posted on September 27, 2004 12:09:05 PM
With kerry's only claim to fame being his self proclaimed (and falsified) war record, he presents himself as a hero.
And as I have stated prevously no true hero flouts their record as kerry does.
The author of the following article expresses my thoughts and experiences in dealing with other vets I know and have known.
---------------
Real Heroes Don't Boast or Brag
Written by Russ Vaughn
Monday, September 27, 2004
Editor:
I didn’t write this piece but I salute the man who did. He has said exactly what so many veterans have been thinking for so long. When I returned from Nam, my roommate in the 82d Airborne was SSGT Charles B. Morris, awarded the Medal of Honor while serving with the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam. I know firsthand it’s true that warriors like Charley are tormented in their dreams and cry out in their sleep as they re-fight their battles; yes that I know from bunking with him.
But one thing I never heard him do was boast.
Not once, not ever.
May your troubled spirit forever rest in peace, Command Sergeant-Major Morris.
Russ Vaughn
I Don't Know War
(author unknown)
I'm not worthy to question John Kerry's war record. Because I don't have one. I spent the Vietnam War in elementary school. And the four years I was in the Army were all behind a desk. My fort was unofficially known as "Uncle Ben's Rest Home."
So I don't know anything about war.
Though I do know a little bit about men who've been to war. I've been around plenty of those. Like my stepfather. He got bunged up pretty bad in France. I know that because I saw him in a swimming suit once. But he never talked about it. Not once.
If you asked him about the war he'd tell hilarious stories about basic training, or where the guys he served with were from, or how fun it was learning to fly the gliders, or the time they stole the ambulance to go into town and get drunk in France, or a few of the phrases in German he learned. But he'd never actually talk about the war. Unless he was really drunk.
In which case he still wouldn't talk about it. He'd cry about it. He'd put his head in his arms in the wee hours of the morning and sob to himself about how the men around him were broken and torn when the gliders crash landed into the French countryside.
But that was only once or twice, and that was never about him.
And the little box of medals at the bottom of his footlocker never came out.
It was kind of the same way at the Legion and the VFW. Every day he'd check in at both places, to sign the book and to have a beer, and I would tag along. All those men had been in the service, and most had been in combat, but I never heard a war story. Lots of Army stories, and Navy stories, sure. About guys they knew and leaves they were on and officers they messed with. But nothing about the war.
It was the same way in the Army.
In my day, it seemed like everybody above staff sergeant or captain had been in Vietnam. I went in 10 years after the war ended but the guys on the second half of their careers had
all gone. You could tell when they wore their dress uniforms. But that was the only time.
Men didn't talk about what they'd done in the war. They didn't boast of their accomplishments. They didn't brag about their medals. But if you chanced to see them in their dress uniforms, with the rows of service ribbons, you could read their history there, you could see that those who'd done the most spoke of it the least.
Like one of our drill sergeants in basic training. Buffing the floor in his office one day we saw the service ribbons pinned to his Class A uniform on the coat rack. Comparing them to the poster in the company day room we learned he'd gotten the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. We asked about them and he made us do push-ups for being nosey.
The night before graduation, when he welcomed us as fellow soldiers, we asked him again, we almost pestered him. Finally he relented and gave us two sentences: "I was in a war. I got hurt."
And that's all he'd say.
Kind of like a man I know, who received the Medal of Honor. One night he stood in a long line to shake hands with Colin Powell. The man, because of the nature of the event, wore his medal around his neck. As he came to Colin Powell the man said, "General, it's an honor to meet you." And Colin Powell responded, "No, sir - it's an honor to meet you."
Anyway, I know this man, and he's often asked to tell his story, of how he earned the Medal of Honor. And he never does. Oh, he answers, and he talks, and he inspires, and he talks about the war. But he neglects the part about the lives he saved and the courage he showed, and instead talks about a young Vietnamese man who helped him to safety when his legs were too shot through to hold him anymore.
I don't know anything about war. But I do know a little bit about men who've gone to war. And none of them act the way John Kerry does.
None of them brag about, boast of, talk about or otherwise try to benefit from their service. They don't prostitute their time in uniform for personal gain and ambition.
They all modestly and insistently say that they "didn't do anything." They minimize their contributions and put them in the context of the similarly courageous and noble service provided by their comrades.
A true hero doesn't boast. In fact, he kind of keeps his deeds to himself. Which is what makes John Kerry so different. Which is what makes John Kerry so unbelievable.
I don't know war. But I do know war heroes. And John Kerry's damn sure not one of them.
Regards,
Russ Vaughn
About the Writer: Russ has a 40 year affiliation with the military, directly and as a retired health care marketer. Six years as a paratrooper with the 82nd and the 101st Airborne. Earned the Combat Infantry Badge in Vietnam with the 101st. Russ receives e-mail at [email protected].
