• A veteran replies • In response A veteran replies To the veteran who wrote about Kerry: Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m also a Vietnam vet, United States Marine Corps, 1967/68. I didn’t see any of the “things” you
• A veteran replies
• In response
A veteran replies
To the veteran who wrote about Kerry: Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m also a Vietnam vet, United States Marine Corps, 1967/68. I didn’t see any of the “things” you say you saw and John Kerry reported others told him. I also spoke out against the war, but I condemned U.S. government policy and conduct of the war, not my fellow comrades-at-arms. By testifying as he did, John Kerry violated the U.S. Military Code of Conduct, Articles IV and V, which read in part: I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause. John Kerry did not serve two tours in Vietnam. His first “tour” was on the U.S.S. Gridley, a guided-missile frigate which spent about five weeks of a five month WESPAC cruise guarding aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. No self-respecting sailor who served “in-country” would call this a “tour of duty in Vietnam.” Mr. Kerry’s celebrated second tour on which he collected three Purple Hearts for wounds which required no hospitalization, lasted only four and a half months because Kerry personally requested reassignment out of the war zone. An Army tour of duty was 12 months, a Marine’s 13 months. All tolled, Kerry spent less than half a legitimate tour. Yes, Bush and Cheney stayed home and Bush probably dogged it in the National Guard. But the Democrat’s beloved Bill Clinton successfully evaded the draft and did not serve, which bothers no Democrat. Hypocrisy?
We’d all be better served if we concentrated on Kerry’s record in the Senate and Bush’s record as President and judged these men on what they’ve done for us lately.
Biff Whiting
Kalaheo
In response
In reply to the September 2,2004 TGI letter “Kerry exchange,” I would first preface my remarks by providing some foundation to the readers. After my rebuttal to the letter writer was printed in the Monday GI Forum, my position apparently riled the composure of this individual. On Monday evening of August 30, 2004 I arrived home and discovered in my telephone caller ID review that the letter writer had attempted to call my home residence at approximately 7 am that morning. There was no message on my answering machine and I can only deduce that she thought better of that opportunity by electing not to leave a message to invite discussion.
I have never spoken personally with this individual and can only surmise that her intent was either to engage in a dialogue of debate, apology or reconciliation with me regarding her letter. Silence speaks volumes about the character of this Kerry backer who spewed venom a few days earlier in print, but was now intimidated by a friendly aloha greeting on my answering machine.
I now learn that the letter writer has resorted to pen and paper once again with references to hearsay information provided by highly speculative Internet-blog sites in fostering her flawed opinion. In addition, she conveniently forgets her August 26th letter where she infers that our President and National Guardsmen in general are draft dodgers with use of inappropriate adverbs like ìonly and neverî. Contrary to her opinion, I believe her broad open-ended statements are caustic to all National Guard Veterans. Had we spoken; I might have been able to enlighten her with actual facts, but ignorance is bliss and she is certainly entitled to remain so.
Bob Lanier
Kapa‘a
