Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Military Yet another Vet on Kerry

Dear Mr. Kerry
Jay Bryant
March 3, 2004

Because it was not my lot to serve in Vietnam, I have no qualifications to criticize those who did. But John Kerry has been running on his war record in a vastly more blatant way than previous candidates have done (George Bush the Elder, for example, or Bob Dole), he has opened the door for those who are qualified to express their views on his Vietnam record � both while he was there and after he returned.

One man with exceptional qualifications in that regard is retired Army Col. Glenn Lackey, who also knows something about life in the verbal combat zone known as Capitol Hill, where he served a stint as Chief of Staff for a Member of Congress.

Before that Lackey not only spent combat time in Vietnam, but also in Somalia and the Gulf War.

Recently, Lackey decided to express his thoughts on Kerry's public record, and being a very direct kind of guy, did it directly, by writing the following letter to Kerry, which I thought might interest readers of this space:

Dear Mr. Kerry;

After spending only four months in the country of Vietnam, you testified before Congress in 1971 with these exact words about incidents you say you witnessed: "They personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blew up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Viet Nam."

Spread that on a farmer's field where it will do some good. I spent a year there in 1968-69 in a combat arms unit. I was a Field Artillery Forward Observer in an Infantry company and I saw combat every day until I was wounded. When I returned from the hospital, I was assigned to an artillery battery. I saw brave men fight and die; I saw brave, good men pass out all their rations to hungry kids, build churches and schools, donate to orphanages, cry silently at the sight of villagers slaughtered by North Vietnamese, but I never saw anything approaching the war crimes that you happened to witness as your boat sped by villages on the river bank. If you witnessed atrocities and did not report them, you are guilty of aiding and abetting. If you lied, you are simply unfit for leadership at any level. The most serious incident I witnessed was a young sergeant who grabbed the arm of a Vietnamese woman during a village search. An older, more experienced noncommissioned officer knocked the sergeant to the ground and told him, somewhat forcefully, that that woman was someone's mother and would be treated with respect. That's it, Kerry, that's my confession - I didn't report the incident.

I have children, and my children have children. They will, perhaps, stumble upon your words, much as one might stumble upon a pile of dog droppings. I do not relish the thought of having to explain that your "experiences" are either a bald-faced lie, or you belong to that less-than-1% of Viet Nam veterans who committed war crimes/atrocities. Either way, your words do great harm to the institution of the Senate, my home state of Massachusetts, the Armed Services in which I proudly served for 27 years, and the very country that you aspire to lead.

Is it true that you single-handedly prevented a vote on a Senate version of H.R. 2833, the Viet Nam Human Rights Act of 2001 - a bill that passed the House by a vote of 410-1? There are many who believe that our failure to speak decisively on that issue cost the lives of thousands of Montagnard tribesman in Viet Nam. Where do you stand on H.R. 1587, the Viet Nam Human Rights Act of 2003? Will you support a parallel bill in the Senate? Is it true that you served as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on MIA/POW Affairs and in that role you fought hard to limit the expenditure of funds to investigate sightings or search for remains? You have, I believe, been a steadfast, staunch and vocal advocate for normalizing relations with Viet Nam. Could it be that your beloved first cousin, Mr. Forbes, CEO of Colliers International, recently signed a contract with Hanoi worth billions of dollars? Any truth to the rumor that you didn't really fling your "hard-earned" military medals over the White House fence in a juvenile fit of pique as you say you did, but rather, you threw your roommate's medals instead?

I know dozens of retired military professionals. None of them support you - there is a reason for that. They all served honorably and well, and they all believe that you did not. I know war heroes, and your, sir, are no war hero.

-- Glenn Lackey

'nuff said. I wouldn't vote for him unless his opponent was Hillary Clinton.

I am a retired military member and a vietnam vet (67-68) and I certainly would not vote for a man such as Kerry. Although I do agree with the Ensign. BTW Ensign, thanks.

I knew alot of men at both ends of the spectrum. One of my best buddies enlisted when I did. He got a medical discharge for staying hopped up on heroin. One night he and some of his cronies raped a little girl and then wrapped her in butterfly wire and shot her into hamburger. He used to show the pictures and brag about it after he got back in the States.

I never spoke to him after we returned but the last I knew of him he was a big shot among the vets and the VFW and I was just trying to forget.

Haggis, the UCMJ doesn't have a statute of limitations on murder--you could still drop a nickel on the scumbag. I'm sure it's something you'd rather forget, and I certainly don't have any standing to suggest what you should do.

Haggis - I have been agonizing over your post ever since I read it and simply cannot ignore it any longer. If you in fact have information over a little girl being rape and then murdered you sir are obligated to report it, this is a duty you have as a American citizen, regardless if you like it or not, you must report it. I served more than one tour of duty in RVN and served with honor and pride, as did all the men in my unit. Went over as a enlisted soldier and came back as a officer and to read what you have posted is a dis-service to all our people in uniform, past , present and future. I can only hope that someone in the law enforcement community read your post and have already contacted you. You have an obligation to report this, that little girl was someones daughter and they deserve justice. Please do what is right

You didn't indicate that you personally observed what you're speculating about regarding this incident.

The two previous posters are trying to give you good advice based upon the moral high ground. My advice to you, as one who served in the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta from 1969-1970, and one who has to deal with his own demons, is that while you may want to relive your own experiences, you may not want to give much credence to stories related to you that were lived by others. These stories may be true or complete falsehoods.

By reporting information that does not prove to be true, you could be destroying far more lives than those involved in any alleged atrocity. Some will say, how do you know if it's true unless you report it?

