Do You Want To Re- Elect Bush For Presendent!
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KCFlyer
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You know the difference between Kerry's Vietnam service and Bush's Vietnam service? Kerry knows what it's like to be shot at in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Bush was a "fighter pilot" who had trouble finding Alabama in the Southeast United States.local 12 proud said:
local 12 proud
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LIKE MOST Vietnam War Veterans and Cold War Veterans, I am willing to forgive and forget. In fact, since former LCDR John McCain has forgiven the Vietnamese commies, I surely have no right to carry around anger about the Vietnam War and how it ended. But as you keep bringing it up in every speech you make "I am a Vietnam War Veteran" and "I won the Silver Star" I must ask a few questions. As we are both US Navy Vietnam War veterans and you were a commissioned officer and I was a petty officer I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, so please answer the following and I will quietly and respectfully listen to your answers;
Question number 1--Will you like President Bush release your service and medical records? Or do you want to hide the fact that you were only scratched and got 3 purple hearts to cut your combat zone tour to only 4 months? If you don't want to answer the question, simply lift up your shirt sleeve and show us a scar or two. What? No scars at all but 3 Purple Hearts permitted you and you demanded that your tour of duty be cut short by 2/3rds? Regulations require that to be awarded the Purple Heart you must be treated by a Medical Officer but that your "wounds" were so slight (if any) that you never saw a Medical Officer. One of your shipmates says that a wound was "self inflicted." You say in every speech that you are a "Vietnam War Veteran" and that President Bush only served in the National Guard and imply that the President is a draft dodger. But isn't it true that you are a FAILED draft dodger, having asked your draft board for a one year deferment so you could visit Paris and when they refused you, you joined the Navy. And while in the Navy didn't you take swift boat duty because you thought you would see little or no action. However, AFTER you were assigned, Admiral Zumwalt put those units into more direct combat roles.
Question number 2--Did you receive a Silver Star for chasing and killing a Vietnamese who was already wounded (or already killed) by another swift boat crewman? Did you get the Silver Star based on the Action Report that you wrote and the "action" that you alone witnessed? If you get a Silver Star for killing an enemy, wouldn't every soldier, sailor and marine who killed an enemy soldier also be entitled to wear a Silver Star? If you killed a wounded and helpless Vietnamese isn't that murder and not combat? Isn't what you did-the same act as what Lt. Calley committed- and he faced a court martial and was convicted? Your gunner's mate says that you were a coward and ran from the enemy. Another says that you've abandoned your shipmates until you needed them to dress up your campaign 35 years after the war.
Picture (picture not received): Former US Navy Lt. John Forbes Kerry, directing mass demonstration in April 1971 in Washington DC, viewed by the world and encouraging our enemies as American servicemen were dying daily in Vietnam.
Didn't you throw your Silver Star back at the US Government in protest for our fight against worldwide communism. You've said that those were your medals...then you said they were someone else's medals...then you said that you threw your RIBBONS but NOT your medals and now we see your self awarded "Silver Star" proudly on display in your office. Is the Silver Star on display one that you bought at the gedunk (ship's store) or did you lie to us about throwing your medals away? Isn't your self awarded Silver Star for putting a bullet into a fleeing wounded (or already dead) enemy and your three Purple Hearts for self admitted scratches that took you out of action for ONE DAY an insult to every veteran?
Question number 3--While a US Navy commissioned officer did you commit a court-martial offense by repeatedly disobeying orders and putting your unarmored swift boat and its crew in danger by beaching it in combat, killing unarmed civilians and children and/or killing wounded and helpless enemy combatants? What did Admiral Zumwalt mean when he said "I don't know if I should give Lt. Kerry a medal or a court martial for all the civilians he's killed. I want to put a straight jacket on Lt. Kerry." If you were Commander in Chief but had no "boss" would you also act out of control but have no one to put you in a "straight jacket?"
Question number 4--After your active duty in the Navy did you fulfill your Navy Reserve obligations or ignore them and devote all your time to anti American demonstrations which emboldened our enemy to eventually win the war? Because you encouraged our enemy when American fighting men were still in the field, can you give us a number of how many American soldiers, sailors and Marines you are responsible for killing? Why does LTC Oliver North say, "John Kerry has blood of American soldiers on his hands."
