Colo. vet vouches for Kerry

[denverbill]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~29805~2354510,00.html

A Colorado naval veteran who served with John Kerry in Vietnam and said he witnessed the firefight that earned Kerry the Bronze Star and Purple Heart said Monday that the Democratic presidential nominee deserved his medals.

Jim Russell, a former Navy lieutenant now living in Telluride, said he was on the No. 43 Swift boat near the one under Kerry's command on March 13, 1969. He said he watched Kerry pull a crewmate from the Bay Hap River in Viet Cong-controlled territory.

"I saw him grab the guy from the water," Russell, 60, told The Denver Post.
<snip>

[goclark]

1. Thank you Mr. Russell

The truth shall set us free!

[coloradodem2005]

2. Another guy to help tip Colorado to Kerry.,

As well as the country.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Link to Russell's LttE

http://www.telluridegateway.com/articles/2004/08/20/news/opinion/opinion01.txt

[Supply Side Jesus]

12. LTTE????

i know i've seen it before....plz remind me.

[Frances]

4. Are we going to see all these vets who can prove

the Swift Boat Vets on TV?

They should be given at least equal time because they are the eyewitnesses whereas the Swift Boat Vets were not.

Or is any one in the news interested in facts as opposed to smears.

Maybe John Stewart could have the eyewitnesses on his show. He's the only one doing real news right now.

[denverbill]

5. Unlike the Garbage Barge Skippers for Bush, these guys can't buy ads.

So no, I don't think we can count on seeing them on TV anytime soon.

[mom cat]

11. Why can't the DNC or Move On buy ads? Russel rocks!

more from the article:


"I saw him grab the guy from the water," Russell, 60, told The Denver Post.

Russell (snip) came forward after seeing television ads sponsored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Kerry's courage and combat medals.

"These guys are lying and saying things that not only minimize Kerry, but makes all of us who were there seem inconsequential and minimal," Russell, who served in the Navy from 1966 to 1971, told The Post.


While the retired bar owner and caterer does not recall Rassmann and Kerry's boat being fired at specifically, Russell said that his boat and the other Swift boats were taking small arms fire from the beach at that time and that two mines blew up in the river.

"Anyone who says that they remember another boat getting fired on or not when they were under fire is full of it. Anyone who says we weren't being fired upon was on a different river," Russell said.

Official Navy reports back Kerry and his crewmembers, including Rassman, citing that "all units" came under "automatic and small-weapons fire" that day.


"If I had to go back up a river and go under fire, I would want John Kerry watching my back," said Rich McCann, who served with Kerry.


Noting that he never was a friend of Kerry's, he said the senator was a "pretty tough guy and tight with his crew."


"I couldn't take it anymore - all the lies," he said.
What worries him now, he said, is what kind of precedent is being set by the attacks on Kerry's military records.

"What do those kids in Iraq think?" he said. "They get wounded, honored and recognized, but when they come back here, people in power will question their service?"

Russell :yourock:
I don't think that it could be said better. Just how does it support the troops in Iraq to bash someone's Purple Hearts?

[OKNancy]

6. Thread about the letter to the editor

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=769969

[underpants]

7. "...full of it" sums up O'Neill and his group tp a tee

Next

[sonias]

8. Good for Jim Russell

More Americans and more vets should speak up. These Swift Boat liars are demeaning the service of all vets in their anger against Kerry. They are doing the exact same thing they are angry at Kerry for. They feel Kerry was sliming them with his anti-war testimony and they turn around and slime all of the swift boat vets with their ads. Collateral damage.

Thank you Jim Russell for your service and for setting the record straight and speaking out.

Sonia

[4_Legs_Good]

9. I think for every person who comes forward to defend Kerry

there should be on person to come forward and prove that George Jr. finished his ANG duty.

david

[Nordic]

10. send this story to CNN and ask them why they're not reporting it

[e-mail]