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Navy wife
Research Director
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Location: Arlington, VA & Ft. Worth, TX
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 Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:16 am Post subject: Swift Boat Veteran Questions Kerry's Version [Richard Pees] |
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This is a great piece and it would be great to see if he writes a follow-up if someone would send him the link to Thomas Lipscomb's article about the Bay Hap river incident!! http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lip01.html
http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=8504 | Quote: | Hardin swift boat veteran questions Kerry’s version
By BOB BLAKE
419-993-2077
bblake@limanews.com
LIMA — When Richard Pees served in the U.S. Navy some 35 years ago as the skipper on a swift boat in Vietnam, he had no idea that events transpiring around his boat would land him in the middle of presidential politics.
But, Pees, a rural Ada resident, and Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for president, have differing recollections of an incident on March 13, 1969 — an incident that landed Kerry praise and medals and which Pees cites as part of the reason Kerry is unfit to lead.
Pees and Kerry were at the command of swift boats leading a patrol along the Bay Hap River looking to cut off shipments of supplies to enemy troops. A mine exploded under Pees’ boat, blowing the 50-foot long ship out of the water briefly and prompting sailors on nearby boats to open fire on the banks to suppress potential enemy positions.
“The key issue became was there any enemy fire,” Pees, a member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, said of a discussion at a gathering of swift boat veterans this summer. “None of us recall that at all. We were all quite certain there was no enemy fire at all. The only enemy action was the mine that went off under my boat.”
Pees said Kerry’s story about rescuing a fellow sailor under enemy fire as well as his Congressional testimony following his return from Vietnam in which he laid out alleged U.S. military atrocities are the impetus for the swift boat group’s effort.
Pees concedes that Kerry rescued Lt. Jim Rassman from the waters of the river, but said the rescue came after the mine explosion near his swift boat and in the absence of enemy fire.
“The essence of the group’s message is Kerry is really unfit to be commander-in-chief of our Armed Forces,” Pees said. “And, he’s unfit because he cannot be trusted. The group’s primary concern was not the medals. The primary objection of all of the people in the group was that Kerry so distorted the truth in his testimony to Congress and vilified all Vietnam veterans. That’s the core of the disgust with Kerry is the fact he would so willingly make those statements for his own political gain.”
The issue is relevant to the election, Pees said, because Kerry has made his service in Vietnam a large part of his campaign.
“In the debate (Thursday) night he made a statement about having to separate the war from the warriors,” Pees said. “It just struck me as so hypocritical of him. They fought that whole anti-war battle by denigrating the troops on the ground. If you didn’t know any history of John Kerry and didn’t know any history of the United States and didn’t know his voting record you would have thought this guy would be a pretty forceful commander-in-chief.” |
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neverforget
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Posts: 875
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:55 am Post subject: |
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At least rural America is willing to listen.
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US Army Security Agency
1965-1971 |
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dmackto
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 719
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:09 am Post subject: |
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sent him this:
| Quote: | Thank you for telling Mr. Pees version of events 35 years ago. Your article is informative and also easy tor follow. It can be a challenge to achieve both objectives in one piece and you did a very good job of it.
I thought you might be interested in some new research that surfaced in the last few days regarding the Bay Hap river incident.
Here is a link: http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lip01.html
Maybe you would consider doing a follow up article? I am sure Chief Petty Officer Troy Jenkins would be happy to talk to you and I will provide you with his contact information should you need it. He has other information that could very well lead an enterprising reporter to a Pulitzer Prize I believe. Here is a link to something he wrote recently: http://pajamajournalist.blogspot.com/2004/10/john-kerrys-2nd-betrayal-of-vietnam.html
There are also several research links posted there. This is a big story and I wish you luck pursuing it.
Deborah Mack
www.pajamajournal.com |
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Deborah
The FROZEN CHICKEN Journal
This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.
- Winston Churchill |
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Stevie
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: Queen Creek, Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:38 am Post subject: |
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I've never understood the lack of logic in the Kerry version of fire fight at the 3/13/69 incident.
If the boats were under all this enemy fire, wouldn't they continue to fire back? did they continue to fire back while aiding the 93 boat? What do the gunners of the boats say? Was Kerry's gunner fireing on the enemy all the while they were fleeing the area?
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged. |
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JROTC
Seaman Apprentice
Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Location: Milwaukee, WI
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Please keep going, Mr. Stevie.
After maybe 1 to 1-1/2 hours of assisting #93, continual firing from hostiles? How much ammo did they carry? No air suppression called in? No personnel injured due to BULLET(s)?
Common sense has to allude someone to believe there was any incoming during this rescue. Why can't they see this?
The blind folds have to come off. Keep pounding the truth!!!
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"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it" - General Douglas MacArthur |
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