Question number 5 When you returned from Vietnam, you labeled all other Vietnam Veterans war criminals. You made these claims under oath. Were you lying then, or are you lying now? You attended your first pro Viet Cong rally and marched under the communist flag on October 15, 1969 when you were still on active duty in the US Navy. Would you call that treason? Were you wearing your US Navy dogtags, carrying a US Navy ID card and still obligated by the oath you took to "support and defend the United States" as you encouraged our enemy to continue to kill our soldiers, marines and sailors on the battle fields of southeast Asia?
Question number 6 You associated yourself with Hanoi Jane Fonda, an avowed Communist whosupported North Vietnam. Hanoi Jane stated that our prisoners were LYING when they claimed to have been tortured by the Vietnamese. Do you believe former LCDR John McCain to be a liar?
Question number 7 Have you condemned Jane Fonda and asked her not to support your campaign? In his 1985 memoir about the war, Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap wrote that "if it weren't for organizations like Kerry's Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Hanoi would have surrendered to the U.S." The Department of Justice was set to charge Jane Fonda with treason, but the President stopped that action so the country could heal after our Vietnamese allies were slaughtered. Was the Justice Department set to charge you with treason as well? What did Hanoi Jane mean when she called you "a hero?" Did she mean you were an American hero for killing Vietnamese civilians? Or, did she mean that you are a Viet Cong or Communist Vietnam "hero" for helping them win the war. Picture: Kerry sitting behind "Hanoi" Jane Fonda at antiwar rally.
Question number 8 You wrote a book entitled The New Soldier where the cover MOCKS the Iwo Jima memorial with scruffy men "raising" an upside-down United States flag.
7,000 Marines DIED at Iwo Jima including three from the famous photo you Mock. Do you care to apologize to the 7,000 families of those Marines? During the Vietnam War why did you encourage American soldiers and sailors to desert in your book THE NEW SOLDIER and in your speeches. As our Commander in Chief would desertion during wartime be "ok" with you?
Question number 9 You have stated that going into the National Guard was like running off to Canada. Tens of thousands of Guardsmen served in Vietnam, several thousand gave their lives...do you care to apologize? Didn't you try to avoid Vietnam service by asking for a one year vacation from the draft board so you could go to Paris in the hopes the war would be over by the time you returned to your county at war? Lt. Bush flew a F102. Many of the men who flew F102s were killed in them. Would you care to explain how risking your life to fly a fighter plane is cowardly--explain this to the widows and their children? The F102 was tasked with meeting and shooting down Soviet bombers coming to the USA by flying over Canada to destroy US cities and military installations. Surely as Lt. Bush would shoot them they would be trying to shoot and kill Lt. Bush. Please explain the cowardice in Lt. Bush's military service? In your mind is engaging the enemy "over Canada" the same as "fleeing to Canada?" Also, wasn't Lt. Bush risking his life in the early 1970's when you were at the very same time "protesting" the war, encouraging our enemies and calling us sailors, soldiers and veterans "war criminals?"
Question number 10 You have stated you would turn the decision on deployment of US troops over to the United Nations and OPPOSED the death penalty even for terrorists who murder Americans. How would you win the war on terrorism given your stated positions? You state that you voted for the war but now state that you were only voting for the "process" of the UN putting pressure on Iraq. Please show us in the vote the word "process." Also explain why 99 other US Senators could not find the word "process" in the bill they voted on. Finally, please explain how we are to believe anything you say, or ever said, and how you are a member of our "band of brothers" after you called us all war criminals and after you gave aid and comfort to our enemy while still in the US Navy and betrayed all soldiers, sailors and Marines who served their country honorably? Picture: Author, USS Yorktown, USS Kearsarge at Yankee Station off coast of North Vietnam 1968, 1969
Question number 1--Will you like President Bush release your service and medical records? Or do you want to hide the fact that you were only scratched and got 3 purple hearts to cut your combat zone tour to only 4 months? If you don't want to answer the question, simply lift up your shirt sleeve and show us a scar or two. What? No scars at all but 3 Purple Hearts permitted you and you demanded that your tour of duty be cut short by 2/3rds? Regulations require that to be awarded the Purple Heart you must be treated by a Medical Officer but that your "wounds" were so slight (if any) that you never saw a Medical Officer. One of your shipmates says that a wound was "self inflicted." You say in every speech that you are a "Vietnam War Veteran" and that President Bush only served in the National Guard and imply that the President is a draft dodger. But isn't it true that you are a FAILED draft dodger, having asked your draft board for a one year deferment so you could visit Paris and when they refused you, you joined the Navy. And while in the Navy didn't you take swift boat duty because you thought you would see little or no action. However, AFTER you were assigned, Admiral Zumwalt put those units into more direct combat roles.
