Free Republic

We have been hearing for years that Senator John McCain gives “straight talk” and his bus has been endlessly referred to as the “Straight Talk Express.” But endless repetition does not make something true. The fact that McCain makes short, blunt statements does not make him a straight-talker. . . . . . Confronted with his lie on Wednesday night’s debate, McCain blustered and filibustered in a manner reminiscent of Captain Queeg in The Caine Mutiny, when he was caught in a lie during a navy inquiry. When confronted with any of his misdeeds, Senator McCain tends to fall back...

This is footage of a white dove perched on a branch and children singing the song, Kum Ba Yah, Come By Here.

WASHINGTON - Once asked how he became a war hero, John F. Kennedy said, "It was involuntary; they sank my boat." Historian and Kennedy aide Arthur Schlesinger said this "deflationary wartime understatement" was an example of Kennedy’s nonchalance. In 1943, a Japanese destroyer sliced Navy Lt. Kennedy’s PT-109 in half, plunging his crew into waters aflame with fuel. As skipper, Kennedy saved the crew. Likewise, John McCain became a war hero when the North Vietnamese shot down his Navy plane. He endured more than five years as a prisoner of war. And during George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, the...

KENNER, La. — Senator John McCain marked the unofficial beginning of the general election with a speech here Tuesday in which he sought to distance himself from President Bush and to argue that he has stronger credentials as an independent agent of change than his all-but-certain Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama. “For all his fine words and all his promise, he has never taken the hard but right course of risking his own interests for yours, of standing against the partisan rancor on his side to stand up for our country,” Mr. McCain said of Mr. Obama in a prime-time...

John McCain rarely speaks about his experiences as a POW in Vietnam, but one of his cell mates at the Hanoi Hilton on Thursday described some of the conditions and character traits that earned McCain the commendations he received for his war service. Col. George “Bud” Day, 83, is the most decorated service man since Gen. Douglas MacArthur, with more than 70 medals. A living legend, Day was blown out of the sky two months to the day before the North Vietnamese shot down a propaganda prize, whose father and grandfather were renowned American admirals. “They told me we were...

Bhanubhakta Gurung, VC Last Updated: 2:37am GMT 04/03/2008 Havildar Bhanubhakta Gurung, who has died aged 86, was awarded a VC when serving as a rifleman in the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles in Burma on March 5 1945. At that time the Fourteenth Army was making a drive toward Mandalay in central Burma, and the task of the 25th Division (of which the 2nd Gurkhas were part) was to engage in diversionary action along the coastal sector of Arakan. The 3rd Battalion landed at Ru-Ywa and advanced to the high ground east of Tamandu. Capturing the area would...

Yesterday, while stumping for Hillary Clinton, feminist writer Gloria Steinem shamelessly decided to take a swipe at John McCain's service record: “Suppose John McCain had been Joan McCain and Joan McCain had got captured, shot down and been a POW for eight years. [The media would ask], ‘What did you do wrong to get captured? What terrible things did you do while you were there as a captive for eight years?’” Steinem said, to laughter from the audience. ...“I mean, hello? This is supposed to be a qualification to be president? I don’t think so.” ... “I am so grateful...

There is a scene in the classic Elia Kazan film “Viva Zapata” when a young Emiliano Zapata for the first time meets his bride-to-be’s father, a shopkeeper manifestly unimpressed with his daughter’s suitor. The father calls Zapata “a man of substance, without substance.” So, too, it is with John McCain. He is “a man of integrity without integrity”—meaning that the senator is reputed to have great integrity, but in fact has little, given the definition of that word: “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards” (Encarta Dictionary). Two different, but related, events that...

9/18/2007 - MOMENCE, Ill. (AFPN) -- A warrior of three American wars who exemplified Air Force core values before they were written received a hero's tribute at the dedication of the Kasler-Momence Veterans Park Sept. 15 here. More than 300 local residents, city and state representatives, and servicemembers came to honor retired Col. James Kasler who earned the Air Force Cross an unprecedented three times. The dedication included the unveiling of a statue of Colonel Kasler and a flyover by four Air Force Reserve Command F-16 Fighting Falcons in the town where he lives some 65 miles southeast of Chicago....

Superbug kills war hero who survived three years as a PoWLast updated at 00:42am on 1st September 2007  The family of a distinguished war veteran have criticised the hospital where he was infected by a killer bug. Major Sam Weller - who survived three years as a prisoner of war - died after catching Clostridium Difficile following an operation on his hip. His relatives said he had been let down by the country he fought for. Major Weller, 88, had surgery at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but he developed an infection and was given a course of antibiotics. Weeks later...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Hank Bauer, the hard-nosed ex-Marine who returned to baseball after being wounded during World War II and went on to become a cornerstone of the New York Yankees dynasty of the 1950s, died Friday. He was 84. Bauer died of cancer in Shawnee Mission, Kan., said the Baltimore Orioles. Bauer managed the 1966 Orioles to their first World Series title. A three-time All-Star outfielder, Bauer played on Yankees teams that won nine American League pennants and seven World Series in 10 years. He set the Series record with a 17-game hitting streak, a mark that still...

