SwiftVets.com

[JFitz]

I left the service in Nov. of 1969 to go to college. I was in Viet Nam long enough to get 4 campaign stars. A lot of my friends back then knew what I did for a living over there (searched junks, radar picket, always underway). It was a hard, tiresome job. But we were good to the fishermen. Most of them weren't helping the communists. Most just wanted to catch fish and make a living for their families. After searching junks, we'd give them water if they needed it. We also kept a box of tennis shoes and a supply of fruit we'd share with them. We had a Vietnamese laison officer with us on patrols. I remember him telling me most of the fishermen were scared to death of the VC. The laison told me he was also scared the VC would get his identity and murder his family in Saigon.

Any event, I recollect while I was in college the time some Navy guy (it was Kerry) testified before Congress, about all the bad things he and his fellow sailors did to the Vietnamese. It was an embarassment for me. I remember telling my dad, a retired Navy Chief and a true WWII hero, that I thought it was a lot of BS. My dad concurred. We just thought he was trying to get attention for himself with his BS stories. I was with the good guys when I was in Viet Nam. But, here was this punk on the news running us down, while wearing ribbons on a worn out green blouse. Once a punk, always a punk.

Fitz

[Montana]

JFitz
Thanks for telling your story.
There are thousands of other stories out there similar to yours.
Thanks for your service and welcome home.
Montana

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

Hey, Fitz,

Thank you for your service!

I was too young during Vietnam to really understand what was happening except what I could understand from my parent's political discussions.

But, I think I really know what you mean, now.

One of the troops that I support had been extended well past his year in Iraq and was out of touch for the period of re-positioning. When someone got killed in that bloody month, I didn't know if it was him or one of his troops or not.

He finally emailed a bunch of us a few days ago to let us know that they were re-positioned, but you know what he was concerned about?

He was concerned that we would think that he had tortured anyone! These are many people who had been supporting him and his unit for some time, who know and love his unit like sons or little brothers, and he was afraid of what we were thinking!

Good God, with all that those soldiers are dealing with over there - still on MRE's, sleeping in the dirt or on cots, having IED's go off on their patrols, having people firing RPG's into their camp - now they have this to deal with, too? After all this unit has done to improve the lives of the people in the area they were stationed before, a few disgusting renegades have caused them so much shame?

And I think that's when it really hit home for me, what John Kerry did to his generation of soldiers.

I will never forgive him for that.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[jim howley]

Thanks, Fitz, and Dad, also, for your proud service to the country. Regarding Kerry: you're correct as I see it, Fitz....despite an elitist education....once a punk, always a punk!!!

[jim howley]

That's "elitist" with an "i"....and Bush has used his elitist education for other than self-serving efforts

[sparky]

Like defending the Texas borders from a Mexican invasion while others were dying in Vietnam?

Yeah, he really used his education to serve others.

[carpro]

It is a shame that our combat troops in Iraq are afraid that their honor and reputation may be tarnished by the bad behavior of a few individuals that share their uniform.
I fully understand. John Kerry led the assault on my honor and thousands of other Viet Vets by branding us as murderers, rapists,arsonists and worse. I know first hand what damage even one self-serving individual can do to the honorable service of many thousands of others.
Kerry turned on his comrades-in-arms while they were still under fire. He may do so again if he becomes Commander-in-Chief.

[sparky]

Too bad that there are people who think that accusing members of a group is the same as accusing the entire group.

Racists, for example believe everything works in groups and that there are no individuals.

Kerry did not accuse all vets of war crimes. To believe he did means you can't see people as individuals and instead they're all homogenous groupings.

Kerry even said this about the "tenth brother," the one crewmate who badmouths him:

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

sparky, I know that it's terribly galling to you that John Kerry has never exhibited any real leadership abilities except in his anti-war activities, but if you intend to continue to support Kerry, then you simply must get past your bitterness over his shortcomings and try to find something about him that you can support.

If it's his education that you admire, by all means, shout it from the mountaintops.

If it's ability to change political positions and ideologies at the drop of the hat, support that.

We here in the real world know the truth when we see it, and none of your diversions is going to change that.

SBVFT is right - this chameleon isn't fit to lead this country or this military.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[rbshirley]

[carpro]

Like it or not Mr. Sparky, "...not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command." is a very broad statement covering every individual serving in RVN incliding Mr. Kerry.

I see by your posts all over this forum that you must have a lot of time on your hands. Your condescending tone and obvious hatred of George Bush are succeeding in making the case of the Swiftvets for them. Keep up the good work.

[sparky]

I agree with Kerry's depiction that those activities were commonplace. And Kerry never said "everyone" committed those atrocities. Indeed, not everyone did. I doubt even "most" did.

That doesn't mean we have to deny atrocities or cover them up. To me, that's as bad as committing them.

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

[carpro]

If you agree, Sparky, with Kerry's depiction that those activities were commonplace, I'd like to inquire if you have first hand knowledge that such a statement is true.

If you do, please share it with all of us.

[sparky]

But Kerry has also said that it was only later, after leaving Vietnam, that he realized that the very things he was ordered to do.....