Posted on 06/24/2006 6:53:43 PM PDT by TexasPatriot8
Well, as is ALWAYS the case, the truth comes out eventually (you'd think the democrats would learn this eventually). And as it turns out, Murtha isn't even as big a war hero as John Kerry, and John Kerry did't see or really do squat in his pathetic three months in Vietnam (You did know Kerry served in Vietnam right?). Got this from a friend of mine, a REAL Vietnam war vet. Don't know how much this has already been sent around and is known about already, and I didn't see an applicable thread on FR already, so I thought I'd post it since it's well worth it and important to know about Murtha. Give this a good read and then pass it around to everyone you know. Are there ANY "war heros" among the democrats who are REALLY war heros, and not just cowards who are rewriting history to make them look like they are. The real war heros don't brag about it to then give them some kind of standing to critique the war. Murtha is a coward and a nothing but a little weekend warrior pretending to be a tough war hero. Only two of his 37 years in the Marines was active duty time, and he wasn't in combat in Vietnam. Read on.
"Double checking press accuracy ...
What is a War Hero?
I've been listening to Congressmen Jack Murtha's negative comments about the war in Iraq for some months now. I've heard him repeatedly described as a "war hero". Thirty-seven years in the Marine Corps.
Wow! I visualize a burly ex-marine, his chest bedazzled with medals, the survivor of countless combats in Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. A man who knows war and combat from the inside out. A man with the experience that allows him to see that the war in Iraq is hopeless and we should all quit and go home.
Although I've been turned off by Murtha's remarks, I never questioned his war hero status. Nor has our liberal press which is why Murtha has been getting away with his charade! Then the other day, bingo, I suddenly knew something was rotten in Denmark about Jack Murtha's war hero status. I've been bothered by his comments in the past but his latest remarks about Marines killing civilians in cold blood caught my attention. Whether this turns out to be true or not, something just didn't compute. That was the moment when I woke up and said, "Hey, I'm going to check this guy out." No real Marine who's "been there" would prejudge combat troops prior to the release of a military inquiry.
And what did I find. Did I find a man of vast operational experience with an extensive combat record? No. I found a man whom fellow congressman Don Bailey of Pennsylvania, silver star and three bronze stars, calls a liar and a phony. A man who came to Bailey crying and sobbing, thanking him for saving Murtha from the ethics committee (on Abscam-related charges) at which time he admitted to Bailey that his purple hearts weren't earned. A man with a couple of years of active duty and the rest of his 37 year career spent in the Marine Corps Reserve. A man with one year in Vietnam as a staff intelligence offer. A man who's no more been in combat or is a war hero than I am. Even John Kerry has more combat experience than Jack Murtha.
(I know flight attendants who have spent more time in Danang than either one of these jerks. ... Luke)
So what is a War Hero? Well at the bare minimum, a war hero would have to be somebody who's actually been in combat, somebody who's been in direct contact with the enemy over some extended period of time, somebody who's been shot at and/or had their life repeatedly threatened like infantry or the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pilots who flew over Vietnam, somebody who has performed his or her duties in a heroic manner.
And what is Jack Murtha? Just one more scheming politician, a Democrat, sensing a change in the direction of the political winds. A man who volunteered for a year's duty in Vietnam as an intelligence officer so he could come home and run for congress i n 1968 as a war hero. Barf. Sound familiar? A man who's thinking about the next election and hoping he's on the right side when it comes.
As a citizen and as a congressman Murtha has every right to express his opinion on the Vietnam War - but not cloaked in the mantle of a Marine Corps war hero with vast experience in such matters. His comments are very destructive to the morale of our troops and have only one objective - to get reelected.
Regards, Dick
PS I also think Murtha's a bit unhinged."
I want one. In fact, send me a dozen.
BTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a crock. And Murtha claims to have been in the military for basically 37 years but he's really been in for three years, and just one year in Vietnam as a staff officer. And along with Congressman Don Bailey stating the fraud of Murtha's Purple Hearts, Murtha's whole justification for criticizing the war in Iraq because he's a "war veteran" is thin at best. If it was any thinner it would be one sided.
You've summarized my thoughts about Murtha rather succinctly. When I get started on these idiots I'm always afraid I'll step over the line.
Nam Vet
ping
The guy Dick isn't the one that sent it to me, I got it from a friend Ron, who served several tours in Vietnam, NOT as some staff officer. He does a pretty thorough job of fact checking before sending things along. His son is in Iraq right now and has been most of the past two years.
Given the lies that have already been exposed about Murtha, and now this with Abscam and knowing he was a hairs bredth away from being indicted himself, I don't see why anyone should give him anything, especially since he went over to Vietnam ONLY to be a staff officer. The only bravery that took was to be brave enough to take the battery of shots to protect fromm malaria, etc. Anyone can do that.
Please ping me with the links to this info on Murtha. I'm sure Coop would also appreciate it as he is keeping track of Murtha for the Irey campaign. Thanks. Semper Fi
bttt
You're welcome. It was the first I had heard of it and didn't see anything like it on FR yet so I thought it might be a good idea to post it. I hope it helps to pop the ballons of the Murtha libs who prop him up as some great war hero. Him and John Kerry. With war heros like them, you sure don't have any room left for out and out treasonous traitors who admit to it.
He enlisted in the Corp in 1952. He wasn't an officer in Korea. The guy has enough baggage without screwing with his military record.
You sir, have never stepped over the line.
Does anyone really think he has gotten LESS sleazy over three decades?
Will Coop send this to the Irey campaign to see if it could help her sink him? That would be great if it can! :)
Well, according to Congressman Bailey, Murtha did plenty of screwing with his own war record and doesn't need any help from anyone else.
And contrast the MSM's scrutiny of Murtha with that of Bush, esp. during the last election. They even went after Bush's dental records, from what I remember.
Yet the "little" detail about Murtha being out of the Marines for 40 years escapes them, while they go on with this charade of his "war hero" status. Unbelievable.
That's good thinking, and good strategy. And, it bears repeating.
1) According to your interpretation, I only have about 5 1/2 years of service, including 4 years active Marine Corps and the year of combat duty in Iraq I just returned from. The 20 years as an infantryman in the Army National Guard just don't count? Don't underestimate the time, dedication, work and training reservists put into their careers, which cost a great deal of time away from home and family. I will also say without hesitation that my National Guard company operated at or above the level of most actve duty units we were around while in Iraq.
2) Murtha was also awarded the Bronze Star with V for Valor, and the Marines are notoriously chintzy about giving out awards. A good S2 does NOT spend all his time sitting behind a desk, by the way.
I have no use for Murtha, his politics, or what he has been doing lately, but there's plenty to attack him for without distorting his military record.
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