SFEngr
08-13-2004, 06:08 PM
Gang,
Here is an excellent letter written by a fellow SF Veteran that may not see the light of day in Dallas, but should be read by all that ask why we Vietnam Vets have a foul taste in our mouths when it comes to John Gunboat Kerry. *It starts with a quote from William Shakespeare, who invented the phrase used by Ambrose and Spielberg in their series, "Band of Brothers." * As explained in this letter, while it was written about an Airborne Rifle Company in WW II, it is equally applicable to any war in which men become "Comrades-In -Arms." *There is no higher calling than to love your fellow soldiers as you would a brother, and protect them with your life if need be. *That is the essence of service in the military that few civilians ever see or can understand.
Here is that letter. *Please think of it as you discuss the current events and make sure you pass along the message to the uninformed. *This message must get out to all people that still do not understand why this man is not fit to run for this high office.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."
from King Henry V, Act. IV, Sc. III -- by William Shakespeare
------------------------------------------------------------
"This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here
And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
"Most Americans are familiar with the phrase "Band of Brothers" in reference to the book by noted historian Stephen Ambrose and the movie by Stephen Spielberg which tell the saga of the men of Echo Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during WW2. *The image is one of selfless service, sacrifice, hardship, comradeship, loyalty, pride, and heroism.
Presidential candidate John Kerry and his advisors are well aware of the powerful impact of the media on the American public, and have sought to portray Senator Kerry as a member of such a group. *
However, in my mind and the minds of many fellow veterans, John Kerry gave up his membership to that group when he chose to join a different "Band of Brothers" because it seemed a politically expedient move on his part--a band who self-servingly sought to delude an America tired of war through their mock trials, blatant lies and false accusations, and exaggerated denigration of honorable veterans.
(Winter soldier Senate Hearings in 1971 see url: http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=NewS oldier)
Now, Senator Kerry claims his "real" Band of Brothers are the very veterans he once slurred in his sworn testimony before Congress, and he cannot figure out why they are gathering their ranks to rail against him and his attempt to become our Commander-in-Chief. *For those who wonder, a visit to Swiftvets.com or a reading of Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry by John O'Neill will explain why.
(See url: *http://www.kerrylied.com/)
Senator Kerry is a master of political expediency and imagery, and may belong to a "Band of Brothers"...but he does not belong to that Band of Brothers to which my fellow veterans and I ascribe."
http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag4.gif
Here is an excellent letter written by a fellow SF Veteran that may not see the light of day in Dallas, but should be read by all that ask why we Vietnam Vets have a foul taste in our mouths when it comes to John Gunboat Kerry. *It starts with a quote from William Shakespeare, who invented the phrase used by Ambrose and Spielberg in their series, "Band of Brothers." * As explained in this letter, while it was written about an Airborne Rifle Company in WW II, it is equally applicable to any war in which men become "Comrades-In -Arms." *There is no higher calling than to love your fellow soldiers as you would a brother, and protect them with your life if need be. *That is the essence of service in the military that few civilians ever see or can understand.
Here is that letter. *Please think of it as you discuss the current events and make sure you pass along the message to the uninformed. *This message must get out to all people that still do not understand why this man is not fit to run for this high office.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."
from King Henry V, Act. IV, Sc. III -- by William Shakespeare
------------------------------------------------------------
"This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here
And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
"Most Americans are familiar with the phrase "Band of Brothers" in reference to the book by noted historian Stephen Ambrose and the movie by Stephen Spielberg which tell the saga of the men of Echo Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during WW2. *The image is one of selfless service, sacrifice, hardship, comradeship, loyalty, pride, and heroism.
Presidential candidate John Kerry and his advisors are well aware of the powerful impact of the media on the American public, and have sought to portray Senator Kerry as a member of such a group. *
However, in my mind and the minds of many fellow veterans, John Kerry gave up his membership to that group when he chose to join a different "Band of Brothers" because it seemed a politically expedient move on his part--a band who self-servingly sought to delude an America tired of war through their mock trials, blatant lies and false accusations, and exaggerated denigration of honorable veterans.
(Winter soldier Senate Hearings in 1971 see url: http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=NewS oldier)
Now, Senator Kerry claims his "real" Band of Brothers are the very veterans he once slurred in his sworn testimony before Congress, and he cannot figure out why they are gathering their ranks to rail against him and his attempt to become our Commander-in-Chief. *For those who wonder, a visit to Swiftvets.com or a reading of Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry by John O'Neill will explain why.
(See url: *http://www.kerrylied.com/)
Senator Kerry is a master of political expediency and imagery, and may belong to a "Band of Brothers"...but he does not belong to that Band of Brothers to which my fellow veterans and I ascribe."
http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag4.gif