Swift Boat Vets Respond to Kerry
Captain Ed has the full response.
Note that the vets question the legitimacy of more than just one of Kerry’s Purple Hearts.
I still have a hard time understanding why so many people who served on nearby boats think Kerry is a cowardly liar, while [most of] the people on his own boat seem to disagree. Still, the allegations are difficult to simply ignore, though Democrats will no doubt try to do exactly that.
UPDATE: A commenter reminds me that one of the people from Kerry’s boat is a member of the Swift Boat Vets. I have edited the post with a bracketed phrase to make it more accurate. Still, the overwhelming majority of people on his boat stand with him (or at least don’t criticize him). I wonder why.
UPDATE x2: Another commenter clears up the mystery of why the men on Kerry’s boat might support him when other men serving with Kerry don’t.
I’ve heard allegations that Kerry pulled strings to get his entire crew transferred to safer duty when he left the boat. If true, this would explain it.
However it’s not the entire crew backing Kerry, one of the crewmenbers, the Gunner’s Mate, is apparently part of the SBVFT.
Comment by Peter (1302d9) — 8/8/2004 @ 11:37 am
I was not a part of the Viet Nam experience, but I volunteered to join the Army in 1975 and spent the next 20 years of my life wearing green. I have no combat experience, but I do have a good appreciation for human behavior from my time in leadership positions.
Put yourself in the position of one of Kerry’s crewmen who hears Kerry’s version of the events of a combat scenario– for example, the Rassman rescue. If I agree with his version, that puts me in a “hero” status along with him. If I condemn him, then I am just as cowardly as Kerry because I followed his orders to run away until it appeared to be safe to return to the scene to render assistance.
When you consider these alternatives, the choice to support Kerry becomes pretty obvious– at least it does for me.
Alan Moeller
Major, Signal Corps (Retired)
Comment by Alan Moeller (1537d5) — 8/9/2004 @ 5:44 am
I just re-read my previous post– and I fear that my concluding paragraph makes it sound like I personally support Kerry’s version and his bid for the presidency.
Let me make it very clear I do NOT support his bid for president, and his shameful betrayal of all military veterans, especially those who served in Viet Nam, marks him as the most loathesome of men.
Alan Moeller
Major, Signal Corps (Retired)
Comment by Alan Moeller (1537d5) — 8/9/2004 @ 5:47 am
No, I understand perfectly. You’re explaining the divide between the perceptions of the members of his boat and those of most of the other men serving with him. And your point makes good sense. Thanks for the comment.
Comment by Patterico (f7b3e5) — 8/9/2004 @ 6:19 am
I find ALL of this talk, especially from conservatives, regarding vietnam service laughable. Our current president showed no courage at any point in his youth with regards to serving his country….unless supporting the cocaine market can be considered supporting your country. Oh wait…..if you conceed the fact that he was IN Alabama during the war I guess you could make a case for the ever impending Viet Cong invasion of Montgomery…..a little reported fact that most people overlook.
Comment by Lawrence F. (6e03d6) — 8/9/2004 @ 11:35 am
Lawrence,
I see being a fighter pilot in the Air Guard doesn’t impress you. What did you do run off to Canada or hide out in college.
Paul Fleming
CW4 USAR
Comment by Paul Fleming (7a5c66) — 8/9/2004 @ 12:28 pm
Lawrence,
Your blog reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies. “Are you stupid or something?”
Comment by Brian (48d7ec) — 8/9/2004 @ 1:08 pm
All I have to say is give to the SBV’s and pray for them. They may be our last and only hope for denying this loathesome bastard the Presidency.
Comment by R.N. Free` (60ce10) — 8/9/2004 @ 9:37 pm
All I have to say is give to the SBV’s and pray for them. They may be our last and only hope for denying this loathesome bastard the Presidency.
Comment by R.N. Free` (60ce10) — 8/9/2004 @ 9:37 pm
Lawrence:
In support of your allegations, you offer what evidence?
In refutation, I offer the folowing: Bush volunteered for the Air National Guard at a time when the unit he served in was serving in Vietnam. When he was in the unit, he volunteered for duty in Viet Nam. The F-102 had was a dangerous airplane to fly. Link : http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0185.shtml
(And, for whatever it’s worth, at least six men I went to college with died while flying tactical military aircraft — and not a one ever saw combat. Flying supersonic jets is dangerous work for the few who are selected to do it.)
Comment by Roofer (0a0684) — 8/10/2004 @ 9:45 pm
Observing ‘Kerry’s campaign crew’ you will notice they are NOT allowed to participate on debate/news shows or face the SwiftVets, or to participate in ‘unscripted’ press conferences or investigative journalist interviews.
The reason is quite clear from both Sandusky’s statement Thursday (8/19/04) and Rassmann (initial and brief) appearances during the first week of “Unfit for Command” release.
Sandusky explained “why” Kerry’s boat did something he had long falsely accused the other boats of doing (i.e., FLEEING.)
Kerry closed the Democratic National Convention with a story in which he claimed that five swiftboats fled on March 13, 1969, after a mine explosion and only he came back to rescue Lt.
James Rassman. His campaign now is admitting that he fled and the rest stayed, before he later returned for Rassman.
Rassman when faced with O’Dell’s CLEAR and compelling memory (“16 feet above the water line, 360 degree view, NO enemy fire”) refused to answer direct questions and began to proclaim “35 year old memory fades”.
Just these few appearances might convince the uninformed of Kerry’s heroism but they actually lay down a trail of truth that proves Kerry lied to any who are informed on the details.
My belief: these are honest men who support Kerry, BUT they will not tell a MATERIAL LIE even to see him elected.
Ok, maybe Alston will, but that’s another story.
Comment by Herb Martin (49e147) — 8/22/2004 @ 8:05 pm
Swiftvet story being blogged to death
Over at Captains Quarters you can find the Swiftvet’s response to the DNC’s lawyers’ threats to TV stations considering running the Swiftvet’s ad.
What you’ll also find is an extensive list of blogs that have linked to the article. It’s obvious th…
Trackback by Media Lies (28eb22) — 8/8/2004 @ 7:16 pm
SWIFTY PURSUIT
IloveJetNoise, again, has a different angle on Kerry and the Swifties. Very good. Hindrocket was a blogging machine Sunday starting with this on Kerry and the SwiftBoat Vets. Instapundit has a very good post on Kerry’s false claim to…
Trackback by JOE'S BLOG (d3d582) — 8/9/2004 @ 5:22 am