SwiftVets.com

Brody · Ensign Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 62

No I didn't serve in Viet Nam, I was born in 1972. I respect anyone who went to Viet Nam. Max Cleland has been elevated to "mythical hero" like status over other Viet Nam vets for one reason, and one reason only. He is a triple amputee. I have a question. Did he receive a purple heart for those wounds? I ask this, because many don't know that Max Cleland blew himself up. The triple amputation wasn't the result of enemy action, it was the result of him messing around with a grenade, not in action, but in friendly territory. Much like Kerry geting attacked by flying rice. I think it is disgusting that Max Cleland is being paraded like, as I mentioned, a "mythical John Wayne like hero". He should be respected because of his service, but the fact that he blew himself up should not make him superior to any other Vet.

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

Max did NOT get the Purple Heart for his horrific wounds.
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mudderfudder77 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 32

It's always a very touchy subject when discussing Max Cleland. I, like everyone else, has a tremendous amount of respect for his service and it was a terrible accident that cost him his limbs, but he does not deserve to be held in higher regard than veterans who fought for their country and came back home without the physical scars Max Cleland carries
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P. Aaron · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject:

Max Clelands injuries are a tragic accident, and there are reports what happened to him on the net.

What's sadder (I believe) is that Cleland is well aware of what caused his predicament, but for some reason he has let the Democrats demote his honorable service to America for the "advantage" of the party.
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SharpTalons · Ensign Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 57

I am suprised that John Kerry didn't fax Cleland a script with specific instructions to jump off his wheelchair in a feat of desperation and drag himself towards the gate with the letter clenched in his one intact hand. A triple amputee challenging the leader of the free world to come down from his well-guarded residence to discuss "fear & smear" tactics, screams of Hollywood.

Jungle_rat · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:22 pm Post subject:

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

None of us will quibble over Max's service. Like Kerry, it's what he did AFTER that is a a HUGE problem. A lot of us do not consider him Vet Friendly. IMHO
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republicanveteran · Commander Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 333 Location: Texas

I hate to pick on Max Cleland, but he is opening himself up to any criticism coming to him with his VERY partison statements...

Brody · Ensign Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 62

Thank you for the info. I have often wondered about that. I have no ill feelings in regards to Max Cleland. I think he is an honorable man, much more so then the man he is defending. But he is being used, and presented as something that he isn't. My grandfather, someone whose name you never heard, suffered 3rd degree burns to both his arms in WWII when he pulled his buddy out of a burning tank. My grandfather happened to be a full blooded German who spoke German better then English. He never talked about it, even when people asked him what happened. He would never of allowed himself to be paraded around, or used, even though his scars were horrendus. Cleland's whole career has been based on his triple amputation, and I don't know why, it just rubs me the wrong way. I apologize in advance if I offended anyone

FF1047 · Lieutenant Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 222

He may be on the wrong side of this and many other military related issues but he did serve, got torn up in an accident and came home to become a productive member of society.

I have heard quite often that Max does not use the term hero when talking about his Vietnam experience, he doesn't seem to try and play that card himself. Now of course the Kerry folks try and play it for him all the time and maybe he should ask them to tone it down.

I believe any critical comments about Max should be directed at his words and ideas and not at his unfortunate accident and horrific injuries.

After all we are here to destroy JFK, we don't have to go after his foot soliders unless they put themselves in the line of fire.
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USNA class of 1980

mudderfudder77 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 32

I've heard Max Cleland say that the grenade was laying on the ground after he jumped from a helicopter. He thought it had fallen off his belt and he bent over to pick it up, just as he grabbed it, the grenade exploded destroying three of his limbs... Like I said tragic, but does not mean he is more honorable than any other veteran... His words are fair game, just as much as anybody elses...
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"The Swiftees have three things in abundance: money, brains, and balls. They know exactly how to go for the jugular, they have the dough to do it, and they are saving their best shot for last."

SharpTalons · Ensign Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 57

Hate the man's politics not necessarily the man himself. I know its hard to differientiate but I won't desecrate Cleland's service no matter what bizarre sentences emit forth from his mouth.

Wing Wiper · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

I believe Cleland stated at one point "it could have been my own grenade", but later another vet came forward and admitted it had been his, that got pulled off his web gear. Cleland saw it, bent to pick it up (I don't think he realized it was live, maybe he did) and got blown up. From what I remember, it was while he was with troops departing from a chopper onto an LZ, no enemy fire. It was an accident, same as if the chopper had crashed coming into the LZ and he had lost his limbs. It could have happened to anybody, he's no more a hero than a guy who walked into a prop or stepped on a mine. Sorry to put it that way, but look at the facts. Please correct me if I got any of the "facts" wrong about him.

ASPB · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:34 pm Post subject:

You're facts are right but he had served honorably and valiantly before the accident including a Silver Star and one "real" Purple Heart.

That's to be honored but not to point of honoring present dishonorable and despicable behavior. He's sliming veterans for partisan gain today just as Kerry did from 70 to 72 and still does.
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Brody · Ensign Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 62

I remember when Saxby Chambliss won Cleland's Senate seat, the media, as well as the democrat leadership, went bonkers that the Bush attack machine was able to unseat a "triple amputee Viet Nam" vet.