I'm just going to say it: John McCain is a fucking coward.

[cliffordu]

I laid a soldier to rest yesterday, a fine man and a warrior.

George Yakush was his name. He flew medivac missions with the 237th Medical Detachment on the DMZ in Vietnam.

He was a better human being than John McCain ever was, is, or ever will be.

George never lied about anything as far as I know, and would never have used the scumsucking tactics the

Republican candidate - the "war hero" - uses daily with such a casual, purposed hatred.

Even when the cancer was eating George alive he displayed the same courage and grace he showed while flying into some of the worst shitholes in all of Vietnam. Unarmed.

Agent Orange poisoning. It was fast and terrible. He never complained, never used his military service to gain favor or attention.

***

The service was sad and moving and beautiful.

Because of the number of funerals for older vets, funerals are not held at the gravesites in the Tahoma cemetary-- too many folks walking all over the immaculate lawns.

George was actually interred last week, the service was held yesterday in a small open sided shelter a few dozen yards from the actual grave.

I have never been in a military cemetery that big before - it's massive - a hundred and fifty acres - we needed a map to find the little shelter where the service was held.

Large groves of trees divide the twenty thousand headstones into what seems like a dozen smaller, more intimate graveyards....it looked like a small town country cemetery once we got out of the car.

The ceremony was slow, professional, loving. A short eulogy, a 21 gun salute shattering the silence, the flag folded into an impossibly tight triangle, three expended shells tucked deep into the folds.

It was presented to his mother by an officer on bended knee; all of it preformed with the reverence and solemn respect and that George earned every time he flew for the wounded. A promise kept.

The bugler played "taps" to end the service. The event went from private and personal into archetype......

And I know it sounds stupid or soft or trite, but it broke my heart. And healed it at the same instant.

I stood for my brother in arms, then. Grateful for knowing him, honored by his friendship.

It rained the whole time we were there. A soft, steady, windless rain that seemed the only perfect weather for what we were doing.


***

This morning I read about the latest attack on Obama by the McCain camp.

McCain is a fucking coward and a traitor to men like George.

He is not worthy of burial in the same hallowed ground where so many honorable men and women rest.

He is a disgrace.

[Forkboy]

1. Yes, he is.

It needed to be said, and thank you for doing so.

And R.I.P. Mr Yakush.

[babylonsister]

2. cliffordu, that was beautiful. George was lucky to have you in

his life, too. He would have loved your eulogy here, I'm sure. :hug:

[cliffordu]

5. Thanks, Babylonsister.

:hug:

[BlueIdaho]

3. K & R - Amen!

McCain IS a coward - he has shown himself to all the world now and he is not fit to polish any other veteran's boots.

[BlooInBloo]

4. That's been said a lot. And it's true.

[Sukie]

6. I am so sorry about George's passing.

Your tribute to him is very touching, May he rest in peace. And your anger at McCain is well deserved.

[cliffordu]

7. Thanks.

[RagAss]

8. May his soul rest in blessed peace.

And I hear you about McCain and the filthy Repug base. My father died in late 2004. He was a medic during the campaign in France during WWII. One of the last things my father saw on this earth was the Purple Heart band-aids those pieces of shit wore at their convention in 2004. He cried.

I hate these people. Even if I am destined to burn in Hell for that hatred, I don't give a shit.

I hate these people with a burning passion !!!!!!!

[cliffordu]

11. I hate them too. They need to be buried as a political party, and the neocons

scattered to the winds.

[billyoc]

9. My condolences to the Yakush family.

McCain can never be such a man, and he KNOWS it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Your friend was a true hero.

Not the pseudo McCain-type.

Condolences to you and his family.

[NYC_SKP]

12. K&R and my condolences for your loss, cliffordu.

Best wishes and respect to George Yakush and your other friends.

And yes, McCain is a dishonorable soldier, a disgrace to himself, to the uniform, to all veterans and soldiers.

It's just a shame, the way he uses his service to defend himself.

:patriot:

[Tutonic]

13. Watched the Des Moines Redgister interview he gave several days

ago and am convinced that he despises the military. He throws it up when he can't retreat fast enough from an enemy--in this case two old ladies employed by the Register--but he did it as part of a larger lie that he was weaving. That's the use of the American flag, democracy and the military as toilet paper when the emeny comes calling. And that results in hatred or despisement of symbols and organizations that one is associated with. For years and years he did not want to be called a hero or to have to discuss his captivity--now we know why--he despises the military. I think this guy poses a bigger danger to himself. tha ncountry

[cliffordu]

14. I think you're exactly right.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. I have never heard

of the 3 expended shells. What is the meaning behind that?

[cliffordu]

19. Here ya go:

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/f/funeralhonors.htm


I was a little fuzzy on that myself, thanks for the prod to get it right.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. thanks. nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

16. I'm sorry cliffordu for your loss ..... My friend at that dog park

Just lost his brother in law to agent white, last week.I didn't know that until today.
I didn't know about agent white until my friend told me about it 6 months ago.

