SwiftVets.com

0302 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 6

...an Infantry Officer (18 years+).
Our unit has deployed twice since 911. We are very tight, and are WAY over T/O. No one is getting out.

Occaisionally the subject of John Kerry's service comes up. It is ALWAYS the same. What stands out to me and my fellow Marines, is not the allegations that are so often levelled against Kerry (the medals, the lies, the atrocities, etc.)
It's just the fact that he left.

Imagine that while deployed to Iraq, I had been wounded three times. Three inconsequential wounds requiring no hospitalization, and no absence from duty. Now, IF the Corps had such a "thrice wounded=ticket home" policy, and I actually chose to leave...

....I would be a disgrace.

Think about it. I'm a platoon commander. Do you think after training my men, and then leading them into battle, that I would LEAVE THEM at the first opportunity? No way.
Not unless I'm carried off the battlefield.
Had I done such a thing, several things would happen:

1) My men would have zero respect for me.

2) My CO would NEVER allow me to return to the unit. I would be GONE. No other unit would touch me either. Not after such a poor display of leadership.

3) I would be ashamed, had I done such a thing.

To then top it off, by marching in protests, WHILE MY MEN WERE STILL THERE?

The atrocities, the medals, etc.. are all valid gripes. But the fact that he LEFT HIS MEN BEHIND, and skipped home.....

Fabius Cunctator · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:59 pm Post subject:

Well said, skipper!

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Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
USMCR – 1974 to the present.

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum; qui victoriam cupit, milites inbuat diligenter; qui secundos optat eventus, dimicet arte, non casu. Nemo provocare, nemo audet offendere quem intellegit superiorem esse, si pugnet." - F. Vegetii Renati Epitoma Rei Militaris, AD 390

cdowning

dafrog · Seaman Recruit Joined: 07 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

We in E.O.D. had a "quit slip" ready for signing at all times. We had "class A" travel orders in our pocket from the first day in country. By signing this form we could be on the next flight out of country. We, like the "Swifties", knew of each others actions within minutes. NEVER, while I was in Viet nam (69-70-71), did any of our guys leave Nam early, unless it was the hard way. Captain, you understand what it takes to be a "6". (6= the commander, it's an Army thing?). We assume that everybody did. Bush in 04!!! Mike Tompkins Port Charlotte Fla.

0302 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 6

What absolutely kills me is the non-stop insistance from the left, that EVERY SINGLE ONE of his fellow officers, who "served with him" in the Group -didn't actually "serve with him".
Why?
Because they weren't on the same boat?????

Nonsense.
That's like saying that none of the Lieutenants in my company, actually "served" with me, because we weren't all in the same platoon.
What's next? Did the officers of John McCain's squadron NOT serve with him, just because they weren't in his cockpit?

All this does is further highlight the complete ignorance that the democrat party has for all things military.

Fabius Cunctator · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:31 am Post subject:

0302.

I am likewise an 0302 by training and experience. Once you hit O-6, your MOS hits the 9900 series, i.e. 9904 (Ground officer).

Although I did not go to Vietnam, I was not aware of the "three strikes, you're out" rule in the Marine Corps at that time. You seem to have been in long enough to know, or hear of Ralph Sinke. He was a company commander with India Company, 3/8, when I arrived at Camp Lejeune in 1975. I believe he retired as a bird colonel. This guy was a nut case, very hard on his platoon commanders. Rumored to have played Canadian pro football for a while prior to joining the Marine Corps. He earned five or six Purple Hearts, in fact, his fellow company commanders used to joke that he was too damned dumb to duck. But, no one doubted his courage under fire. I just couldn't imagine an officer of the calibre of Ralph Sinke, Ray Smith, Zumwalt (the latter two taught at TBS when I was there), going al-Qerry's route. Qerry just can't compare with the quality of these guys.

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Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
USMCR – 1974 to the present.

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum; qui victoriam cupit, milites inbuat diligenter; qui secundos optat eventus, dimicet arte, non casu. Nemo provocare, nemo audet offendere quem intellegit superiorem esse, si pugnet." - F. Vegetii Renati Epitoma Rei Militaris, AD 390

Fabius Cunctator · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:37 am Post subject:

0302

I have been making this same point for the past week. I have communicated my displeasure with this crap to local and national level talk show hosts, and via email to OReilly, Hannity, etc. and clarifying the issue in much the same as you have.

The fact is, none of thes Dim-o Socialist morons have a clue. It only serves to show to all their abyssmal ignorance of basic notions of the military service.

Another thing. They give some Army SF guy, Rassman, whom Qerry pulled out of the drink, more credibility even though he was just hitching a ride during some op, than they do with his shipmates in that Swiftboat division. Something along the line of giving a new naval gunfire liaison officer attached to your battalion more credibility than you about a matter which happened in your company or battalion..

------------------------------------------------------------
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
USMCR – 1974 to the present.

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum; qui victoriam cupit, milites inbuat diligenter; qui secundos optat eventus, dimicet arte, non casu. Nemo provocare, nemo audet offendere quem intellegit superiorem esse, si pugnet." - F. Vegetii Renati Epitoma Rei Militaris, AD 390

0302 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 6

The officers with whom a man serves know him well.
That's just a fact.

You are peers. You train together, you play together, you fight side by side.
Yes, side by side in various missions. supporting one another.

Your enlisted men really don't know you as well. There is a cultural difference. There is a certain and necessary separation.

Kerry as an officer....
Do you think he may have been a tad aloof towards his men? Maybe?
Of course.

Kerry's fellow boat commanders knew him. They know him.

USMCDoc · Seaman Recruit Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Ohio

Semper Fi Sir,

I am deeply disturbed by the fact that at the DNC ex-Pres Clinton called himself a footsoldier and his so called wife Hillary claimed she supported the troops. This to me, was offensive. Hillary has done nothing but badmouth all of our brethren in uniform, including going to Iraq and badmouthing ground troops to their faces. And Bill, well he devestated our armed forces during his administration. My unit lost almost 2/3 of our Marines, and we were one of the lucky ones. (This happened during the downsizing of forces). I know of Army Reserve units that lost almost 90% of their troop strength during this period.
I have many older clients who served during WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. 2-4 years away from their families and loved ones. So 4 months doesn't mean anything to me nor to them.
I volunteered to be attached to a Marine unit, and wore my Charlies with pride right next to the 0311's. I may have been towards the rear of the pack, but never once did I ever stop, take or accept any special treatment, knowing full well that if I ever fell out, or gave up who would care for the Marines. In turn the men took care of me. How can anyone who lives, breaths and dies by his unit turn their back on them? Take care of yourself and your men sir and bless you all. God, Country, Corp.