What another Vietnam Vet feels about Monsieur Kerry

[bblight]

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<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">VIETNAM</st1lace></st1:country-region> VET BUYS AD IN ARMY TIMES <o></o>


(This gentleman felt so strongly about this that he paid for a full page ad in the Sept 6th Edition of the Army Times.)<o></o>

By Dexter Lehtinen, an Army paratrooper and Ranger, severely wounded in
1971 while a reconnaissance platoon leader in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace>. He later graduated first in his class from <st1laceName w:st="on">Stanford</st1laceName> <st1laceName w:st="on">Law</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">School</st1laceType> and served as a <st1laceName w:st="on">Florida</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">State</st1laceType> Senator and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> Attorney in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Miami</st1:City></st1lace>.<o></o>

Here is his Full Page Advertisement: <o></o>
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________________________________________________________________________ <o></o>

THE WOUNDS THAT NEVER HEAL <o></o>
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John Kerry & <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace><o></o>
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In 1971, I awakened after three days of unconsciousness aboard a hospital ship off the coast of <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace>. I could not see, my jaws were wired shut, and my left cheekbone was missing, a gaping hole in its place.<o></o>


Later, while still in that condition at <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">St Albans</st1laceName> <st1laceName w:st="on">Naval</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1laceType></st1lace>, one of my earliest recollections was hearing of John Kerrys testimony before Congress. I remember lying there, in disbelief, as I learned how Kerry told the world that I served in an Army reminiscent of Genghis Khans; that officers like me routinely let their men plunder villages and rape villagers at will; that "war crimes" committed in Vietnam by my fellow soldiers "were not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command."<o></o>


Then Kerry went to <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Paris</st1:City></st1lace>, meeting with the North Vietnamese enemy officials, all while our soldiers still fought in the field. The pain and disbelief I felt listening to his words went deeper than the pain I felt from the enemy fire which seriously wounded my face.<o></o>


Eighteen months later I was discharged from the hospital, the wounds inflicted by the enemy fully healed. But more than 30 years later, the wounds inflicted by John Kerry continue to bring pain to scores of <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace> veterans. Those wounds--the bearing of false witness against me and a generation of courageous young Americans who fought and died in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace>--are much more serious than any wound warranting a Purple Heart. Those wounds go to the heart and soul. Those wounds never go away.<o></o>


Today, my son is a Marine Corps weapons officer, flying the F/A 18 Hornet.
He belongs to the same Marine Corps Kerry ridiculed with his 1971 book cover showing protestors simulating the Iwo Jima Memorial, raising an upside-down American flag. He flies the same F/A 18 fighter jet that Kerry voted against in the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U. S.</st1:country-region></st1lace> Senate. And today, Kerrys picture hangs in an honored place in <st1lace w:st="on">Saigon</st1lace>'s war museum, as a hero to the Vietnamese Communists.<o></o>


Yet, John Kerry shamelessly drapes himself in the imagery of <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace>, military service and the support of veterans devoid of any media scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the criticism and disapproval of Kerry by scores of veterans continues to fall on deaf ears. Worse yet, any legitimate criticism of Kerrys post-war record is discredited as a "personal" attack or an attack against his service.<o></o>


John Kerry is quick to surround himself with a handful of veterans and claims overwhelming support from the veteran community. He ignores, however, the wounds he inflicted on millions of veterans, and he refuses to sign a waiver to release his military personal records and medical records. This is the portrait of a man who has failed to comes to terms with his treacherous past.<o></o>


I, Dexter Lehtinen, paid for this ad personally, without any connection to other individuals or groups, because I want the public to know what John Kerry did to our <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1lace> veterans.<o></o>


Dexter Lehtinen
<st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">7700 S. W. 88th St</st1:address></st1:Street>. <o></o>


<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">Ste.</st1:Street> 303</st1:address><o></o>


<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Miami</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">FL</st1:State> <st1ostalCode w:st="on">33156</st1ostalCode></st1lace> <o></o>



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[JudgeWapner]

BB,Kerry served and saw action.He therefore had the right to his opinion concerning the war as did all other vets who served. By the way which of us are the same person we were 25,30 or 40 years ago. I know that at 47,I am very,very different than I was at 20.It's called maturation. Bush is also quite different than he was as a young man.If Bush should be allowed room for growth,shouldn't Kerry?

 

[wilheim]

Just a FYI - as a Viet Nam Vet I was and am proud of the stance John Kerry took when he returned from Viet Nam. Personally I felt much the same way and know dozens of other vets that have similar feelings. The Viet Nam War was criminal and anyone who really saw actual combat knows so. All this anti-Kerry posturing now is 100% political agenda. The truth is John Kerry performed his duty with courage and bravery while George Bush shirked his like the coward that he is. Do the math 5 decorations for Kerry - a no show by Bush.



wil.

 

[bblight]

Wil, are you saying that youcommitted attrocities while you were there?
Did you raze villages, etc., etc.