Question number 2--Did you receive a Silver Star for chasing and killing a Vietnamese who was already wounded (or already killed) by another swift boat crewman? Did you get the Silver Star based on the Action Report that you wrote and the "action" that you alone witnessed? If you get a Silver Star for killing an enemy, wouldn't every soldier, sailor and marine who killed an enemy soldier also be entitled to wear a Silver Star? If you killed a wounded and helpless Vietnamese isn't that murder and not combat? Isn't what you did-the same act as what Lt. Calley committed- and he faced a court martial and was convicted? Your gunner's mate says that you were a coward and ran from the enemy. Another says that you've abandoned your shipmates until you needed them to dress up your campaign 35 years after the war.
Picture (picture not received): Former US Navy Lt. John Forbes Kerry, directing mass demonstration in April 1971 in Washington DC, viewed by the world and encouraging our enemies as American servicemen were dying daily in Vietnam.
Didn't you throw your Silver Star back at the US Government in protest for our fight against worldwide communism. You've said that those were your medals...then you said they were someone else's medals...then you said that you threw your RIBBONS but NOT your medals and now we see your self awarded "Silver Star" proudly on display in your office. Is the Silver Star on display one that you bought at the gedunk (ship's store) or did you lie to us about throwing your medals away? Isn't your self awarded Silver Star for putting a bullet into a fleeing wounded (or already dead) enemy and your three Purple Hearts for self admitted scratches that took you out of action for ONE DAY an insult to every veteran?
Question number 3--While a US Navy commissioned officer did you commit a court-martial offense by repeatedly disobeying orders and putting your unarmored swift boat and its crew in danger by beaching it in combat, killing unarmed civilians and children and/or killing wounded and helpless enemy combatants? What did Admiral Zumwalt mean when he said "I don't know if I should give Lt. Kerry a medal or a court martial for all the civilians he's killed. I want to put a straight jacket on Lt. Kerry." If you were Commander in Chief but had no "boss" would you also act out of control but have no one to put you in a "straight jacket?"
Question number 4--After your active duty in the Navy did you fulfill your Navy Reserve obligations or ignore them and devote all your time to anti American demonstrations which emboldened our enemy to eventually win the war? Because you encouraged our enemy when American fighting men were still in the field, can you give us a number of how many American soldiers, sailors and Marines you are responsible for killing? Why does LTC Oliver North say, "John Kerry has blood of American soldiers on his hands."
Question number 5 When you returned from Vietnam, you labeled all other Vietnam Veterans war criminals. You made these claims under oath. Were you lying then, or are you lying now? You attended your first pro Viet Cong rally and marched under the communist flag on October 15, 1969 when you were still on active duty in the US Navy. Would you call that treason? Were you wearing your US Navy dogtags, carrying a US Navy ID card and still obligated by the oath you took to "support and defend the United States" as you encouraged our enemy to continue to kill our soldiers, marines and sailors on the battle fields of southeast Asia?
Question number 6 You associated yourself with Hanoi Jane Fonda, an avowed Communist whosupported North Vietnam. Hanoi Jane stated that our prisoners were LYING when they claimed to have been tortured by the Vietnamese. Do you believe former LCDR John McCain to be a liar?
Question number 7 Have you condemned Jane Fonda and asked her not to support your campaign? In his 1985 memoir about the war, Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap wrote that "if it weren't for organizations like Kerry's Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Hanoi would have surrendered to the U.S." The Department of Justice was set to charge Jane Fonda with treason, but the President stopped that action so the country could heal after our Vietnamese allies were slaughtered. Was the Justice Department set to charge you with treason as well? What did Hanoi Jane mean when she called you "a hero?" Did she mean you were an American hero for killing Vietnamese civilians? Or, did she mean that you are a Viet Cong or Communist Vietnam "hero" for helping them win the war. Picture: Kerry sitting behind "Hanoi" Jane Fonda at antiwar rally.
