Posted on 01/15/2006 4:00:20 PM PST by armydawg1
Jack Murtha's 'Fake' Purple Hearts - An Open Letter
May 5, 2002
Dear Jack,
I’m writing on matters of joint concern. A number of weeks ago I was talking with someone who is a mutual acquaintance and your name came up. It was an unusually frank discussion and I considered it private. I did relate some opinions about you and shared some recollections about experiences with you in Congress. I was, to be honest, critical about how you misled me about ABSCAM where you convinced me you had voluntarily told federal agents about the offer of money to you and I learned later, after I had successfully defeated the ethics charges against you, that you had merely manipulated the system to cooperate with federal agents to avoid prosecution.
I also shared my recollection of when you admitted, back in our corner, that you didn’t earn your purple hearts (you indicated you had small scratch on your cheek that wasn’t even directly related to an APC that ran over a small anti personnel mine that was behind you). The other purple heart you even declined to explain.
At the time you were feeling particularly vulnerable, because it wasn’t too long after you had called me crying and sobbing, thanking me for “saving your life” before the ethics committee. There was no doubt in my mind that you were expressing to me that you did not believe you did anything sufficient to earn the purple heart, and that you didn’t want to be active in my efforts to laud Vietnam Veterans that served with us.
Given what I know about the brave men who served in the Marine Corp., I did not criticize you, but to be honest, I was shocked and disappointed in you personally. We both knew what was at issue, and we both know what happened and that you wanted to avoid the limelight. Later, we ended up having to run for the same seat. It was a good clean race and I admit I knew I couldn’t win, simply on the basis of voter turn out alone. During that time some people came to me with documents indicating you had used influence, after the fact, or had embellished your purple heart awards. I did not respond, and I said nothing. In doing so I may have betrayed my comrades in arms because I knew then what you had told me in the corner of the house - but I had told no one about that and I stood mute. But a few weeks ago my conversation was private and I was not seeking to do you any harm, though it would be ridiculous for me to infer that I have any respect for what you’ve done.
Regardless, shortly thereafter a reporter called me and I was put in a very different position. I could either deny what I said in private conversation, and thus lie, or I could fess up to the truth, or, I could take the cowards way out and stand mute. If I say something, I should either have the courage to back it up, or I shouldn’t open my mouth. Regardless it was too late, and I did not choose to lie. So I admitted to what I had said. However, I later received two calls from two different aides of yours, and later I was called a liar in the press. I am not a liar and I want an apology for the remarks you authorized that I didn’t tell the truth about our conversation. I don’t know how you got yourself awarded the purple hearts, but I know you indicated you didn’t earn them.
By the way. I’m not an ingrate. I deeply appreciate the help you gave me for the last governor’s primary. In fact, out of respect for you, when I realized that the race was going no where, I didn’t even cash the check you sent, (which I kept). Being grateful for your help, I have not sought to hurt you - but I will not betray or exploit the young men who died while fighting, with me, for this country. Never coming forward is one thing - I never have. Lying is another. Coincidentally I just settled an 11-year old law suit with Barbara Hafer where she apologized in writing for campaign defamation and admitted that federal agents (Thornburgh’s political friends) lied to her. I will not accept your falsehoods now. Enough is enough.
You clearly indicated to me in a moment of weakness, that you hadn’t deserved the purple hearts and there was no confusion on that. You may deny that all you wish - but you and I know that that conversation took place. Please apologize now. You may fool a few reporters into believing that merely because you got some perfunctory paperwork made out by a friend, that that means you earned the purple hearts. But even if you were awarded the medals later, there should be affidavits from witnesses. These things should be easy to get - where are they? I bet they don’t exist Jack because you are the one who’s lying. Luckily there’s one easy way to settle all this. Call a press conference. Explain where you were and what you were doing when you got the purple hearts. Explain who was with you and treated your wounds, but most important Jack describe your wounds or the lack thereof, as you did for me, years ago. I am absolutely certain that you won’t do that - because, though you may have manipulated some paperwork that says you were awarded the medals (for political purposes) you can’t produce the witnesses or documents to show any wounds or circumstances under which they occurred.Unless the Marine Corps gives out medals for unsubstantiated non -combat related telltale scratches, procured for use in political campaign - then show me the money Jack - because there should at least be evidence by affidavit, or record of the scratches, that’s what getting a purple heart requires - show me.