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
posted on September 27, 2004 02:13:25 PM
OK, I clicked on cowflop's post to see what it had to say. Speaking about being a war hero, I've had it up to here. I was on the USS Oriskany (CVA 34) at Yankee station and in the Indian Ocean..... My question is, what makes cowflop an expert on military service? If it posts a reply, somebody please repost it so I can read what it is.
Get it through your head, dipstick, Dubya did what he was ordered to do. Even if the order was, 'Go work on a campaign and don't try to fly anymore, sonny.' The powers that be were satisfied with his honorable discharge, even if his immediate superior wasn't in the loop. Hello! Do you understand what you are reading? His superior officer knew it was being sugar-coated and he didn't like it, but he obeyed orders. Dubya didn't like it, he was gung-ho to fly expensive airplanes reallly fast and didn't like it, but he obeyed orders. I'm waving flags here for the ignorant cowflop *\o/* *-o/* *\o-* *\o/*, you're beating a dead horse. Trust me.
posted on September 27, 2004 03:42:36 PM Can't brag about being a war hero when , like the chicken-ship bush, you didn't serve at all!
What do you know about serving crow, other than servicing sailors on leave? Hey, hey Ho, ho Kerry - sign the 1-8-0
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
posted on September 27, 2004 04:31:07 PM
Wasn't it James Dean that said; Us hero's know who we are. Meaning that there's no need to boast about it, it's enough for the real hero's themselves to know who they are.
posted on September 27, 2004 05:09:09 PMother than servicing sailors on leave?
I can see it now, there's Crow standing in front of the officers club chewing gum and blowing bubbles, swinging her purse in circles and twitching her hips from side to side waiting for sailors to arrive. When they do she says; Hi sailor, ya come here often? LOL
posted on September 27, 2004 06:18:59 PM
HahahA If you guys are trying to insult me by calling me a whore....try again.....I never charged a dime!
Just gave it away....not many sailor's in Minnnesota but I was working my way east!
Proud of my long and prolific sex life!
My motto:
Find 'em, fool 'em, f^&* 'em, forget 'em.
So "insult" away ....doesn't bother me
When stupid men loose an argument with a woman it's so funny to see them predictably attack either her looks(even if they can't see them) or her sex life.....could you guys ever think of something different?????
posted on September 27, 2004 06:22:40 PM
That's so true, bear. And kerry's been bragging, mentioning and really expanding his 14 week VN service his whole political career. I'm so glad American's are beginning to see his true character...and what a phoney he was and still is today.
As for the success of Kerry's anti-democracy protests and his leadership of the VVAW and association with Fonda's Winter Soldier Investigation, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietnam's most decorated military leader, wrote in retrospect that if not for the disunity created by such stateside protesters, Hanoi would have ultimately surrendered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3, which states, "No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President ... having previously taken an oath ... to support the Constitution of the United States, [who has] engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." --George Washington
posted on September 27, 2004 06:25:50 PM
parklane - As requested....but notice not a mention of her own military service.
HahahA If you guys are trying to insult me by calling me a whore....try again.....I never charged a dime!
Just gave it away....not many sailor's in Minnnesota but I was working my way east!
Proud of my long and prolific sex life!
My motto:
Find 'em, fool 'em, f^&* 'em, forget 'em.
So "insult" away ....doesn't bother me
When stupid men loose an argument with a woman it's so funny to see them predictably attack either her looks(even if they can't see them) or her sex life.....could you guys ever think of something different?????
posted on September 27, 2004 06:40:34 PM
So many men here behave like third grade kids. Such a below the belt attack...tawdry and tacky with lindak going along for the ride.
posted on September 27, 2004 06:43:13 PM
Ummmmm Crowfarm, and here I thought you were the head torturer in Minnnesota, in reference to your motto, i.e., Find 'em, fool 'em, f^&* 'em, forget 'em. How can I tell you are the head torturer?? Your the one with the dirty knees.
posted on September 27, 2004 06:51:39 PM
bagdad helen - You're confused again....poor dear. I didn't comment on yellowstone's post....but if cf wants to show herself as a sleezy woman...to get more attention...only SHE is responsible for what SHE posts....not I.
----------
And you mention third graders...LOL...like cf's posts have been so civil and adult. But you cheer her on and on and on. What a hypocrite you are showing yourself to be....once again.
posted on September 27, 2004 06:56:50 PM
And Crowfarm doesn't go over the line or what, or should I say beat a dead horse constantly. It gets kinda old to hear how she thought that she shut someone up with one of her oh so witty posts and then she goes on to post it twenty times. And just what were you getting at with your post?? It sounded a whole lot to me like if and when she ever gets out west that you'd like to have a go at f^&*ing her your own self. Don't go and get all self righteous on me now.
posted on September 27, 2004 07:03:33 PM
It was a bit of light humor, thats why I had the big smilie.
