SwiftVets.com

ProudDaughterofVet

Dear Vets,
I have a question which I hope you can help me with..My father served in both WWII and Korea..however, he does not talk about it. He says that what he went through, he did with his buddies..not me, not my mom, his buddies..and although at times the nightmares come..it is a private matter.
I respect that. But now, with Kerry's treason like mouth..his anger and emotions are all stirred up..Help me help him to realize that if he does not wish to discuss his battles..that is fine, but that Kerry's lies no way take away what he and his buddies went through..

What Kerry does not understand and of course the media also, is that what Kerry said when he returned put a stain on vets everywhere..What my dad always taught me is that we are and were "brothers"..and although he did not serve in Vietnam..his words cut through his heart because his "brothers" did..

My father is a proud man, who I love and honor..not just his service, but his life..a good decent man...but this is stirring up some awful things for him, pain of real heroes he saw die on the field..real purple hearts being given..real men. So you see, Kerry is reminding the Greatest Generation of what they lived through, fought through..and most died for..and I am trying to help my 80 year old dad to understand that we will not allow him to get away with his treason..

I called an old.."buddy" of my father's tonight..he is stopping over to see him tomorrow..so that should help him see clearly again..So, although Kerry had no intention to hurt my father..he has, he did..and shame be on him for all the pain he has caused...

I thank all you men and women who have served..and kept this great country free..and I thank you for allowing me to explain, how this fool's mouth..Kerry's mouth..has hurt a true hero..my father..

Thanks for letting me vent..I just needed to let it out to friends who would understand..and if the admin wants to delete this I do understand..it is rather personal...

May God Bless you all,
ProudDaughter Very Happy

GenrXr · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 3:46 am Post subject:

Your father is very stoic and a real warrior and most likely in his old age feeling alone and needing a "buddy". I think once his friend visits him he will be aok. Don't try to understand him just love him and realize his stoic nature is the best for your family.

I must say I am not a vet, but I come from a family filled with warriors and know very well the nature of our own families dealings in this regard.
_________________
"An activist is the person who cleans up the water, not the one claiming its dirty."
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Founder of Conservative Philosophy

Marine4life · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:52 am Post subject:

Take him to Washington DC and let him see the memorial that is in place for the Veterans that Kerry destroyed. And most importantly let him see the memorial that is in place for him, the WWII Memorial. There will be Veterans there from all wars for him to talk with. Do it on Sept. 12th, that is when the Veterans are having a rally there for all to see. He doesn't have to talk about what he saw or did, but at 80 years old he needs to know that we respect him for it and so do all Americans. Semper Fi.
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Helicopter Marine Attack Squadron 169 which is now HMLA-169. They added Huey's to compliment the Cobra effectiveness. When I served we just had Snakes.

jwb7605 · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject:

Detective · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject:

real quick cuz I gotta run off to work....yes that four letter word so despised by me on of all days, MONDAY! anywho.....Listen to the wise words of GenrXr. He knows. He has lived it as I. My dad was is a WWII vet (USN navy corpsman assigned to the Pacific in places like Tarawa,enewetok,kawajelen s/p,funa futi,Soloman islands,Marshall Islands,etc etc.he was under at times both Gen.Chesty Puller and Admiral Nimitz ---he loved both.)

I took care of both of them at home for five years after my mom had a stroke and he couldnt lift her and he started getting altzheimers....

I saw my dad wake up from nightmares his whole life.Shouting, They're BURNING,Burning!!! put em out goddamnit!!!!and a whole host of other stuff. he saw the Japanese jumping off cliff with kids because the jap leadership told them that Marines would eat their babies.(he was assigned to the marines from the get go as a tough pittsburgh coal miner and was attached to the famed Marine Raiders units.)But inside my dad was a softie.tough on the inside but as narly as possible on the inside. I have maybe five stories of his service logged..he served a total of three years of in combat with no R&R,no leaves..just breaks from the action on board hospital ships where he served as the ships doc.Myfamily is short and stocky....we are all built like tanks and wresters the shortest is 5'5 and the tallest of all the boys is 5'8. but it was his size that hurt him the most. It was he who after losing 40 pounds was the one who had to crawl down the hatches to help wounded torpedoed victims in other ships where the regular hatches had been steamed heat jammed.. One night he had to spend the night in a engine room where all the men had died in place as a steam engine was hit. These men died in natural positions as quick as a snap of a finger. He thought they were all alive at first! except for one thing, they were all wayyyyy to white,even the back men.They had been steam killed.it took the others a day to get him out.As he says, he grabbed one guys arm and told him to rally up and it fell off, "cooked like chicken.He would not eat chicken.Another weird one...no rice (maggots, as he said) or Milk(of which I dont know) no bread with anything in it as apparently the bread the men ate was full of bugs that when ate would go crunch.
anyways, like GenrXr says, just gotta love him.
_________________
U.S. CODE, Hostile Nations Act TITLE 50 CHAPTER 40 Sec. 2301. Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria.(All of them support Terrorism)
All the above Officially come out in support of John Kerry for President of the USA.

ProudDaughterofVet · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:50 am Post subject:

My dear new friends..
Thank you so much for the support and concern you have shown this daughter and her father. I talked with his war "buddy" today, and sure enough, spirits were lifted. Seems a shared nightmare was talked about and rehashed between the two, and resolution once again resolved. That is as far as I need to know..those wars, so private..as it should be with that Generation.

