Who hasn't read TOUR OF DUTY and what's your excuse?

[A_Possum]

OK, I'm being a shill. Bear with me. We are now going through the agonies of resurrecting every detail of Kerry's service. His anti-war activities are next.

There is a book by Douglas Brinkley, a noted historian, which covers all of this in great detail. It is FULL of quotes by people like Thurlow, Hoffman and Elliott that are extremely illuminating and often contradict what they are saying now.

Most of the men, including Thurlow, are portrayed in a very positive and even generous light, though it's clear that Thurlow had a personality conflict with Kerry--or remembers one anyway.

Hoffman, however, is not let off the hook so lightly. The absurdities and incredible dangers of Operation Sealords are pretty much pinned on his ambition and attitude, although it's not like he's really raked over the coals. It's all pretty matter-of-fact. As a reader, I didn't think of him as some monster, just an officer who was really gung-ho with his men's lives, and they didn't like it.

But when I saw the NYT coverage that said Hoffman read the book and THEN decided to get together the Smearboaters, I understood his motivation.

I am seeing many many people here on DU who are avidly supportive of Kerry and clearly haven't read this book because of the questions asked. Believe me, you're missing something important. It's a very positive book, but not entirely--and it's an education in the experience of Vietnam for those of us who have only heard about it.

Kerry kept incredible journals. Many of his entries are quoted verbatim.

PLEASE, please, go out and buy this book and read it cover to cover. This is our man. This is his history, and it made me DAMN proud.

If you can't afford to buy it, try the library or Amazon. You have no excuse! ;)

[procopia]

1. I think Kerry's journal confirms his Christmas in Camodia story

"Again you pull away from a pier and you start out on patrol -- through a rickety drawbridge that pulls only one side up at an angle and that forces you to daringly pas your radar only inches away from destruction and court martials and investigations and when you get through you say the hell with the world and bask in self congratulations and cockiness."

One of the SB vets has said Kerry couldn't have been in Cambodia, because he would have been court martialed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Why Hasn't Douglas Brinkley Been On Any Shows Defending Kerry

[A_Possum]

3. Been wondering that myself

I just read the WaPo article that said he didn't reply to messages and calls. So I dunno.

Maybe he's getting his duck in a row.

[procopia]

4. The only thing from Brinkley I've seen

is a quote in The Telegraph where he said it was unlikely Kerry was in Cambodia Christmas Eve 1968, but was there shortly thereafter. I find it puzzling that Brinkley would interview with The Telegraph, but apparently no other newspapers.

[Placebo]

5. I haven't read it...

because I've been buying so many other books right now, it's not really a priority. Plus, I believe Kerry's story, I don't need convincing.

[A_Possum]

6. Kick--determined to keep this kicked

It's got a lot more in it than just Kerry's side of the story.

[genius]

7. Lying smear books only get me mad. I read accurate books.

[A_Possum]

9. I'm not talking about Unfit for Duty, pulleeeeze

I'm talking about TOUR OF DUTY.

[cynatnite]

8. I Don't Need An Excuse

I know I won't read it. Those types of books don't interest me as a reader plus I feel I've gotten plenty of information from my own research and what's posted here as well. I've never doubted Kerry's service and I don't need to read this book to reaffirm anything.

You make it sound like I have a 'duty' or 'responsibility' to read this book. I'm not quite sure how to take that.

Cyn:)

[A_Possum]

10. As I said in my post, bear with me

I'm shilling here, shamelessly. I would like to see that as many here had read this book as the freeps have read O'Neill's book, but I get the idea that not very many have. I'd like to change that, because we are in a tooth-and-nail fight and this book has plenty of ammo.

It's got far more in it than just the stuff that's coming out in the news, or even on Kerry's website. It's an eye-opener, even for a supporter, on what kind of man he is.

It's also given me a much better context to judge what's going on in the news now.

[cynatnite]

12. You Are Shameless ;)

I'll check it out. I've heard a lot about it, but it didn't strike me as something that interested me, but to be FAIR, I will. LOL

Cyn:)

[demwing]

11. I can't afford it

Buy me a copy :)

[A_Possum]

14. Actually I have an extra copy

I bought an autographed copy in the airport to read on the plane, and then accidentally left it on the seat. I bought another at the next stop cause I thought it was so good.

Then I stopped in the airport on the way home and bought another autographed copy. ;)

So I ended up with two.

PM me your address and I'll send my extra to you, IF you swear to read it cover to cover and help me shill. ;)

[demwing]

15. You got it

PM coming

[ItsThePeopleStupid]

13. it would be really nice to see it in the best seller lists

with that piece of junk. I'm really overextended this month but I can probably swing it next month.

[A_Possum]

16. Shilling...shilling....

Just got back from the Borders. They were out of stock but said TOUR OF DUTY would be out in paperback Sept 7.

Good timing, let's get it on the paperback bestseller list.

Amazon link still only has hardcover

Barnes and Noble has pre-orders for the paperback (trade size).

[noamnety]

17. I didn't read it

But I listened to it. :-)

If you don't have time to read but have a long commute, you can get it as a book on tape through the library system. And there is a lot in the book worth listening to (or reading). It's not all just the three purple hearts. One of the things that stuck with me from it was the POW survival training class he went through - including stepping in for a fellow soldier being tormented by the trainers. That's one of those instances for which he didn't get a medal - the only thing he got out of it was taking some misery on his own shoulders to spare someone else.

I like to think that since I got it from the library, Ashcroft will have a record of me being a subversive liberal.

[A_Possum]

18. It also gives some personal insight into WHY he came back and protested

He lost some real friends there, some of his best friends. Including one of the Swift boat commanders, Don Droz (3rd guy on that raid that Rood just wrote about), who was killed a month after Kerry left Vietnam.

Welcome to DU lwfern! If Ashcroft has you on the list, it's a compliment. ;)