Question number 8 You wrote a book entitled The New Soldier where the cover MOCKS the Iwo Jima memorial with scruffy men "raising" an upside-down United States flag.
7,000 Marines DIED at Iwo Jima including three from the famous photo you Mock. Do you care to apologize to the 7,000 families of those Marines? During the Vietnam War why did you encourage American soldiers and sailors to desert in your book THE NEW SOLDIER and in your speeches. As our Commander in Chief would desertion during wartime be "ok" with you?
Question number 9 You have stated that going into the National Guard was like running off to Canada. Tens of thousands of Guardsmen served in Vietnam, several thousand gave their lives...do you care to apologize? Didn't you try to avoid Vietnam service by asking for a one year vacation from the draft board so you could go to Paris in the hopes the war would be over by the time you returned to your county at war? Lt. Bush flew a F102. Many of the men who flew F102s were killed in them. Would you care to explain how risking your life to fly a fighter plane is cowardly--explain this to the widows and their children? The F102 was tasked with meeting and shooting down Soviet bombers coming to the USA by flying over Canada to destroy US cities and military installations. Surely as Lt. Bush would shoot them they would be trying to shoot and kill Lt. Bush. Please explain the cowardice in Lt. Bush's military service? In your mind is engaging the enemy "over Canada" the same as "fleeing to Canada?" Also, wasn't Lt. Bush risking his life in the early 1970's when you were at the very same time "protesting" the war, encouraging our enemies and calling us sailors, soldiers and veterans "war criminals?"
Question number 10 You have stated you would turn the decision on deployment of US troops over to the United Nations and OPPOSED the death penalty even for terrorists who murder Americans. How would you win the war on terrorism given your stated positions? You state that you voted for the war but now state that you were only voting for the "process" of the UN putting pressure on Iraq. Please show us in the vote the word "process." Also explain why 99 other US Senators could not find the word "process" in the bill they voted on. Finally, please explain how we are to believe anything you say, or ever said, and how you are a member of our "band of brothers" after you called us all war criminals and after you gave aid and comfort to our enemy while still in the US Navy and betrayed all soldiers, sailors and Marines who served their country honorably? Picture: Author, USS Yorktown, USS Kearsarge at Yankee Station off coast of North Vietnam 1968, 1969
KCFlyer
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Speaking on behalf of Mr Kerry...What I meant to say was that wealthy guys going into the National Guard was like running off to Canada. Of the several thousand Guardsmen who gave their lives in Vietnam, did any of them come from families with a net worth of over $1,000,000?
local 12 proud
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Kerry 'Flips Off' Vietnam Vet
From Prowlerden; iz@mvtel.net
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/5/31/225546.shtml
Democratic Senator - and certain presidential nominee - John F. Kerry gave the middle finger to a Vietnam veteran at the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Memorial Day morning, NewsMax.com has learned.
Ted Sampley, a former Green Beret who served two full tours in Vietnam, spotted Kerry and his Secret Service detail at about 9:00 AM Monday morning at the Wall. Sampley walked up to Kerry, extended his hand and said, "Senator, I am Ted Sampley, the head of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry, and I am here to escort you away from the Wall because you do not belong here."
At that point a Secret Service officer told Sampley to back away from Kerry. Sampley moved about six feet away and opened his jacket to reveal a HANOI JOHN tee-shirt.
Kerry then began talking to a group of school children. Sampley then showed the tee-shirt to the children and said, "Kerry does not belong at the Wall because he betrayed the brave soldiers who fought in Vietnam."
Just then Kerry - in front of the school children, other visitors and Secret Service agents -- brazenly 'flashed the bird' at Sampley and then yelled out to everyone, "Sampley is a felon!"
Kerry was referring to an incident 12 years ago when Sampley confronted Senator John McCain's chief aide, Mark Salter, in a Senate stairwell after McCain repeatedly offended POW families at a Senate POW hearing. Sampley, whose father-in-law at that time was MIA in Laos, followed Salter into the stairwell and, when they emerged, Salter had a bloody lip and a broken nose.
