Vietnam Psy-Ops Officer Steps Up For Kerry, 8/22/04.

[reprehensor]

(Another veteran WHO WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT during the March 13, 1969 action puts more holes in the Smear-Boat. -r.)

Jim Russell's LTTE

Telluride Daily Planet LTTE, 8/22/04.

snip

This letter is in response to the new attacks on John Kerry's war record by a group calling itself the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." As for most veterans of any war and as people who know me will testify, it is not easy for me to talk about my experiences in Vietnam. However, because of these new ads and, I understand, a new book recently published by an old Charles Colson "Enemies List" hit man, I feel compelled to speak out. Unfortunately, the veterans featured in these attacks are being used by extreme right wing Bush supporters to spread their lies and malign John Kerry.

snip

Since I happened to be along on one of the "excursions" where the boats that we were on were attacked and after which Lt. Kerry was cited for valor, I thought it appropriate to give my recollection of that event. This happened on March 13, 1969. I was assigned as Psychological Operation Officer for the Swift Boat group out of An Thoi, Vietnam, from January 1969 to October 1969. As such, I was on No. 43 boat, skippered by Don Droz who was later that year killed by enemy fire. We were second in line while exiting the river and going through the opening in a fish trap when a mine blew up under the No. 3 boat directly in front of us and we started taking small arms fire from the beach. Almost immediately, another mine went off somewhere behind us. All boats, except the one hit, immediately wheeled toward the beach that most of the fire came from (a tactic devised by Lt. Kerry, I later learned) and commenced showering the beaches with so much lead, that it could probably be now mined there. The noise was of course, deafening.

Three things that are forever pictured in my mind since that day over 30 years ago are: (1) The No. 3, 50-foot long, Swift boat getting huge, huge air; John Kerry thought it was about two feet. (He was farther away from it than I). I think it was at least four feet and probably closer to six feet; (2) All the boats turning left and letting loose at the same time like a deadly, choreographed dance and; (3) A few minutes later, John Kerry bending over his boat picking up one of the rangers that we were ferrying from out of the water. All the time we were taking small arms fire from the beach; although because of our fusillade into the jungle, I don't think it was very accurate, thank God. Anyone who doesn't think that we were being fired upon must have been on a different river.

snip

I would hope that the American public sees these evil extreme right wing attacks for what they really are and also pray that the veterans being used by these unpatriotic right wing extremist political operatives will divorce themselves immediately from them and speak to the real issues as to why they oppose John Kerry. I just don't understand how anyone can align themselves with those who intentionally and gleefully painted a decorated triple amputee (Max Cleland) from Vietnam as unpatriotic. I think that this is the most disastrous, un-American thing that can be done to our servicemen and women, especially now with another unending war going on. Your ends cannot possibly justify these means. Come on!

more@link

[joefree1]

Bring it on

I guess we're gonna fight all the old wars from McCarthyism, Civil Rights, and Vietnam. We boomers are up for. Bring it on.


Download the free poster/sign here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[ewagner]

1. A key for Kerry Campaign tactics:

All boats, except the one hit, immediately wheeled toward the beach that most of the fire came from (a tactic devised by Lt. Kerry, I later learned) and commenced showering the beaches with so much lead, that it could probably be now mined there.

Kerry has to turn his ship (campaign) into the fire and attack with all guns blazing.

[NMDemDist2]

2. great letter, but what's with the "cheese" in the next letter? n/t

[A_Possum]

4. Just shows how that backfires

After hearing of all the intimidation people have experienced for having Kerry bumperstickers, and how it fires US up, it just goes to show that that kind of thing is Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

It's the big mistake the Pugs have made, intimidating and intimidating, until people are absolutely driven to resist them.

We'll be as dumb as they are if we start that kind of idiotic vandalism stuff. All it does is confirm people in their view of the other side as evil bastards.

It's juvenile and not only pointless, it WORKS AGAINST WHOEVER DOES IT.

A few here do it, very few I know, but even a few cause damage to our side far out of proportion to their numbers.

Discipline is critical in this kind of war. Maintain discipline.

[cynatnite]

5. I was tempted

To black out the 're' in re-elect shrub on a bumper sticker yesterday.

Cyn:)

[A_Possum]

6. LOL, tempted is ok

Lord knows we're all tempted. ;)

[librechik]

9. Telluride proudly proclaims itself a CIVIL RIGHTS CITY

but let me tell you how great it is to be in a place where everybody in THE ENTIRE TOWN are rabid anti-Bush ACTIVISTS!

it is pretty darn great. I got to experience this refreshing atmosphere the weekend before the weekend the complainer is bitching about. I wish I could live there all the time!

It was a jazz festival, and the performers were making anti Bush jokes--which the entire crowd cheered! An old fart sitting next to us didn't like it and started muttering to himself. Then him and his wife got up and walked out of the concert. They got BOOED!

YAY TELLURIDE!!! My "new" home town (used to live there 30 years ago, wish I lived there now instead of Denver) oh well

[JuniperLea]

3. this ad not approved by bush?

i wonder if this is one of the reasons for the blurb in his ads...

the morning political talk shows are all over this.

all W has is grasping at straws. pathetic.

[A_Possum]

7. You know the awful thing about this, now I'M suspicious of vets....

I actually found myself, reading that LTTE, wondering if this guy was for real and comparting his story to the details I know of the incident from the Brinkley book and the citations and other accounts I've read, to see if he could have made it up.

That's what it's done, this whole smearboat thing. It really has poisoned all of our minds.

I'm ashamed of myself.:-(

[reprehensor]

8. Maybe this will help.

"Just for the record, this letter to the editor was apparently published FIRST last Wednesday in a small daily paper in western Kansas, The Tiller and Toiler of Larned edited by Dennis Martin. He received it via the editor of the Telluride Daily Planet, Bob Beer. Beer and Martin were high school classmates.

It is also worth noting that the author of the letter, Jim Russell, reportedly had never discussed his war experiences with his own children but was so outraged by the lies being spread by the "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth" that he broke his long silence regarding his own heroic service record."

I got the two paragraphs above from an anonymous poster at the SmirkingChimp.com I hope this helps you out.

[A_Possum]

10. Thanks, and another item

Well, giving in to my worser angels, I googled a couple angles on Jim Russell, Kerry, Droz and Swift boats. Nothing much came up but this.

He's listed as a Kerry supporter in Grand Junction meetup.

Meetup (cached)

Telluride, Colorado 31 year resident Back Country Lodge Owner Married w/ two boys Vietnam vet, Navy Served with John, 1969 Mekong Delta

*sigh* I hate this, it seems like an intrusion in the guy's life (tho this is clearly posted in a public place on the net, I presume it's ok to copy it here), and yet in a way it's kinda like a mystery, sort of interesting to follow these leads. I think that's one reason the blogosphere and net are so taken with this whole thing.

[reprehensor]

11. FYI & bump

Last night I sent in a LTTE to the Telluride Daily Planet.

This afternoon, I got a call from the Editor for confirmation, and she verified that Mr Russell is the real deal, and has remained silent about his Vietnam experiences for years.

The Swift Boat Veterans have opened up wounds that have long been scarred over. I hope they can live with the shame.

(And yes, Skinner, I name dropped DU.)

[Karenina]

12. Kick!

:kick: