^%$#@. That is what they are. I mean the protesters, rats etc. Not our military. All of them are my Heroes.

[PISANO]

Many of us on this board experienced what you so aptly call your "Hardened Hearts". That is why we want our present day Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to NEVER experience what we did. Sad to say, Kerry is making it happen again today with his hate filled spew and outright treasonous behaviour.

The thought of this guy as the C-in-C makes my blood boil!!

Welcome HOME, my brother, WELCOME HOME!