My response would be that I have already met more veterans of the Vietnam conflict, especially combat veterans, than have ever served there. Most of these guys are frauds and posers and should be exposed for their phony backgrounds as opposed to any fictitious war crimes that they say they participated in.

Let your conscience be your guide and do what you think is best.

All,

Considering this is an election year, I'd like to add my two cents about Mr. Kerry as not only another veteran, but also registered Republican. Recently, I took sometime to watch his testimony during the hearings about Vietnam back in the 70s., testifying as representing other veterans protesting that war. Regardless of how those other veterans who chose not to protest during these times including myself may feel about his testimony, he Mr. Kerry had already without a shadow of a doubt proven his loyalty to our country by that time. And in my opinion, unless a person can make claims to the same proven loyalty, attacking his military record is out of line.



best regards

Larry Martin

Larry,
It is not out of line at all. When one does some good thing it is to his credit. However, it does not give one a free ride for the rest of his life.

Kerry evidently was a hero, but subsequently he has discredited himself as one to be admired.

I would stay home before I would vote for such a liberal as Kerry. He does not remain a hero. His subsequent actions have cancelled that claim.

I also speak as a RVN vet from '65 -66.

Jerry

I respect your opinion as another veteran and with that said, please explain when and where Junior Bush ever proved the same level of loyalty to country. Especially, considering there is now over 550 dead GI, not to mention the thousands of wounded he is personally responsible for as commander-in-chief. That in my opinion he entered office with a personal agenda because of threats made to his father senior Bush. Wooden it be nice if we all had United States military to carry out our personal agendas. There's one thing for sure, Junior Bush is liberal thinking when it comes to someone's blood other than his families.

Oh yeah! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

All,
Earlier today I had an opportunity to have dinner with my older brother who was a marine and served during 64 /65. It was obvious he feels Mr. Kerry somehow crossover the line by protesting the war after returning home and definitely see it as some kind of betrayal to fellow veterans. However, after pressing him on the subject of loyalty to country he couldn?t disagree that Mr. Kerry at one time had put and proved himself that he was willing to sacrifice his life for his beliefs. And deathly agreed that Junior Bush has never shown this level of loyalty to country anywhere prior to being president (commander-in-chief).

Shown this level of loyalty, what kind of BS are you trying to blow by us? Did you feel the same way about Clinton, the draft dodger? It isnt about proving your loyalty, it is about leading this nation, in that regard, I am much more comfortable with Bush with the reigns, than Kerry, who certainly has a voting record to prove where he probably would take this country.
Your bit on proving loyalty doesnt hold any water. Bush served in the Air National Guard, weather you like it or not, and received an honorable discharge. But, most importantly, military service is not a requirement to prove if you are capable of leading the nation. Being an honest person is a preferred character, and it is character that is more important. There is no doubt in my mind that Kerry "has no character".

Tells us about Jr. Bush's "no character" back in the 60s ? We all could have a great looking public character or otherwise if money was never an issue. But the real issue is show us where Junior has a character to take the 500 plus lives already. And as to your reference of his National Guard service during those times being some kind of honorable discharge speaking only from my generation is truly a joke. Made no mistake, there's not another true veteran of Vietnam that serve there after 68 that would say the same thing.

"there's not another true veteran of Vietnam that serve there after 68 that would say the same thing. "


Don't speak for me. I will do my own talking, and I don't have a problem with President Bush's National Guard service. miles

What does that make us that served prior to 68 (65-66 Delta, 229th AHB of the 1st Cav (Airmobile), Chopped liver? I can speak for myself thank you very much Sir.

"And as to your reference of his National Guard service during those times being some kind of honorable discharge speaking only from my generation is truly a joke. Made no mistake, there's not another true veteran of Vietnam that serve there after 68 that would say the same thing."

I stand by this statement only there is a misspelled words, "would" should read wouldn't.

All,
Just a little information that might be helpful for those not familiar with this era. President Lyndon Johnson did not run for his second term because of the failed policies of Vietnam. Richard Nixon took over as commander-in-chief somewhere around 68. without going back and looking at actual dates. Early on and the war National Guard units had been call-in to active duty, however these call-ups were few and far between. Immediately after becoming commander-in-chief Richard Nixon change this policy, and to my knowledge there was never another National Guard unit pulled up into active duty.

Just exactly what is "your" definition of a true veteran? I still stand by "my statement" with no misspelled words. Do not speak for me. I will speak for my self. miles

"Just exactly what is "your" definition of a true veteran?"

Loyalty to his/her fellow veteran, especially those of Vietnam, because loyalty is at the root or heart of character. Without either like Junior Bush you're nothing more than a recovering common drunk trying to convince the world someone's going to get their ass kicked and using United States military to do it.

All,
I've always known Mr Do -Gooder (Jimmy Carter) pardoned the drift dodgers that ran to Canada and elsewhere. What I didn't know until recently that this pardon (freeride) was promised prior to being elected. Which means after 58,000 loss their lives not to mention the hundreds of thousands that was wounded ,our society supported these lowlifes over veterans. And my opinion our society no longer qualifies as being preserving as judgmental over any of us that did our duty. One of the reasons reported back then was because he Mr. Do-Gooder accepted campaign contributions from wealthy families who had lowlife's living in Canada. This was to my opinion the ultimate betrayal to any Vietnam veteran discharged honorable and/or otherwise. However, after 1968 any National Guard that didn't serve in Vietnam and to my knowledge there was none, qualifies as the same type of lowlife's as those that chose to run. The National Guard during junior bushes time was nothing more than a safe haven for drift dodgers. If our country requires us to serve in combat, then without question need to be loyal.