Sampley's group, Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry, has garnered huge national attention and been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post and on MSNBC Scarborough Country. Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets have registered their opposition to Kerry through Sampley's group.
Clearly Sampley has gotten under Kerry's skin once again.
From Prowlerden; iz@mvtel.net
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/5/31/225546.shtml
Democratic Senator - and certain presidential nominee - John F. Kerry gave the middle finger to a Vietnam veteran at the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Memorial Day morning, NewsMax.com has learned.
Ted Sampley, a former Green Beret who served two full tours in Vietnam, spotted Kerry and his Secret Service detail at about 9:00 AM Monday morning at the Wall. Sampley walked up to Kerry, extended his hand and said, "Senator, I am Ted Sampley, the head of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry, and I am here to escort you away from the Wall because you do not belong here."
At that point a Secret Service officer told Sampley to back away from Kerry. Sampley moved about six feet away and opened his jacket to reveal a HANOI JOHN tee-shirt.
Kerry then began talking to a group of school children. Sampley then showed the tee-shirt to the children and said, "Kerry does not belong at the Wall because he betrayed the brave soldiers who fought in Vietnam."
Just then Kerry - in front of the school children, other visitors and Secret Service agents -- brazenly 'flashed the bird' at Sampley and then yelled out to everyone, "Sampley is a felon!"
Kerry was referring to an incident 12 years ago when Sampley confronted Senator John McCain's chief aide, Mark Salter, in a Senate stairwell after McCain repeatedly offended POW families at a Senate POW hearing. Sampley, whose father-in-law at that time was MIA in Laos, followed Salter into the stairwell and, when they emerged, Salter had a bloody lip and a broken nose.
Sampley's group, Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry, has garnered huge national attention and been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post and on MSNBC Scarborough Country. Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets have registered their opposition to Kerry through Sampley's group.
Clearly Sampley has gotten under Kerry's skin once again.
Bush fulfills vow to injured GI
President Bush, fulfilling a 15-month-old promise, jogged around the South Lawn yesterday with a soldier who had been badly wounded in Afghanistan. Attached is a picture of Mike McNaughton. He stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan Christmas 2002. President Bush came to visit the wounded in the hospital. He told Mike that when he could run a mile, that they would go on a run together. True to his word, he called Mike every month or so to see how he was doing. Well, in early April, they went on the run, 1 mile with the president.
President Bush, fulfilling a 15-month-old promise, jogged around the South Lawn yesterday with a soldier who had been badly wounded in Afghanistan. Attached is a picture of Mike McNaughton. He stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan Christmas 2002. President Bush came to visit the wounded in the hospital. He told Mike that when he could run a mile, that they would go on a run together. True to his word, he called Mike every month or so to see how he was doing. Well, in early April, they went on the run, 1 mile with the president.
UNBIASED MEDIA?? 
sentrido
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This is how the bush administration feel about people who served in Vietnam:
Terry Holt Crosses the Line on Hardball
Backed into a corner by Chris Matthews, Bush spokesperson Terry Holt crossed the line by questioning John Kerry’s record of military service.
Terry Holt, 2/17/04:
“We've never questioned John Kerry's service to the country.†-- [CNN, Anderson Cooper, 360 Degrees, 2/17/04]
Terry Holt, 5/25/04:
MATTHEWS: John Kerry went to Vietnam. He volunteered. Why didn't the president volunteer to go to Vietnam? He's for the war.
HOLT: Well, the president flew as a air…fighter pilot–
MATTHEWS: Well, why didn't he go to Vietnam? Shouldn’t people that support wars go and fight them?
HOLT: In fact, he was one….he served in the National Guard honorably for this country.
MATTHEWS: Why didn't he go and fight in the war if he believes in it?
HOLT: Well everybody made a decision about how best they served. He served as a fighter pilot in the Texas air guard.
MATTHEWS: But if you believe in a war, shouldn’t you fight it rather than someone who doesn’t believe it, a draftee who gets drafted?
HOLT: But in John Kerry's case, he went to Vietnam… He took his own photo camera, by the way, so he could get some good pictures.