You may be able to take advantage of a few Washington reporters who don’t have sufficient experience to understand - but you can’t fool combat veterans of the Vietnam war by hiding behind “Unit” losses - we’re used to those stories. I have my orders describing my combat awards Jack - to back up my DD-214. Where’s your’s? And Jack - don’t ever call me a liar.
Sincerely,
Don Bailey
Submitted by Kelly Anne
(CBS) The vast majority of American troops will be out of Iraq by the end of this year. Who says so? Congressman John Murtha says so, and he explains his plan to make that happen to correspondent Mike Wallace.
The 73-year-old Democrat from Pennsylvania is a much-decorated war hero from Vietnam and Korea; a heavyweight in military matters in the Congress who stunned the Bush White House last November by calling for the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq.
I was watching this in a restaurant tonight. I asked my wife if I could barf now. She said "no", so I had to turn around and stop watching the show.
"Sadly, you're delusional. I said, for the last time in a post to you, if you vets want to go after Murtha, have at it."
REAL conservatives, both vets AND non vets,
on this thread will clean up the mess.
Go for it.
Another fake 'Rat Vietnam hero. Disgusting.
Stop making an idiot out of yourself. You're being ridiculous now.
It does not work that way. He is in public service, and must answer for every injury and death that HE causes with his speech and actions. Traitorous POS that he is.
I'm old, stubborn, and cynical when it comes to the press, they are for the most part extempt from any sort of oversight and fact checking.
Which is why what we do here is so important, Asking the right questions of those that are above questioning is our mission.
"Stop making an idiot out of yourself. You're being ridiculous now."
You, Peach, are no Karl Rove!
Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345603/posts
I am of the impression that you and others are covering for a traitor, based upon his service. If that is the case, I am OK with that.
"One of the problems they have with enlistment is because they continually say how well things are going and the troops on the ground know better," Murtha adds
I hate to tell old Bourbon Breath, but re-enlistment is so high that even with the earlier problems with first time enlistments (the goals for which have been met more recently) that the overlevel of the Army has been maintained.
So the troops that are on the ground, and know the truth, are re-enlisting in larger than expected numbers. Meanwhile, due to Mr. Unwinable War and his Komrades at Code Pink, first time enlistments have suffered. After all, who wants to go fight in a war that's supposedly "already lost", and isn't important to the US anyway.
His other theme is that the "insurgents" are not terrorists, that there are few if any terrorists in Iraq, and those few all came after we went in. Of course that's not what we are hearing from people on the ground, but heck what do they know?
I have to give CBS a little credit, they do report that they did not find any troops that agreed with Murtha, and that most thought the mission both worthwhile and going well. But of course Murtha had the answer to that to. He didn't say "they are too dumb to know any better", but what he said was pretty much equivalent. Go read the story for yourself, if you have a strong stomach.
But to give you another taste, he said
"But you just can’t sit back and allow this war to continue on without a clear exit strategy. That’s the reason I’m so strong about this. I feel a mission here, with my experience, that, that I have to help the president find a way out of this thing."
Try winning as an exit strategy. It works every time.
WTF? He was born June 17, 1932. In his 1967 deployment to Nam we would have been 35. That's old to be a college student
From his Wikipedia entry, he joined the Marine Reserves in 1952 "during the Korean War". No mention of any actual deployment overseas
He did his high school at the Kiki School, an all-boy boarding prep school (indicating his family had money)
Murtha left Washington and Jefferson college in 1952 to join the Marines. After his active-duty stint, he ran a car wash, got his degree in economics from U Pittsburg.
I'd like to know more about him
bttt
"I am of the impression that you and others are covering for a traitor, based upon his service."
Peach belives this, I'm sure.
It's part of the "Movge On FReeper" talking points.
I don't, at all.
What he is doing now is much worse than anything he might have done in regards to his medals.
We have plenty of ammunition with what he is doing now, we don't need maybes' from the past.
Murtha joined the Marines in 52 "during the Korean War", yet no mention of any actual deployment to Korea. His family got money. I wonder what exactly he was actually doing during Korea?
I never watch 60 Minutes. What happened on that sorry excuse for a "news" magazine?
Trojan Horse? [Murtha medal issue a trap]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1558144/posts
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.