Comments on: Swift Boats vs. the Media

By: Sally Roosa

Sally Roosa — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 17:37:05 +0000

I am contacting you to tell you I fully respect your right to speak out, the conflict of Vietnam in this country hurt us all. You need to get it out, and if what you say is true it needs to be heard, I am sorry that Mr. Kerry decided to run his race on the his medals and service to Vietnam, instead of what his future goals and vision is for our country, it saddens me.
I trust President Bush, he is a man of his word and I believe he does his very best and them some for his country. I volunteered at POW headquarters in San Diego, during that war and still have POW braclets, some never came home.
My husband was in Vietnam on the USS Tripoli,
I am sorry for what you have had to endure and the hurt and anger that it has caused you. I respect what you did in Vietnam and your service to this country, and I respect your right to make your voice heard now. YOU MUST do what you feel is right. And I hope and pray that somehow the hurt can be put to rest.
God Bless YOU all, and God Bless America.

By: john kaufman

john kaufman — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 14:11:18 +0000

from a friend who road the swift boats.
why is john kerry talking about his three months in nam.when he should be talking about his sorry record of a senator for the last twenty some years…
a john kerry we don’t need for president

By: AlphaPatriot

AlphaPatriot — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 01:20:38 +0000

Greg, there are two kinds of voters in this election. Those who believe that there is a dedicated cadre of fanatics that want to kill us and those who have forgotten that 9/11 ever happened.
If you don’t believe that there is a war on terror in spite of planes being blown up in Russia, buses being blown up in Israel, Australia taking precautions for the upcoming election, truck drivers suspected of having terrorist ties being shot in Tennessee (all stories from this week) — if you can ignore these things, then Vietnam is relevant. In that case what do you make of Kerry who won’t sign the form to release his records and of the press that covers up the story that W put in for ‘Nam but was told he didn’t have enough flight hours? What do you make of Kerry who met with the enemy while still in the reserves (perhaps twice) and a media that doesn’t report this?
OTOH, if you believe that there are people who would willingly walk into your Wallmart and blow themselves up if they could take your wife/mother/sister/daughter/niece with them and there are others who are working to get those people the materials necessary for this to happen — if you belive that then you must decide between a man that has the vision to free 50 million people and take the war to the enemy’s heartland, and a man who voted against military pay raises and military equipment and actively pushed for budget cuts in intellegence.
Forget the war, Greg. Look at what has happened in the last ten years. One man has character and conviction. The other is a political opportunist who will say anything to get elected.
Look past the media and find the truth. In the end, I am certain you will do the right thing, because whatever you do, if you put your mind and heart to work on it, you will do the right thing because it will be the right thing for you.
God bless America.
P.S. Thanks for serving. I really mean that.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 20:04:07 +0000

You no I don’t see whats so hard to understand here on one hand we have Kerry who went, It doesn’t really matter why its that he did.Then we have Bush who didn’t now it doesn’t matter why he didn’t he just didn’t.Now I spent 22 months over there and if you take in the ten years that my father worked for Air America and we lived in Laos. I can tell you this you can die there on the first day all the way to the last day you were there. I’m sure those of us who served over there will agree.And as far as war crimes man I had to take History I’m sure some of you old guy’s like me remember that class you know the one that teaches man always has and always will make the same mistakes Now history shows that there were war crimes committed by all sides in every war fought in the world since the first war that was ever fought.But my book ended after world war two. Now I did talk to my Uncle who fought in Korea and he told that sometimes war brings out the worst in even good men so I’ll take that as a yes, So let’s not kid our selves Viet Nam wasn’t any different OK I can tell you that I should think that those of you who served over there who are honest with them selves know it happen then to so lets not kid our selves OK. But that isn’t the real problem I’m having with this, Its what could have happened, First Kerry the worst, Heart stop beating dead to the world put under ground or pieces of him any way. Bush what could have happened to him a real bad hang over where he would have to go to sick call and not have to take any flight training that day or the family friend lose the election and did the guy win or what I mean from what I read about Bush that was maybe more important than defending this Country? I don’t know its hard for me to decide vote for someone who went to war and at least heard deadly fire and may be a liar about a few things or some one who could have served over there but had to go help a family friend win a election and maybe a liar. I thought when we were in the service we weren’t to get involved in politics of coarse I could be wrong about that I just can’t decide who to vote for.

By: AlphaPatriot

AlphaPatriot — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 12:54:17 +0000

TLS, nice answer. Thank you, and thank you for serving when I could not. (In 1971 I was in school and was not yet old enough.)

By: TLS

TLS — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 10:43:54 +0000

Here is my answer. You obviously have never been in combat. On February 2, 1971 at appx. 3:35am I was blown out of an MP station by a VC rocket.
On June 3, 1971 a convoy we were escorting was hit by a VC ambush. I bet other vets as far back as WWII can remember similar experineces.
Lisa Fay – you have my pitty.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 21:13:20 +0000

Thank you to all the veterans that serve our country. But those of you that stand by Kerry what are you thinking, He said you Committed atrocities. Don”t Vets stand together?

By: Margo

Margo — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 13:30:31 +0000

Vets – organize and make yourselves heard. Thank god we still have the freedom of speech, because of you vets. Let your voices be heard. Kerry did not expect you to speak up. Keep it up.

By: sandy

sandy — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 01:22:49 +0000

My question to the Swift vets and to all readers.
“Where were you on January 5, 1969?” If you can’t remember that is perfectly normal… think about it… the Swift boat Vet can remember back thirty-five years to a single day in their lives, and they can remember a person whom they spent 4 months with. I don’t buy into it for a moment. All Veterans can look at their DD 214 and remember who they served with on a particular day..I find that extremely remarkable!

By: Walt

Walt — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 00:47:18 +0000

Kerry testifying in front of the Senate stated that US personnel committed atrocities routinely in Vietnam. This gave aid and comfort to the North Vietnamese. His words were used to intimidate POWs in North Vietnamese prison camps. Kerry lied about the what US military was doing in Vietnam. He never apologized for the harm he did to people like John Mc Cain while they were in the camps.
Kerry demonstrated his terrible judgement when he grossly misrepresented the human carnage that would occur if North Vietnam defeated the South. He said there would be minor dislocations. Kerry predicted that ONLY 40,000 refugees. He missed that number by about 900,000 people. John Kerry still hasn’t admitted he was wrong. He refers to his testimony as his “finest moment”.