-- [MSNBC, Hardball, 5/25/04]
Not surprising since most of them never served at all. Kerry Volunteered for a second tour. Kerry saw combat. You may not agree with how Kerry felt about the Vietnam war, or the fact that he had the balls to critisize the nations leaders about it, but every veteran should be outraged by Terry Holts comments.
Terry Holt Crosses the Line on Hardball
Backed into a corner by Chris Matthews, Bush spokesperson Terry Holt crossed the line by questioning John Kerry’s record of military service.
Terry Holt, 2/17/04:
“We've never questioned John Kerry's service to the country.†-- [CNN, Anderson Cooper, 360 Degrees, 2/17/04]
Terry Holt, 5/25/04:
MATTHEWS: John Kerry went to Vietnam. He volunteered. Why didn't the president volunteer to go to Vietnam? He's for the war.
HOLT: Well, the president flew as a air…fighter pilot–
MATTHEWS: Well, why didn't he go to Vietnam? Shouldn’t people that support wars go and fight them?
HOLT: In fact, he was one….he served in the National Guard honorably for this country.
MATTHEWS: Why didn't he go and fight in the war if he believes in it?
HOLT: Well everybody made a decision about how best they served. He served as a fighter pilot in the Texas air guard.
MATTHEWS: But if you believe in a war, shouldn’t you fight it rather than someone who doesn’t believe it, a draftee who gets drafted?
HOLT: But in John Kerry's case, he went to Vietnam… He took his own photo camera, by the way, so he could get some good pictures.
-- [MSNBC, Hardball, 5/25/04]
Not surprising since most of them never served at all. Kerry Volunteered for a second tour. Kerry saw combat. You may not agree with how Kerry felt about the Vietnam war, or the fact that he had the balls to critisize the nations leaders about it, but every veteran should be outraged by Terry Holts comments.
sentrido
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RIGHTWING FICTION: John Kerry wasn't seriously wounded in Vietnam and didn't deserve his medals.
FACT: John Kerry volunteered for service and served honorably and courageously under fire. His fellow crewmates have attested to his leadership, skill, and bravery. On April 20th, the Kerry Campaign posted on its official website the military records that the U.S. Navy provided Kerry on his active military service from 1966-1970. According to the New York Times, "Several describe him as a gutsy commander undertaking a dangerous assignment in Vietnam and detail some of the actions that won three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star." "Throughout his four years of active duty, Kerry's superiors gave him glowing evaluations... narrative comments from his commanding officers said he was diplomatic, charismatic, decisive and well-liked by his men." "He was recommended for early promotion, and when he left the Navy in 1970 to run for Congress, his commanding officer said it was the Navy's loss." [NY Times, 4.21.04]
In an email to supporters, Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said, "RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and Bush Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman are running an ugly smear campaign on John Kerry's service in Vietnam. We've seen this before. In 2000 they ran a "whisper campaign" against John McCain, suggesting his time as a POW made him unfit for the Presidency. Then in this campaign, their surrogates have even questioned Max Cleland's war heroism -- a man who received a Silver Star and lost three limbs in the Vietnam War. The fact is they're terrified of running against John Kerry's war record. And so they're desperately doing everything they can to try to tear it down."
PURPLE HEART REGULATIONS
Army Regulation 600-8-22:
a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded-
(1) In any action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.
(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces.
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force
(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.
(7) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.
While clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.
(1) A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.
(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.
(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.
(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.
(B) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
© Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
FACT: John Kerry volunteered for service and served honorably and courageously under fire. His fellow crewmates have attested to his leadership, skill, and bravery. On April 20th, the Kerry Campaign posted on its official website the military records that the U.S. Navy provided Kerry on his active military service from 1966-1970. According to the New York Times, "Several describe him as a gutsy commander undertaking a dangerous assignment in Vietnam and detail some of the actions that won three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star." "Throughout his four years of active duty, Kerry's superiors gave him glowing evaluations... narrative comments from his commanding officers said he was diplomatic, charismatic, decisive and well-liked by his men." "He was recommended for early promotion, and when he left the Navy in 1970 to run for Congress, his commanding officer said it was the Navy's loss." [NY Times, 4.21.04]
In an email to supporters, Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said, "RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and Bush Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman are running an ugly smear campaign on John Kerry's service in Vietnam. We've seen this before. In 2000 they ran a "whisper campaign" against John McCain, suggesting his time as a POW made him unfit for the Presidency. Then in this campaign, their surrogates have even questioned Max Cleland's war heroism -- a man who received a Silver Star and lost three limbs in the Vietnam War. The fact is they're terrified of running against John Kerry's war record. And so they're desperately doing everything they can to try to tear it down."
