Okay, 60-ish DUers, I have an idea that I've begun to work on:

[karlrschneider]

I was in the USAF during the VietNam "war" years but wasn't assigned there, for which I'm grateful...however I do know personally quite a few guys from my high school & college days who did. Sadly, I can name 4 who came home in body bags.

But my idea is to, as I'm trying, get in touch with any of them I can and see if they would be willing to corroborate, on the record, Kerry's
(obviously true) comments that atrocities were indeed committed. I'm thinking and hoping that enough time has passed that some of them might be willing to admit having witnessed (or done) them. Seems to me that getting some testimony to that effect might dilute the "swiftliars" latest tack, smearing JK for what they perceive as 'treaonous.'

Anybody have ideas about this?

[clydefrand]

1. Have you checked with Memory Hole?

Don't know the site address, but it might be a start. And the Mylai Massacre at this site http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/mylai.html

Good luck. We know that horrendous things occured because that is the nature of wars, and in the one in Vietnam exemplifies just how atrocious the activities were. I wonder just how many of those who are against Kerry were among those who did commit them.

[artslave43]

2. atrocities

Karl, perhaps thru the VA? were any wounded that you know of? Or thru high school reunion lists, or college alumni lists?

I lived in LA in those times of high paranoia (my roomate worked for Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland's Entertainment Industry for Peace and Justice)....the guys in shades and black suits visited me at work one day, because I had written a letter supporting a guy who was a pacifist (geez, I mean, he was a Quaker)....it angered me incredibly. And then all the whispering about the "strings of Cong ears".....I was terrified of the returning vets....they were "crazy" and drug crazed killers....

I dated a vet who said, never wake me up when I'm asleep...I'll kill you. He meant it....literally....that was how he'd survived a tour of duty.

No wonder these guys came home to such suspicion....and lack of acceptance. No wonder they became what so many of them became, displaced and homeless and living with PTSS. No wonder the battle is still going on.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. First place to check would be

www.vvaw.org

Vietnam Vets against the War. I just checked the site front page quickly -- you could do some searching there, I think.

Then check with your local vet organizations -- American Legion, VFW, etc.

About 15 years ago there was a rash of books published about soldiers' experiences. Hubby had a bunch of them, may still have a few. I think some were novels but many were personal experience narratives. That would be another place to check.

I'm sure there are lots of online forums for vets that would be good starting places.

I think you have a good idea, Karl. The truth of the matter is, there has been more confirmation of Kerry's testimony on atocities than there has been refutation. I'm sure there are a lot of people who have trouble dealing with it, but it's the truth. Hell, we had a young woman here on DU about a year ago who just absolutely denied there was even the slightest possibility that US forces would hurt civilians in an invasion of Iraq. Anyone who suggested that it might happen was roundly excoriated for dissing the brave courageous and caring troops. . . . Go figure. She's not around any more. . . . .

TG

[artslave43]

4. Vets info

I sent a message to a friend of mine from high school who started the homeless vets program with the VA in Seattle...he may be able to help with ideas, I don't know...but I sent him an email....

[whistle]

5. Why do you want to do this? Don't you think that anyone who....

...wishes to come forward in support of John Kerry's position should be allowed to do this on their own? This is a very private and personal matter. Just because a military deserter named George Bush has brought all this crap out to further his own political ambitions and enrich the narrow minded cliques of Bush supporters, political hacks, past military service evaders and special corporate war monger interest groups have no sense of decency about imposing on Vietnam veterans who served honorably in that war one more time.

Now you wish to these men and women into a political meat grinder one more time. Haven't you been watching the news? Bush and his advisers are behind this whole smear. Benjamen Ginsberg, Bush's lawyer for Gods sake cleared away all the legal pitfalls so these people could say and do the right things not to be libeled. Soft money by the millions is being poured into crap like this to keep a continuous barrage of smears against Kerry coming right up to election day, all planned, all orchestrated, all protected to keep Bush looking like he is somehow taking the high ground.

Why force innocent people who you have neither had contact with in decades or totally forgotten about until this bright thought popped into your head, go through the pain of reliving horrifying memories and long suppressed pain. Go out and get the democratic vote mobilized in your community and help to get Bush and his entire bunch voted out of office in November. But, you have the right to do or say or suggest whatever it is you want. This is Democratic Underground here, not the gestapo. United we are strong, divided we fall. :pals:

[karlrschneider]

7. Wow! Did you do a triple dose of vitamins today? I'm simply suggesting

that it might be productive to see IF some of these people (I think I explained that *I* am only contacting guys who are FRIENDS already) might be willing to come forward and say the truth. There's no coercion implied or wanted here...sheesh

Edit: I am doing a fair amount of campaigning, letter writing etc. working to get the Chimp out of the WH. As much as I can here in the buckle of the 'bible belt'.

Odd comment, though, about the 'Gestapo'......
:eyes:

And I've been a member & contributer here at DU for 3 years, changed user ID not too long ago. Just FYI ;-)

[Tansy_Gold]

8. I don't think the term "force" was ever used or implied

Sometimes when people have a difficult story to tell, they need a little coaxing. Maybe all they need is someone to approach them.

A lot of vets, and not just from Vietnam, never tell their stories. It's too painful. And yet maybe, just maybe, we as a society can collectively ease their pain and ease our own, by helping to prevent the repetition of war.

[karlrschneider]

6. Good ideas, folks...I've read the thread...a collective thanks to you all.

:toast:

[VOX]

9. Great book: "Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans"

edited by Wallace Terry; also:
"Nam: The Vietnam War in the Words of the Men and Women Who Fought There," edited by Mark Baker; and
"Everything We Had: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Thirty-Three American Soldiers Who Fought It."

Oral histories, based upon human memory, are not always infallible, and for years, some very zealous right-wingers have tried to declare some of these stories untrue.

Regardless, these books are an excellent starting poing for learning about the very dark side of the U.S. participation in Vietnam conflice.