I am going with he and my mother..and my dear husband to the WWII memorial on Sept 12..as suggested. I called my mom, told her about this site and the kindness here..she said, " Let's go! My treat!"..So we are going..and there, he can see, that no matter what this idiot Kerry says, it does not matter..because as long as I am alive, he is..and his grandchildren..and their children too.

He and his buddies are turning their combined anger into action..he is remembering what it means to be a Marine, and I can see his face coming back to light..and his depression over what Kerry has done..into determination to make sure that W is re-elected...

So, I will keep you all updated..but in the meantime, my God bless each and every one of you..

Keep the faith my dear vets, and my dear new friends!

Very Very Proud Daughter...

GenrXr · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:01 am Post subject:

GenrXr · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:11 am Post subject:

ProudDaughterofVet · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 5:37 am Post subject:

Thanks Genxr..great idea..I will ask my mom if he has the cap! She knows ...and I bet my dad does too. I will take your advice and check up with the Vets of Foreign Wars as well..could be lots of them will be going and it could be a great reunion. Great tips..for the lot of us!

Well..a new dawn here at my home..and a renewed hope that this "family" we have created here will see it all through together..

Going to sleep with a peace tonight..that in the end, this fool will be trounced on Nov. 2..Hey! Guess what, my dad got his gander up and was cussing out Chris Matthews! Laughing

, at least he is good for something, huh? Wink

ProudDaughter..

kate · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:09 am Post subject:

ProudDaughter
I am one also. Something else you can do-
The WWII memorial has an on-line virtual site where you can honor your Dad...its really neat. Also has some great pics of the memorial.
http://www.wwiimemorial.com
Go to Registry -- to add a Vet
_________________
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one of..... We The People

LewWaters · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:17 am Post subject:

Acmputr · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:31 am Post subject:

Maybe this will help you understand.

The bond built between veterans is forged under the greatest of pressure, like coal being pressed into diamond.

Then something happens and a buddy is lost, a buddy that will forever be 19. The sense of loss is overwelming, the lost life, the lost future, the life that has been torn from a young man that is part of you. There is also guilt, guilt that it was not you.

This is bearable because you believe, you need to believe, that is was for a purpose. Then some guy comes along and says the lost were criminals and the price they paid was for nothing. They are throwing dirt on that friend and his sacrifice. The sense of rage is enormous.

Remind your father that it was necessary, that their price paid buys our freedom today. And, thank him for his service. Because of him and his generation we have the life we have today.

M
USMC
RVN 70-71

ProudDaughterofVet · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:48 am Post subject:

Dear Acmputr, Lew, and kate:
Thanks so much. You have helped me so much to get a better handle on this. My father is a spry guy, plays tennis every day..more fit than most of my friends..but, since Kerry's crap, now his latest.."..I was not talking about the Swifties, I was talking about all the other veterens"...UGhhhhh...

He is doing much better..and channeling what he "feels" into action..you bet, it has helped. He went to the "hall" tonight to meet the guys.and he had a ball, they laughed, planned W parties for the convention coming up..he is getting that Marine fight back again. I thank you for that. I do..all of you and of course, this cause and our wonderful SwiftVets for standing up for my father, when he could not!

Strange..I am a graduate of a great college, History and Poli Sci degree, work in the same field..I studied the bond of vets..and I "know" it..but when my dad is concerned, I got stuck, ..and now as I see more clearly..especially realizing that forever his friends will be 19! Eyes opened a whole lot more.

Wow! What a blessing you all are..glad to be part of this "family"!!!

ProudDaughter..and friend..
Razz

PO2 · Ensign Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 67 Location: TX USA

Dear daughter:

Do not be supprised if your father has dificulty approaching the wall. I had to try three seperate times. Maybe I feared seeing my name there, I don't know, but it was realy rough.

If your dad has trouble going, be patient and loving. Bringing back painfull memories is not a nice thing. It may take him awhile. That's OK. Offer to come back any time HE thinks he is ready.

It seems that his biggest anger is what was done to us, and not what was done to him. I, at least, appreciate his love for us. Let him know that after 30 some years we are now speaking out. Give him this web address so he can join and talk to us.

It is a loving and caring thing you are doing. I salute you. Take care of your old dad, for some time he will be joining those brothers and sisters whos names are written on the wall. Joining with them on Fiddler's Green.
_________________
Duty. Honor. Country.
To me, more than just words.

ProudDaughterofVet · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:40 am Post subject:

Dear PO2,
What wonderful words..and true as well, thank you. I talked with dad tonight, he is touched beyond words of the kindness, but not surprised. He told me to tell you that this should be about his brothers and sisters, not himself..so, you see, you are right..his anger is addressed for those of his vet friends who are being disparaged by Kerry and his clan.

He was and is in much better spirits..knowing that we all are shouting for him, and all his "buddies".

Oh..and yes, he was wearing his cap tonight, seems mom had it, and he is now proudly wearing it, along with his "Support W and the troops" tee shirt I ordered for him for Fathers day.. Very Happy

If any of you have parents of that generation..help them to see, if they are quiet as mine was..that what Kerry is in my opinion an act of treason..

Take care my friends, and keep those suggestions coming..My dad is not a big internet guy, said that he leaves it to the young ones, but is proud that you are all out there, and getting your voices heard..and so am I..

ProudDaughter