PURPLE HEART REGULATIONS
Army Regulation 600-8-22:
a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded-
(1) In any action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.
(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces.
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force
(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.
(7) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.
While clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.
(1) A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.
(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.
(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.
(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.
(B) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
© Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
sentrido
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RIGHTWING FICTION: John Kerry accused fellow Vietnam veterans of widespread atrocities and war crimes during his 1971 Senate testimony.
FACT: John Kerry is a decorated Vietnam vet and lifelong defender of veterans. During his 1971 Senate testimony he did not directly accuse fellow vets of war crimes. Rather, he shared stories that others related at the Winter Soldier hearings.
Here is a portion of his actual testimony:
"...several months ago in Detroit, we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged and many very highly decorated veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command.
It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen in Detroit, the emotions in the room, the feelings of the men who were reliving their experiences in Vietnam, but they did. They relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do.
They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country."
FACT: John Kerry is a decorated Vietnam vet and lifelong defender of veterans. During his 1971 Senate testimony he did not directly accuse fellow vets of war crimes. Rather, he shared stories that others related at the Winter Soldier hearings.
Here is a portion of his actual testimony:
"...several months ago in Detroit, we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged and many very highly decorated veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command.
It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen in Detroit, the emotions in the room, the feelings of the men who were reliving their experiences in Vietnam, but they did. They relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do.
They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country."
sentrido
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- Jan 8, 2004
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- 1,004
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RIGHTWING FICTION: John Kerry lied about throwing his medals during a Vietnam War protest.
FACT: The day after John Kerry gave his famous speech before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22 of 1971 where he asked the committee "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam?" and "How do you ask a man to die for a mistake?," the VVAW made its final planned public act of the demonstration by organizing a medal returning ceremony. A wood and wire fence was erected around the Capitol, and thousands of veterans then lined up to return to the government their medals, ribbons, discharge papers, and uniforms by throwing these items over the fence. Many veterans made a statement before returning the military paraphernalia and the protest took hours because of the long line of protestors returning their medals. The veterans who could not attend the event in DC had surrogates throw the medals on their behalf. John Kerry threw back combat ribbons representing awards he won in Vietnam. He also returned the medals of two veterans who could not attend the event.
John Kerry is proud of the work he did to end the Vietnam War. He returned his ribbons as a symbolic gesture to make the point that the Vietnam war had to end. For John Kerry, the symbolism of medals and ribbons is interchangeable: "We all referred to them as the symbols they were representing," he told "Good Morning America" on ABC. The point was to end the Vietnam war and to keep more young American men from dying because of President Nixon's failed policies. At the time, Kerry said, "I am not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace and justice, and to try to make this country wake up once and for all." [Tour of Duty, Douglas Brinkley]
1971: Oliphant Writes About Kerry’s Medals, But Actually Means Ribbons:
“Medals and other military mementos were flung…John Kerry of Waltham, Mass., a former Navy lieutenant and now a leader of the group, who became a national figure last week said before he threw his medals over the fence: ‘I’m not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace justice, and to try to make this country wake up once and for all.’ †[Boston Globe, 4/24/71]
2004: "Never Any Confusion" from Reporter Who Covered Kerry in 1971:
“Thomas Oliphant, who was reporting on the event the event that day for the Boston Globe, recalled that Kerry reached over the fence to place his own service ribbons as well as medals he had received from other veterans. ‘I never had any confusion about what he did,’ said Oliphant, now a Boston Globe columnist, ‘that he had kept his Silver Star, Purple Hearts and Bronze Star.’ †[John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography by the Boston Globe Reporters Who Know Him Best, pps 127-128; 2004]
RIGHTWING FICTION: It was dishonorable for John Kerry to give back the military ribbons he had been awarded.