I'm a little shaken emotionally
by your post, bringing up memories of having buried
three of my high school friends at Arlington Cementary..



I don't know what to say..
except, I consider McCain a traitor and a coward.

[cliffordu]

21. Thanks. I don't know anyone who hasn't been touched by the constant state of

fucking war this country has been in since I don't know when. it needs to stop.

[frogcycle]

17. well said

thank you for the description. excellent imagery.

and I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment contrasting mccain with the true heroes.

mccain was a fuckup who found himself in pow camp and muddled through it like many others did.

[MarthaMyDear]

18. Sorry for your loss...

...what a wonderful tribute to your friend.

Mr. McCain's lack of integrity and tact are repulsive. The attacks today by the McCain campaign have set a new low in this election.

[speedoo]

20. I changed my avatar so I could join you in saluting George tonight.

Your description of the cemetery and service moved me to tears. Like the tears I shed for friends whose names are on that beautiful black wall in Washington, DC.

I could very well spend my last years out your way. I'll be out there again next month visiting family, and if you'd be kind enough to PM me George's name, I will try to visit and honor him. If not this visit, another one soon.

:patriot: :hug:

As for McCain, he is a coward and a traitor indeed to men like George. This is what I hope to do when he and those like him are finally gone:

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

from Masters of War, by Bob Dylan

[cliffordu]

22. Thanks, speedoo.

YAKUSH, GEORGE WILLIAM JR
WO2 US ARMY
VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/25/1950
DATE OF DEATH: 08/23/2008
BURIED AT: SECTION 26 SITE 1442
TAHOMA NATIONAL CEMETERY
18600 SE 240TH ST KENT, WA 98042-4868


Send me a PM before you come out - unless I am on the road (I'm planning a winter bicycle tour) I'll try and get over and show you where he is.

It is a beautiful cemetary.

[speedoo]

26. Thanks.

I'll be in touch.

[mokawanis]

24. McCain is no patriot

He's a lying coward who will do and say anything to get elected.

[Top Cat]

25. I agree... He is an embarrassment to our men in women in uniform.

[durtee librul]

27. I am so sorry for your loss - but at least your friend got

an actual bugler to play TAPS....most of the vets now only get a recorded version....compliments of our 'best' Pres ever. (my neighbor's husband was a WWII vet and when she asked about TAPS and bugler was told, cost cutting only allows a tape to be played)

If they even THINK to bring out a tape player at my dad's funeral, someone's gonna be whistling taps outta their ass for a long time. My dad, as do all vets, deserve better than a taped version of taps.

Rest in Peace George and thank you for your service to our great and wonderful country.

[cliffordu]

29. Yep - One of the reasons it took over a month to actually have the service was

because of the availability of the bugler.

I hope you have the opportunity to get the real thing, it was worth the wait.

[durtee librul]

28. One more thing about Mister McCain...

if he was such a war hero like everyone would like us to believe, why did his own family NOT talk to him when he returned? Google it. He betrayed his fellow prisoners by talking about things he should have never talked about....and the bs story about how he was asked to go home without his buddies, well, the story goes the only reason he stayed was because they knew the truth and he would have rather stayed than leave and risk their wrath and possible court martial later on.

And as long as we are talking about Mr. warhero...How come there aren't any of his POW friends campaigning with him? Or did I miss it?

[cliffordu]

30. He had one guy out there for a little while....but I think the exploitation

was too much for them.

[durtee librul]

31. One? The exploitation was too much or was it the lies?

Either way, it's weird how all these so called 'buddies' of his aren't by HIS side now....a little fishy if you ask me...which you didn't, so I am off to bed.

[cliffordu]

32. G'night!

[NotThisTime]

33. Yes he is and condolences to you and the family... I'm very sorry for your loss

[cliffordu]

35. Thanks.

[NanceGreggs]

34. A beautifully moving piece ...

... and you're right: McCain is a coward.

[cliffordu]

36. Thank you, Nance.

:patriot:

[WillyT]

37. Man... That Was Beautiful, Sad, And Very Very Moving...

Thank you for that.

K & R !!!

[Kurovski]

38. K&R (nt)

[1Hippiechick]

39. "...it broke my heart. And healed it at the same instant." Bittersweet.

I will be 61 next month, and there is not a day--seriously, not a single day--that goes by that I don't think about VietNam, the draft, and all the horror of the 60s, and I am much more emotional during this particular campaign because of it.

May George rest in peace.

And you are absolutely right about that SOB McCain. There were 600 POWs, if I recall correctly. And Songbird McCain is a HERO? HA!

And to drag that experience through the MUD for POLITICAL GAIN is downright denigrating to the true POWs and the ones still there!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

F*CK John McCain, that rat bastard!

[K Gardner]

40. Stunningly beautiful and touching, thank you so much. K&R

[maxpower]

41. Well said Cliffordu

I am sorry for the loss of your friend. Remember the good times. McCain is a fucking coward is right. He is a disgrace to brave soldiers everywhere, especially your friend George. My heart goes out to his family and you.