John
Kerry’s “first tour of duty in Vietnam”
was actually a year’s assignment, from June
1967 to June 1968, aboard the guided missile frigate,
the USS Gridley. From June 1967 to November of that
year, the Gridley operated off the California coast.
In December 1967, the ship did guard duty for planes
operating in the China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin.
It spent about five weeks on station, far off the
coast of Vietnam. This duty involved no fighting
for the simple reason that the vessel was too far
from the combat zone. In January 1968, the Gridley
sailed for Australia and returned to California
in June. So much for Kerry’s “first tour
of duty” in Vietnam.
In
a self-promotional endeavor, John Kerry used on
his website a photograph taken, in Vietnam, of himself,
and nineteen “shills”, er, fellow naval
officers. Of the nineteen, two are dead, eleven
wrote to the campaign stating that they believe
Kerry is unfit to be president and asking that the
campaign cease using their image. Another five do
not want to be involved in any way. Only one of
the nineteen “shills”, er, I mean naval
officers, endorses Kerry. Also, raising questions
about Kerry’s perspectives are his former superior
officers, doctors and other medical personnel.
Several
enlisted personnel who served under Kerry - on the
same Swift Boat - have expressed doubts about, and
questioned his accounts of, various actions. None,
of course, can recall the infamous Christmas in
Cambodia. Steve Gardner - who served two years on
the Swift Boats - was a young gunner who sat five
feet behind Kerry throughout Kerry’s 4-month
tour. He is quoted as follows: ”How can Kerry
possibly be commander – in - chief when he
couldn’t competently command a six- man crew?
… Kerry was erratic … he hardly ever did
what he was supposed to do … his command decisions
put us in more peril … mostly he just ran …
All Kerry wanted to do was turn and ‘get out
of Dodge’ at the first sign of trouble.”
As
regards those whom Kerry “quoted” in his
testimony, many were subsequently unmasked as never
having served, as having served but not in Vietnam,
and as having served in Vietnam but not in combat
and, therefore, not in a position to witness atrocities.
So Kerry was either negligent as to the truth, or,
intentionally lied before Congress. In fact, the
only US atrocities we can positively establish are
“My Lai”, which was an aberration, and,
now, we also know that a jittery Kerry was responsible
for shooting dead an unarmed Vietnamese boy.
Of
course, Kerry could clear up all the doubts and
questions about his military service. He could follow
the lead of Dubya, by granting permission to the
Department of Defense to release all relevant records.
The Vietnam conflict is an issue in this presidential
campaign because John Kerry made it an issue. In
fact, it is the only issue he has. The fact that
he has lied, and distorted the truth, about this
one, and, only, substantial part of his life, is
of great concern to the U.S. electorate. After all,
people never really manage to compartmentalize their
lives.
In
reply to Mr. Dwyer, a few of my relations fought
with the West Cork IRA Brigade and with the Dublin
Brigade, during the War of Independence and subsequent
Civil War. They fought for Irish self-determination,
so that Ireland could take its place as a free,
independent country firmly ensconced in the family
of Western, democratic, Christian nations. Some
had to flee to America after the fighting. They
respected and pledged loyalty to the United States
for the sanctuary it had given them. They certainly
would have no time for any extremist, left-wing,
neo communist, anti American charades that have
no relevance to reality.
Mr.
Dwyer dislikes the New York Post. I must concur
that its coverage on Ireland leaves a lot to be
desired. However, I would still accord it, the New
York Sun and the Fox News Channel much more credence
than the transparently biased, fabricated “news”
stories of The New York Times, yet the product of
unfettered “Jason Blairites”, or, the
delusional fantasies of the networks a la Dan Rather
and the anti American ramblings of CNN.
It
is ironic how quick those who complain of censorship
would rush to censor those with whom they disagree.
How ridiculous, illogical and hypocritical is the
statement: “I wonder how this guy was given
space to write this BS in The Blanket”. Even
more blatantly illogical is: “I don’t
know why The Blanket, a forum for dissident thought
even bothered to publish etc., etc.”
I
suspect that the editorial board of The Blanket
would also disagree with my opinion. Nevertheless,
it chose the high road of principle in publishing
it. As they say: “Our differences will never
defeat us so long as we have the courage to air
them.” The mainstream media and, indeed, the
Irish ethnic media, in the United States and in
Ireland could learn a lot from The Blanket.