FACT: Quite the opposite. John Kerry returned his ribbons as a symbolic gesture to make the point that the Vietnam war had to end. It was an emotional and dramatic way of waking up the country and preventing more young American men from dying. Thousands of veterans participated in the ceremony, and photographs of the Capitol steps show that medals, ribbons, other insignia, and discharge papers were thrown. Kerry also returned the medals of a WWII veteran and a Vietnam veteran who asked Kerry to return their medals. The Nixon Administration made John Kerry one of its targets and Kerry's rightwing foes have been smearing his name and his service ever since. [Tour of Duty, Douglas Brinkley]
FACT: The day after John Kerry gave his famous speech before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22 of 1971 where he asked the committee "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam?" and "How do you ask a man to die for a mistake?," the VVAW made its final planned public act of the demonstration by organizing a medal returning ceremony. A wood and wire fence was erected around the Capitol, and thousands of veterans then lined up to return to the government their medals, ribbons, discharge papers, and uniforms by throwing these items over the fence. Many veterans made a statement before returning the military paraphernalia and the protest took hours because of the long line of protestors returning their medals. The veterans who could not attend the event in DC had surrogates throw the medals on their behalf. John Kerry threw back combat ribbons representing awards he won in Vietnam. He also returned the medals of two veterans who could not attend the event.
John Kerry is proud of the work he did to end the Vietnam War. He returned his ribbons as a symbolic gesture to make the point that the Vietnam war had to end. For John Kerry, the symbolism of medals and ribbons is interchangeable: "We all referred to them as the symbols they were representing," he told "Good Morning America" on ABC. The point was to end the Vietnam war and to keep more young American men from dying because of President Nixon's failed policies. At the time, Kerry said, "I am not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace and justice, and to try to make this country wake up once and for all." [Tour of Duty, Douglas Brinkley]
1971: Oliphant Writes About Kerry’s Medals, But Actually Means Ribbons:
“Medals and other military mementos were flung…John Kerry of Waltham, Mass., a former Navy lieutenant and now a leader of the group, who became a national figure last week said before he threw his medals over the fence: ‘I’m not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace justice, and to try to make this country wake up once and for all.’ †[Boston Globe, 4/24/71]
2004: "Never Any Confusion" from Reporter Who Covered Kerry in 1971:
“Thomas Oliphant, who was reporting on the event the event that day for the Boston Globe, recalled that Kerry reached over the fence to place his own service ribbons as well as medals he had received from other veterans. ‘I never had any confusion about what he did,’ said Oliphant, now a Boston Globe columnist, ‘that he had kept his Silver Star, Purple Hearts and Bronze Star.’ †[John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography by the Boston Globe Reporters Who Know Him Best, pps 127-128; 2004]
RIGHTWING FICTION: It was dishonorable for John Kerry to give back the military ribbons he had been awarded.
FACT: Quite the opposite. John Kerry returned his ribbons as a symbolic gesture to make the point that the Vietnam war had to end. It was an emotional and dramatic way of waking up the country and preventing more young American men from dying. Thousands of veterans participated in the ceremony, and photographs of the Capitol steps show that medals, ribbons, other insignia, and discharge papers were thrown. Kerry also returned the medals of a WWII veteran and a Vietnam veteran who asked Kerry to return their medals. The Nixon Administration made John Kerry one of its targets and Kerry's rightwing foes have been smearing his name and his service ever since. [Tour of Duty, Douglas Brinkley]
Captain Ed
Member
Bush's TX ANG Service has a few clouds in it, including allegations of going AWOL for several months. Many explanations for this were put forth.
His Squadron had F-102's, a highly unlikely aircraft to be sent to Viet Nam.
Reading between the lines, it seems to me his alchoholism had a lot to do with it.
Many recovering alchoholics display symptoms of some form of insanity for the rest of their lives, and Bush has been the subject of 2 of them.
I just don't want him, or Kerry for president, but if I had to choose, I'd take Kerry.
His Squadron had F-102's, a highly unlikely aircraft to be sent to Viet Nam.
Reading between the lines, it seems to me his alchoholism had a lot to do with it.
Many recovering alchoholics display symptoms of some form of insanity for the rest of their lives, and Bush has been the subject of 2 of them.
I just don't want him, or Kerry for president, but if I had to choose, I'd take Kerry.