Yes she does go over the line like so many others but I don't see the point going lower and lower, that gets pretty old too. It has nothing to do with being self righteous, I just don't see a point to it.
posted on September 27, 2004 07:07:47 PM
Well allrighty then, I thought I was just being a little humourous also. I do that whenever I insult someone, I try to do it in a humourous way. Of course I realise that it isn't allways seen that way.
posted on September 27, 2004 07:10:50 PMJust gave it away....not many sailor's in Minnnesota but I was working my way east!
So one thing crow & kerry have in common, 14 weeks of lip service.
Hey, hey Ho, ho Kerry - sign the 1-8-0
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
posted on September 27, 2004 07:14:51 PM
Also, I tend to kinda hold back with my insults to most people here, however, Crowfarm is such a nasty person, judging her by her posts that she just brings out the worst from me and what the helll, as far as I am concerned she deserves it, she asks for it.
posted on September 27, 2004 07:26:12 PM
Like I owe YOU an explanation helen? If you can't read and understand what's said in this thread...that's your problem, not mine.
But go on defending cf with all her sleezy statements - repeated lies....after all you're so glad she's here ....again as long as their a leftie....they can do no wrong in your mind.
As for the success of Kerry's anti-democracy protests and his leadership of the VVAW and association with Fonda's Winter Soldier Investigation, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietnam's most decorated military leader, wrote in retrospect that if not for the disunity created by such stateside protesters, Hanoi would have ultimately surrendered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3, which states, "No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President ... having previously taken an oath ... to support the Constitution of the United States, [who has] engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." --George Washington
posted on September 27, 2004 07:46:41 PM
Bear posted this header, Real Heroes Don't Boast or Brag. If that is true, I guess Bear and Linda_K could never be Heroes because boasting and braging is all they do. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!! Their NUTS!!!!!
posted on September 27, 2004 09:47:40 PM
Excuse me? Can I interrupt here? I planned on voting for Kerry but in recent weeks I have wavered ;.) . I do agree about heroes. My Dad always had the funny story about sneaking off to town or a story about escaping after being taken prisoner. One story involved going through a factory where they were canning sardines. The women were working bare breasted! He never talked about the battles themselves. He came home with schrapnel in his legs and was a sight in swim trunks, too. My question is, "Does Kerry do the bragging about himself or is it the MEN that served with him doing the bragging about him?" Give me a straight answer here because I would genuinely like to know.
posted on September 28, 2004 12:09:21 AM
Kasue, until VERY reciently kerry could not make a speach without blowing his own horn about being a decorated Viet Vet. It was his ONLY claim to fame. Now that the Swift Boat Vets and other groups have proven him to be a liar about his 1st Purple Heart, Christmas of 1968 in Cambodia, No Man left behind incident, the irregularities in the awards documentation (on his web site) he has drifted away from Vietnam. But his other crimes (meeting the Viet communists in Paris) and denouncing his brotheren (see his 1971 Senate testimony) is what continues to unite the majority of ALL vets against him.
What makes that so hypocritical is his continued attack on Pres Bush's record, while Pres Bush has refused to return the attack on kerry;s record.
I know what you are talking about with the experiences you dad related to you. My father (WWI vet), step father, 2 brothers in law and the father (all WWII vets) of a high school girl friend would never talk about their awards or war experiences if asked directly. Occasionally something on TV would prompt them to tell a war story. But it had to be on their terms.
When several of them learned I was volunteering for the Army after HS graduation did they open up a little.
My brother in law did told of his experience on the USS Mississippi in the S Pacific when it was hit by a Kamakazi. My HS girls friends father told me about being on the USS Enterprise from 1943 to 1945.
My step father said he could understand why I was doing it, and told me how he volunteered after Pearl Harbor was attacked, how he survived in Europe and some of his worse experiences.
In none those conversations did any of then ever tell what awards they received.
You are also correct about my DOB. Hey, hey Ho, ho Kerry - sign the 1-8-0
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
posted on September 28, 2004 05:02:56 AM
Kasue, What bear forgot to tell you is Kerry has 13 guys that served with him. These guys have been telling everyone that would listen how brave John Kerry was during combat. Geo Bush ducked out of fighting with his fathers help.
posted on September 28, 2004 06:11:30 AM
Bear, I don't normally read the political posts so I don't know your background. I assume from what I am reading that you didn't serve in Viet Nam?