Fallen Marine Jeremy Long's family returned to what's left of their mobile home in Sun Valley on Sunday. They were salvaging anything they could from the home they once lived in -- an electrical fire gutted it Wednesday morning. Kathy Hamilton, Jeremy's mother, said she was looking for one item in particular: "a video Jeremy took... he narrated it... of Zach, of his brother." Zach Long spoke to News Channel Eight inside the room he once shared with Jeremy. "A lot of sadness... it was really hard to actually come back in here... it feels kind of empty," Zach said....

His story is something from an old black-and-white movie ­ a war hero rescues the American Chief of Staff during World War II, flies him to safety and lands in Casablanca. Here's the twist: the military recommends him for the Distinguished Flying Cross, but he doesn't actually receive the medal until 64 years later, in the mail. That's right. So much time passed, Thomas Roberts forgot that his old commanding officer, Gen. Paul Tibbets ­ who dropped the Hiroshima bomb ­ recommended him for one of the most prestigious medals in the Air Force. Only a few months ago, while...

One of the Second World War’s top flying aces, Wing Commander Robert Carl ‘Moose’ Fumerton, died at Muskoka Landing in Huntsville last Monday at age 93. News of his death was carried in newspapers around the world. Mr. Fumerton was predeceased by his wife, Madeleine ‘Bobby’ Fumerton, who died at Muskoka Landing on April 21, 2004. The highly decorated pilot achieved some of the most remarkable feats of courage for the Royal Canadian Air Force 406 Squadron, and was the top night fighter of WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in July 1942 and the Air Force...

I am an independent journalist who just got a good laugh over the latest "courageous stance" adopted by your student senate. Growing up in Oregon, I was always puzzled by why the lovely neighboring state of Washington seemed so heavily influenced by what I thought was a lunatic fringe. On the one hand William Gates and his baby boy Bill had produced two obscene monopolies, Boeing and Microsoft, and on the other your assorted elected officials seemed more at home in 1960s Communist Albania than the Wobblies "One Big Union" of sainted memory in the Northwest. Now I know what...

Students reject honor to WWII hero Member of Marines not 'sort of person UW wanted to produce' Posted: February 14, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Lt. Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington during World War II (Photo: National Archives) The University of Washington's student senate rejected a memorial for alumnus Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of "Black Sheep Squadron" fame amid concerns a military hero who shot down enemy planes was not the right kind of person to represent the school. Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting last week, said she "didn't believe a member of...

Since it was on one of the lower rated Sunday shows (and well... is Kerry), I figured this might have been missed by alot of people. For your entertainment... Pt 1 Pt 2

From James Doohan At the outbreak of World War II, aged 19, he joined the Royal Canadian Artillery, and was eventually commissioned as a lieutenant. His first combat assignment was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers along the way, Doohan's unit made its way to higher ground and took defensive positions. At 11:30 that night, he was machine-gunned, taking six hits: four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his middle right finger. The chest bullet was stopped by his silver cigarette case; he would later generally hide the amputated finger...

California Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has just announced in a press conference that he will not stand for re-election.

June 20 issue - My father and grandfather both served in the United States Navy. When I came of age, there was no doubt that I would, too. There was plenty of pressure on me to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis. I was a child of the 1950s, not the 1960s. The distinction is important. I can remember that from my earliest days friends of my father would speculate, only half jokingly, about what class I would graduate from. I wanted to go, and wanted to serve. As a kid, I would listen to my father tell amazing tales...

In the weeks, months and probably years to come, pundits and academics will be discussing how the greatest war hero that ever lived got 3.5 million less votes than the most despised man that ever lived. Despite all of the talk about moral values, Iraq, terrorism and the economy, the recent presidential election came down to just one thing--beer. Allan Gotlieb, who served as Canada’s ambassador to the United States during the 1980s opined that the Democrats have to stop selecting privileged Massachusetts intellectuals as presidential candidates. Said Gotlieb: “I’ve always said that the very important quality in U.S. politicians...

Copyright 1999 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd. The Toronto Star November 4, 1999, Thursday, Edition 1 SECTION: NEWS LENGTH: 648 words HEADLINE: CONTRITE U.S. POLITICIANS SLAM NON-PAYMENT OF U.N. DUES BYLINE: Kathleen Kenna BODY: WASHINGTON - In a rare display of public humility, top American leaders yesterday expressed public shame for their nation's failure to pay its United Nations debt. Veteran senators from both Republican and Democratic parties warned the United States will suffer incalculable harm if it doesn't soon pay an estimated $1 billion (U.S.) in unpaid U.N. dues. (U.N. officials say the true debt is $1.5 billion, but Americans...

