SwiftVets.com

AF366TFW · Ensign Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Florida

Found this on the web a while ago...

(from website blah3.com)

Letter from a former Swift Boat Commander
Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 12:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Contributed by: Admin

A friend of mine works in a camera shop here on Long Island. One of his customers happens to be a former Swift Boat commander. He wrote this letter, and my friend faxed it to me yesterday.

It explains more about how insular the SB crews were, and why the Swifties' charges continue to not add up.

A VETERAN'S COMPLAINT

Dear Sirs,

I observe, with increasing dismay and discomfort, the politicizing of a fellow veteran's honorable service.This, thirty-plus years after the fact, when we should have moved on to the many current problems at hand. Nevertheless, as a former SWIFT BOAT Officer in Charge (PCF-57, Crew 52A, Qui Nhon and Chu Lai FEB 67-FEB 6 Cool

, I feel compelled to make the following statement.

The nature of Swift Boat combat patrols was that they were independent. My crew knew its own members intimately but spent little time socializing with other crews on patrol. All I knew about other crews and actions was from those crews after the fact. The true history of my experiences in Vietnam could only be given by the members of Crew 52A! Anything else would be hearsay! That, frankly, is what the testimony and ads against John Kerry's Vietnam service are. My Vietnam service was with 5 other men on a 50 foot boat.

Perhaps, as with many other veterans, I have suppressed memories. At this late date I cannot recall the particulars of any event clearly. Impressions are all that remain. When we were involved in the action the sense that enemy fire was coming was often there. There clearly were times when the fire was friendly! For people to argue that there was or was not enemy fire during the heat of the moment 30 years ago is ridiculous! That is invention for political advantage and not truth!

Medals were not given easily or without cause during my tour in Vietnam! Certainly many acts of courage and heroism went unobserved and unrewarded. It had never occurred to me to question any wartime medals, only to respect and honor the recipient. I honor John Kerry for his medals and his heroism as I do all medal recipients.

I wish those Swift Boat Veterans who have joined the anti-Kerry efforts would state what I feel is their legitimiate objection to him, his outspoken anti-war activities after leaving service. I remember, while starting medical school in 1970, being upset by those activities. I must say, time has curiously tempered me towards a more liberal view of those times. The Hippocratic Oath has made me view war as evil and led me to understand John Kerry's stand in 1971.

Sincerely,
Robert C. Johnson, MD
Stony Brook, NY

Perhaps some of you fellow Swift Boat commanders could enlighten the good doctor.
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Aim High! The wife hates cleaning the floor!

Wing Wiper · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 7:46 pm Post subject:

Sounds to me like this guy was operating off the coast, not up the rivers. What he says makes sense if that's the case. 5 boats operating in close proximity in a canal is a different story than one or two in an open-ocean environment. I don't think he's looked into the story much, maybe his opinion would change if he did.

AF366TFW · Ensign Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Florida

I see Ltjg Johnson was on the PCF-57 from 2-67 to 2-68. I also note that there is a crewmember listed as:

Michael Richard Eugene Medeiros, QM2

Date on the PCF-57 was 7-68 to 1-69. Isn't this one of Kerry's "band of brothers"????
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Aim High! The wife hates cleaning the floor!

deadzone1003 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 9

Remember, when John Kerry volunteered for SwiftBoat duty, SwiftBoats were just coastal patrol. After he had volunteered, they changed it to river patrol. Mr. Johnson left in early '68 and Mr. Kerry joined Swiftboat in late '68. Logically, Mr. Johnson had only coastal patrol duties.

ETEE · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:04 pm Post subject:

Beatrice1000 · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:13 pm Post subject:

Geez, this site is brilliant - such fast and determined analysis of data -- was just thinking that the Dept of Homeland Security could use some of us!! Off topic, yes -- but I just was so pleased with this fast thread that I had to say something!!

xleatherneck · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

There's something about the letter that doesn't have the feel of legitimacy. I could be wrong, and this person could very well be telling the truth...but, it just doesn't feel right.

...just my opinion.
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"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline in an acceptance speech."

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

eziek · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject: Two different worlds

Unfortunately Dr. Johnson was geographically and yes even chronologically in a different war. During late '68 the objectives, engagements, and operational terrain in the delta were totally different than in I Corps.
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Bravo 3/60th '68-'69

tvaughan · Seaman Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 182

His comments about memory being fuzzy...

This is absolutely true if you try to recall the facts and form an opinion 35 years later.

It is not true, if you came to a conclusion 35 years ago. And the subject of your conclusion remained in the spotlight.

Such as, "this guy is a jerk". 35 years later, you would remember him as jerk. Especially if he called you and everyone in your unit a rapist and a war criminal and then he proceeded to remain in the public eye as an outspoken critic of the war and as a U.S. Senator.

I absolutely remember specific events from my childhood, especially with people that are still in my life in one way or another.

And if Kerry can have an event SEARED - SEARED in his memory that didn't actually happen, and that keeps changing, certainly these men can recall events that actually did transpire.

But if someone asked you 35 years later, did he deserve the praise he received, and you never thought otherwise, you would not be too convincing if you suddenly changed your mind, and said, "You know what, I remember those events much more clearly now."

Do you think the Swift Boat Vets saw the Democratic primaries and thought to themselves, "Oh, hey, I think I know that guy."

No. They saw him and said, "He's running for President now? For President?"

Believe me, those memories have been around for them. They never left.
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