Did you turn your back on your brother vets and accuse tham of all sorts of hainous deeds? I'm not talking about being against the war - most of us ended up against the conflict sooner or later - I'm talking about faulse accusations and colluding with the enemy.

By the way, I didn't know company clerks saw any action!

 

[wilheim]

Blight correct me if I'm wrong but were you not one of those titless WAFs in the Air Force? We both know (if you were even in Viet Nam) that you AF pukes sat out the war in the rear with the gear - mostly likely staying drunk and stoned.

 

[bblight]

Judge - I agree - Kerry had and has the right to his opinion. What about the accusations that he made against the soldiers that were serving? What about going to Paris and colluding with the North Vietnamese?
Don't the soldiers who suffered a life long humiliation because of his accusations have a right to air their opinions?
What about all of the dead boys we buried - don't they have a right to have such accusations removed?

Kerry has never apologized for what he did - and he has never released his military records as Bush did - so we don't even know what lies he might be telling about his service - I'd like for him to release his records so we can see what kind of cloth he is made from!

 

[stacilu]

Wil

I am very proud of the soldiers that fought in that
war and you are 100% it was a criminal war. But,
absolutely no disgrace to the soldiers like you and
Kerry. I salute you and Kerry and all those that
did their duty but certainly realized that this was
a waste of 55,000 American soldiers and hundreds
of thousdands of Vietnamese. I thought that in
2004 almost everybody realized that the war in
Viet Nam was an abominaton. However, like you
said Kerry performed his duty and Bush was a
no show. I realize that you guys got little thanks
from many of us in the states. May I thank you
personally even though it is much too late.

 

[GAMEFACE]

Kerrys unfit for dog catcher, what he did to the troops in the field and POWs is as low as it gets.

 

[bblight]

Wil - I must have struck close to home - so you were a company clerk - just as I thought!

Where'd you spend your tour? - Cam Ranh? Saigon?

Before you ask - I was in Qui Nhon for my first 10 weeks - flying loads on a C7A to fire bases et al, and then I was at Phu Cat when they started to build it!
Yes - I did see action - and yes, I did **** myself blind! I'm a lover, not a fighter - being dead is so permanent!

By the way - only a remf would accuse another Vet of not seeing action.

 

[bblight]

Wil - I must agree that I did spend a good deal of time drunk and the rest of my time trying to get out of duty so I could go to the local whorehouse.

You didn't?

 

[wilheim]

Thanks Stacilu - let me say I do remember coming home to a hostile nation from Viet Nam and I very vividly remember feeling how unjust the war was. Guys like blight who saw no real action may as well been in the states they were a joke to the soldiers from real combat units. The bottom line is the war was unjust and what Kerry did took more courage than Bush would ever show in his entire life. This issue has had billions of words written about it during the years nothing said here is going to change anything. Do I want to go into the actual day to day events I witnessed 35 years ago - absolutely not. Let's just say war has alwys been brutal to say the least and Nam more so than most. I never felt betrayed by John Kerry but do very much resent George Bush for hiding from a war that easily could have killed myself and did kill many friends and comrades.


wil.

 

[wilheim]

By the way - only a remf would accuse another Vet of not seeing action

Who brought up the company clerk bullchit you have no idea what my service was. I am not going to get into a pissing match with a phony Air Force turd like yourself.


wil.

 

[bblight]

Wil, I'm beginning to doubt you were there - you try to talk like a vet - but you sound like one of those BS artists who get a scratch and look for a purple heart.

When were you in country, what outfit and where were you?

 

[bblight]

Wil - the company clerk comment was meant as a joke - but your reaction has me thinking it might be close to the truth!

 

[wilheim]

In case anyone is wondering what a REMF is - take a look at blight he was a rear echelon mutherfukker or REMF.


wil.

Blight just do a search I have answered those questions before in this very forum. The company clerk comment did get a reaction becasue it a long way from the truth.

 

[bblight]

It's funny how some people think - I know a ton of vets whoserved in Vietnam and to a man, they all would have served in the reserves or guard if they could have - no jealousy and no animosity is felt toward Bush and otherr weekend warriors.

And to a man, they all think much as I do that Kerry is a traitor!

 

[bblight]

Oh, yes - and ain't it a riot how most of the POWs hate Kerry's guts!

Yup - Kerry is a real hero!

 

[bblight]

Wil - I'm getting the distinct impression that you're more like Kerry than you think!

How many purple hearts do you have?

 

[wilheim]

Wil - I'm getting the distinct impression that you're more like Kerry than you think!

I hope that is true because for me it is a huge compliment.


wil.

No Purple Hearts if that matters to anyone. To be honest I might have been eleigble for one resulting from a burn on my hand from a chopper fuselage but never follwed it up. Glad I didn't it was not combat related.

 

[bblight]

Wil - when you have a chance, look up "Red Horse" and "Prime Beef" as they apply to the military.

I did both! The 819th in '66 and Combat Fox in '68

Me, just a lowly Air Force bus driving remf -

Now there's my record - what about yours?

Were you a honeybucket boy?