Kerry Betrayed His Comrades In Arms. In my article Bush and Uncommon Valor, I state that although it is fair to recognize Sen. Kerry's four-month war record and medals, it is what he did after leaving the military that deserves the greatest scrutiny. He became a turncoat by misrepresenting to the American public what our soldiers were doing in Southeast Asia. As part of the anti-war movement with Jane Fonda, he maligned, mocked and discredited our soldiers. He lied about what our soldiers were doing in combat. He defamed our brave fighting men. Today, John Kerry holds a place of...

Let's Take John Kerry at His WordI understand that "Nightline" sent a crew over to Vietnam, and miraculously found ex-VC from the squad which ambushed Kerry's Swift Boat, in the incident for which he was given the Silver Star medal. Also miraculously, they remembered the incident, and confirmed the write-up for Kerry's medal. From the citation for Kerry's Silver Star. (The version found in "Tour of Duty.")  ...the boats were again taken under fire from a heavily foliated area and B-40 rocket exploded close aboard PCF 94; with utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, he again...

John Kerry: War Hero Extraordinaire Jeffrey Epstein October 10, 2004 - Since sealing his bid for the democratic nomination, John Kerry’s opponents, namely 254 of his fellow Swift Boat veterans, successfully focused public attention on the various inconsistencies surrounding his military record and “contrived” war hero status. Simultaneously, a majority of Vietnam veterans and their supporters have taken great exception to his post-service protesting activities. Kerry, an opportunistic liar, initiated a political career by slandering his fellow veterans and undermining our nation’s war effort. More than any other person, he is responsible for the false image of Vietnam veterans as...

The Emperor Has No Clothes By: Brian Tracy John Kerry is neither a “war hero” nor a “patriot.” It is about time that someone pointed out that “the emperor has no clothes” and that Americans are being presented with a false choice. If you read the newspapers long enough, a series of facts emerge that appear undeniable and irrefutable. But no one seems to want to “connect the dots” for fear of offending the powers that be in the national media, such as CBS. Here is what we know. First of all, Kerry did not “volunteer” for service in Vietnam....

Questioning Kerry's patriotism Judson Cox April 26, 2004 John Kerry has accused Republicans of questioning his patriotism. Why not question Kerry's patriotism? Should not a candidate for the Presidency of the United States be patriotic? Should he not love and be loyal to the land he hopes to lead? I say yes, and I will question Kerry's patriotism. Sen. Kerry has a record of engaging in activity that falls just short of treason; he has aided and abetted enemies of the United States. Kerry has falsely maligned U.S. soldiers as war criminals: "They told stories that at times they had...

The widely repeated myth of "John Kerry, the Vietnam Navy Hero" is one of the most dishonorable and dangerous deceptions ever perpetrated upon the American public. John Kerry is not a hero. He built this facade with unabashed personal promotion, aided and abetted by a supportive liberal media ready and willing to repeat in print his gross exaggerations, distortions of fact, and outright lies about his abbreviated four-month, 12-day tour of duty in Vietnam. Until the Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth spoke up in press conferences, television ads, and with the now best-selling book, Unfit for Command, no one...

KERRY'S ELECTION STRATEGY John Kerry faced major challenges at the beginning of this election cycle: first, the popularity and credibility George W. Bush had with the American people post 9/11; second, his anti-war movement with Jane Fonda – to include abusive statements about the 2.6 million American soldiers that served during the Vietnam War; third, his abysmal anti-national security voting record; and forth, his failure to leave a legislative footprint in the Senate after being there twenty years. In response to these challenges, Kerry settled on a strategy that maligned President Bush’s military service and undermined the peoples’ trust in...

Najah Ali: Iraq's little boxing surprise Ten months ago, light flyweight Najah Ali wasn't on the Iraqi boxing team, because there was no such thing. On Aug. 18, the 4'11" 106-pounder in convincing style, 21-7, over a heavily favored opponent, North Korea's Kwak Hyok Ju, who is 5'4". In his first major international fight -- he only has about 35 bouts to his name total -- Ali controlled matters from the outset, leading 9-3 after one round. The shortest man in the Olympic boxing tournament danced around the ring agilely and snuck inside his taller opponent's reach to land...

