I served the U.S. Air Force honorably from February 1962 to January 1966. Before there was a draft, I joined at age 19 because I believed I had a duty to serve my country. My first vote in a presidential election was for Barry Goldwater. It is disappointing to see other Republicans besmirching the military service of Sen. John Kerry. Their scurrilous actions are other than honorable.
How can members of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth make deprecating comments about military actions they did not see or experience, at the same time as swift boat commanders Kerry and William Rood? Apparently, these vigilante Republicans are upset about Sen. Kerry’s comments about the war, after his military service.
I did not serve in Vietnam, but I know people who did. I’ve heard stories about socalled atrocities, and how U.S. servicemen referred to the enemy as subhuman. I’ve heard the Viet Cong committed atrocities on the corpses of U.S. troops. Many U.S. troops believed retaliation was fair play. Therefore, whatever happened was OK. So what? “War is war” and lots of nasty things can happen – even today.
If John Kerry heard about atrocities from veterans who actually served in Vietnam and decided to speak up about it, he was probably doing the right thing. Conversely, the vigilante Republicans and some who served in Vietnam could be acting to “close the ranks,” or enacting a “code of silence.”
President Bush and Vice President Cheney legally eschewed active military service. Now, they need to do what is right and publicly renounce the disparaging remarks of vigilante Republicans. Also, the financially desperate media accepting the negative, less than honest ads, should stop doing so.
Gary B. Clark
Marysville
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