SwiftVets.com

[JN173]

The following article from the Washington Post was posted on the Drudge Report this morning. Read the article and then note the advertisements at the end.

[sdmoel]

This controversy is just helping the movie.

[vet_supporter]

Speaking of Purple Hearts, can any of you veterans tell me how I could find the citations for them?

My great-uncle died a couple of years ago. When my mother, who was looking after him in his final years due to his bad health, was going through his stuff, she found two Purple Hearts. She, the oldest of his nieces and nephews, had no idea he had been awarded them and the papers were not with them. I never knew he was in WW2.

I've wanted to know this for some time. Since this thread is about Purple Hearts, I thought it appropriate to ask.

Thanks,
VS

[JN173]

[vet_supporter]

Thanks very much for the help.

VS

[LewWaters]

[coldwarvet]

[wpage]

Below is an e-mail I sent yesterday to all Vietnam Veterans of America's (VVA) Officers, Service Reps, Associate Reps, and a lot of their membership. I have edited out the addresses, but most can be found on the VVA website.

First a little VVA, VVAF ( 2 each), & VVMF history:

The VVA was founded about 1981 by veteran 60's - 70's radical Bobby Mueller who now runs, in my personal opinion, the questionable Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) ( http://vvaf.org/ ). That VVAF has supposedly gives/given almost 200 million dollars to the North Vietnamese Army and associated companies to clear landmines in Vietnam. Supposedly this is NOT affiliated with VVA. Please do not get the wrong idea that I'm condemning all those that belong to VVA. However, the organization does still have a lot of old staunch VVAW members as national and state officers, members, etc.

An official link can be found on the main VVA website ( http://www.vva.org/ ) to a fund of a similar name, and with the same 'VVAF' acronymn. That official VVA affiliate, Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund (VVAF) director is non other than ( J. Randy Barnes aka Randy J. Barnes aka Joseph R. Barnes ( name signed for fund)), a member of the VVAW at the Kansas City meeting where discussions of killing conservative Senators was contemplated along with Kerry. Barnes still lives in the Kansas area.

The Vietnam Memorial Foundation (VVMF) ( http://www.vvmf.org/ )
This is the organization that built the 'Wall' and continues to help with it's upkeep. It is also the foundation that draws in the most annual donations from corporate and philanthropic organizations. To me this is a very worthwhile endeavor. In the past a lot of issues of concern have been raised about where and how funds are spent. I thinktheir expenditures are worthy of investigation. From what I understand, the new underground (below the Wall area) complex currently being constructed, will provide movies and exhibits about the war. Have heard that concerns are being raised as to the content of the history to be taught within the new complex. Those concerns are similar to the fight on the proposed WTC memorial/exhibit.

=============
An official VVA Press Release was sent out in August before the election condemening the Republicans for wearing the Purple Heart band-aids. In my e-mail of yesterday to the VVA, I asked them to clarify their position on the movie 'Crashing Weddings' fake Purple Hearts issue. The e-mail was sent to probably 40 - 50 official VVA Reps. I have yet to receive a single reply.
=============

[wpage]

Well, seems we got a reply. This just in to my in mail: I'll have to give Tom Corey credit, at least he sticks with the same message. I do agree with him on people using phony medals. Wonder how the VVA feels about burning of the American flag in protest?


Emphasis mine.

[wpage]

FYI - Wonder who is minding these Forums? Seems as if there is almost a one sided view here? How does VVAF verify anything on the official VVAF forums? Maybe a good idea, but for a non-profit organization, it has the potential for very political purposes.

http://vvaf.org/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=2003100

[GM Strong]

[wpage]

Wonder who is supporting this VVAF endeavor?

http://www.forumone.com/content/press_release/1027/

[wpage]

I wonder who is accountable for this money and what companies are subcontracted from the Vietnamese armed forces?

http://vvaf.org/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=2000585

[vet_supporter]

[wpage]

U.S. Demining Program Funding History (FY 1993-2002) (Dollars in Thousands)

The U.S. had spent $21,808,000.00 in Vietnam as of 2002.

See this chart for verification: http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/rpt/walkearth/2002/14881.htm