Free Republic

Meant to state; "John Murtha never served in KOREA"

John Murtha never served in Vietnam! Just sent the editor and publisher as below.

October 16, 2006

Dear Editor and Publisher
The Evening Bulletin

Re: Requested correction to your article on John Murtha dtd 10-16-06
http://www.theeveningbulletin.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2737&dept_id=576361&newsid=17333715

In your article dated 10-16-06 and titled "Murtha Still Spinning His Wheels" you make two incorrect assertions.
The first; "The 74-year-old Murtha, a Democrat, is running for his 17th term in Congress, and is a combat veteran who was decorated for valor in both Korea and Vietnam." and the second; "Jack Murtha has probably dodged as many metaphorical bullets in Washington, as he did in Korea and Vietnam. Irey hopes to end his luck" are incorrect. John Murtha never served in Korea.

You may find the errors trivial, but I certainly do not. Although John Murtha served in the active duty during the Korean War, he never served in Korea itself. Murtha's official biography is located here: http://www.house.gov/murtha/bio.shtml . The section titled "Military/defense service" is written a bit misleading as if he did serve in Korea. If you would like a copy of John Murtha's official Service record released from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) under the FOIA I will be glad to send you what I have received. There is absolutely no proof of service in Korea nor does he make that claim. Better yet, why don't you ask Congressman Murtha himself to sign a Form 180 and request his service records direct from the NPRC. Maybe you could ask him directly for a copy of his valor citations since you also state within your article; "Bailey also called Murtha a "coward" and a "liar" in a Washington Post article after Murtha denied a conversation with Bailey about his (Murtha's) Vietnam service." The mere links from his official website to "notices" are actually unsigned messages and do not detail any valor as would be written on the mention "enclosed citations."

In the name of truth and ethical conduct, I would ask that you run a retraction or correction to your article. I'm sure it was an oversight or incorrect interpretation from the misleading official biography.

Best Regards from a Vietnam combat veteran,

Does the General not know wha he said upon departure from Iraq? A link and some snippets of his: http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jun2004/a061404e.html U.S. Army General Dubbed Father of the Iraqi Army By U.S. Army Sgt. Jared Zabaldo / Office of Security Transition BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 14, 2004 — Less than a year ago an unassuming man from Weatherford, Okla., arrived in this country to guide an organization that didn’t even exist – to build an army that wasn’t there. There was no plan, no force, and only slight guidance. And 363 days later – despite a host of staggering setbacks and difficulties with logistics, contractors, funding, cultural differences and a plan that changed in scope, size and overall delivery – Iraq’s armed forces and civil security forces total more than 230,000 people. In only a matter of months, the army will consist of a 27-battalion, nine-brigade, three-division army and air force, navy, coastal defense force, civil defense corps, police service, facilities protection service, border police force, customs police force, immigration police force, national security police force and a diplomatic protection service officers force. “So a lot of what we are doing here is a direct reflection of what I’ve done in my career,” Eaton said. It was with that in mind that Eaton was brought to Iraq only weeks after U.S. officials disbanded the old Iraqi army in May 2003. In a year, Eaton has grown the police and military teams to an all-encompassing unit that has overcome a withering daily storm of shortfalls, disappointments, changes, barriers, timelines and a myriad of other problems that never make the headlines. Amidst the reports, as well, a wave of silent successes has gone largely untold. “It’s gone from five to 863 in the space of a year and a mission which started off just, ‘Build an army’ … to ‘Build an army and air force and navy. Take on the ICDC – the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps; take on the Iraqi Counter Terrorist Force; the Iraqi Police Service; the Border Police; the Facilities Protection Service ….’” “He’s the father of the Iraqi army,” Aylwin-Foster said. “And commanders are responsible for everything that happens or fails to happen in their units. The good and the bad,” Eaton said. “We learned, and we got better from it,” Eaton said. Now Iraq approaches sovereignty with police and military forces in place where none stood before. And the unassuming man will continue to work behind the scenes and do what he has done for decades: build soldiers. Eaton will be the training officer for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command in Fort Monroe, Va. And in a few days, he will leave Iraq with little fanfare, but he will leave behind the house he built.

"They, with the help of the US Air Force B-52' beat the living hell out of a massive NVA armored invasion through the DMZ in 73 when there were very few US troops left in-country. "

It was in 1972 not 1973, and it was called the "Easter Offensive". NVN sent virtually ALL their active regular NVA divisions into South Vietnam. The ARVN,(including Rangers, Regional and Popular Forces, and some mercenaries) and those few of us Americans left in South Vietnam beat the *hit out of them.

Will always know the American fighting men won the VN war and the chicken*hit senators, congressmen, and press, lost it. I resent that very much. Am determined to speak my mind on this matter so that it doesn't continue to happen to our troops today. Especially to my nephew(s) in combat arms in Iraq as I write this.

There is absolutlely NO way to describe my feelings for Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Bill Klinton (circa USSR 1969), Jane Fonda, and their ilk without blowing a gasket.

1st Cav RVN (11B)
Co B, 2/5th Cav 1971-'72 MR III
Co D, 1/12th Cav 1972 MR II Easter Offensive
Jeep mounted TOW Missile first firings - Kontum AO
OPCON to MR II "Director" "Mr." John Paul Vann

For more information:
1) www.thebattleofkontum.com
2) Book: America's Last Vietnam Battle, Halting Hanoi's 1972 Easter Offensive, by: Dale Andrade'