Shame on the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush John Kerry saved my life. Now his heroism is being questioned. Jim Rassmann Does this strategy of attacking combat Vietnam veterans sound familiar? In 2000, a similar Republican smear campaign was launched against Sen. McCain. In fact, the very same communications group, Spaeth Communications, that placed ads against John McCain in 2000 is involved in these vicious attacks against John Kerry. Texas Republican donors with close ties to George W. Bush and Karl Rove crafted this "dishonest and dishonorable" ad. Their new charges are false; their stories are fabricated, made up by...

Former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, dispatched by the CIA in February 2002 to investigate reports that Iraq sought to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program with uranium from Africa, was specifically recommended for the mission by his wife, a CIA employee, contrary to what he has said publicly. -------- snip! ---------- Wilson's assertions -- both about what he found in Niger and what the Bush administration did with the information -- were undermined yesterday in a bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report. ...

300 holes in his body, courage in his heart Wounded Guardsman tells of grenade attack By Reid Forgrave Enquirer staff writer The 35-year-old's body is riddled with 300 holes. Some are an inch deep and the size of a quarter. Some are tiny pockmarks. Others are the size of grains of pepper. Four days after shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade rained down on Staff Sgt. Paul Brondhaver in an attack in Iraq, 30 pieces of metal are still lodged in his face. Blood still seeps from the larger wounds in his legs. His body is pumped full of Percocet and...

Brit Soldier 'Saved 30 Lives' VC DEMAND FOR SQUADDIEComrades of a squaddie who saved the lives of up to 30 soldiers in Iraq have reportedly called for him to be given the Victoria Cross. They want troop carrier driver Private Johnston Beharry to receive Britain's highest award for bravery for his heroic actions.The Londoner saved up to 30 soldiers by leading their carriers to safety during a firefight after a bullet hit his helmet, according to The Sun. He then pulled his unconscious commanding officer from a burning vehicle while under fire from Iraqi rebels.The 22-year-old later saved more lives...

John Kerry's commanding officer was just interviewed on Fox News. According to Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard when Kerry showed up in front of him requesting a Purple Heart, Hibbard saw that he had a "scratch"(Hibbard's word) on his forearm. And because, according to Hibbard, there was no report of enemy action on Kerry's patrol that day and the "scratch" did not receive medical attention from a medical officer, Hibbard declined Kerry's request for a Purple Heart.

Some critics of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry have questioned the circumstances surrounding the first of three Purple Hearts Kerry won in Vietnam. Those critics, among them some of Kerry's fellow veterans, have suggested that a wound suffered by Kerry in December 1968 may have made him technically eligible for a Purple Heart but was not severe enough to warrant serious consideration, even for a decoration that was handed out by the thousands. Whatever the case, Kerry was awarded the Purple Heart, and, along with two others he won later, it allowed him to request to leave Vietnam before his...

More??? ...Please see...: Seadog Bytes at StrangeCosmos.com

LONDON, (AFP) - A Royal Air Force pigeon who delivered the first news of Allied success from the Normandy beaches on D-Day is to be recognised as the greatest pigeon to have served his country. Gustav, a grizzle cock pigeon, known to the Air Ministry as codename NPS.42.31066, will be honoured in a special London exhibition at the Imperial War Museum's 60th anniversary show. During his mission, Gustav was reportedly buffeted by a headwind of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometres per hour) and his view of the Sun -- his primary means of navigation -- was obscured...

Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement by John Kerry to the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations April 23, 1971 I would like to talk on behalf of all those veterans and say that several months ago in Detroit we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged, and many very highly decorated, veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia. These were not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command. It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen in Detroit - the...

When does being a war hero count? In the 1992 elections, when Republican candidate President George H. Bush ran against Clinton for United States presidency, many may recall how the media was less than impressed with Bush’s military credentials. The fact that he was only 18 when he joined the services and was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings really was of little concern. In addition, flying 58 combat missions during World War II, one mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot, where he was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire, rescued from...

Jessica Lynch Awarded Bronze StarLynch Gets Medals Ahead of Homecoming ELIZABETH, W.Va. - Former POW Jessica Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Washington Monday as she prepares for her homecoming. Lynch, who returns to the hills of West Virigina Tuesday, also received Prisoner of War medals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. The Bronze Star is given for meritorious combat service, a Purple Heart is most often awarded to those wounded in combat, and the POW for being held captive during wartime. "The Purple Heart ... was not necessarily about being wounded or injured...

Town to unveil likeness of hero Murphy statue tribute to all Greenville vets 06/21/2002 By KELLIE B. GORMLY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News The memory of Audie Murphy as a hometown war hero soon won't be the only thing about him that casts a shadow over Greenville. Starting Saturday, Interstate 30 drivers passing through Greenville will spot a tall, bronze statue of Mr. Murphy, World War II's most decorated combat soldier and a movie star in the '50s and '60s. The statue of Mr. Murphy who received the Medal of Honor and every decoration for valor...