John Kerry finds Vietnam War site where he killed a man

Sherman123 · Jan 15, 2017

I thought this was a moving and thoughtful story. Shorn of all politics, it's a reminder that even the powerful don't ever forget their wartime experiences. It's admittedly difficult to imagine the grey-haired and controversial Kerry storming a river bank and killing a man, but it obviously happened. This article helped me see him as he once was: a young man at war.

"One aide to Mr Kerry told the Washington Post that the former military man had been searching Google Maps for the site of the ambush. On Thursday, he was said to have woken, jetlagged, in the middle of the night in his Hanoi hotel and called one of his old crew members to rack his brains."

I'm glad he got to make the rendezvous.

John Kerry finds Vietnam War site where he killed a man - BBC News

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

It is so cool that Prof Edward Miller from Dartmouth found the time for this little photo op down memory lane, set up by the US Government.

Kerry frantically calling the USA to talk to a buddy cause he cant figure out where the battle happened.....OH Sure, this IS John Kerry

"You know, it's, I guess, weird," he said, with a shrug. "It's a little surreal. But it is real."

John Kerry

AMERICAN DUD

Kerry's stop in Vietnam is emotional peak of final trip as secretary of state - Orlando Sentinel

Middleground · Jan 15, 2017

Hawkeye10 said:
It is so cool that Prof Edward Miller from Dartmouth found the time for this little photo op down memory lane, set up by the US Government.

Kerry frantically calling the USA to talk to a buddy cause he cant figure out where the battle happened.....OH Sure, this IS John Kerry

John Kerry

AMERICAN DUD

Kerry's stop in Vietnam is emotional peak of final trip as secretary of state - Orlando Sentinel

You're all for the American military -- the people who protect and serve you -- until it's a lefty, a Democrat or maybe even a gay? Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Tigerace117 · Jan 15, 2017

Hawkeye10 said:
It is so cool that Prof Edward Miller from Dartmouth found the time for this little photo op down memory lane, set up by the US Government.

Kerry frantically calling the USA to talk to a buddy cause he cant figure out where the battle happened.....OH Sure, this IS John Kerry

John Kerry

AMERICAN DUD

Kerry's stop in Vietnam is emotional peak of final trip as secretary of state - Orlando Sentinel

Look at that. A Trump supporter dissing the military. What a suprise :roll:

I'm sure you can regale us with the tales of all the exact locations of firefights you had when you were serving this country. Oh wait, that's right......

Beaudreaux · Jan 15, 2017

I can't imagine why anyone that has killed another in combat would want to relive that moment in such a vivid way as revisiting the EXACT point on the ground. I can understand revisiting the overall battleground, like the beaches of Normandy, or the sands of the Middle East, a field in Africa, or the islands of the Pacific. But the EXACT location on the ground? I see mine in my mind almost every night in my dreams without having to be their in my body. I smell the smells, feel the wind, hear the sounds, and feel the report of the gun, without ever leaving my house. I have no interest in standing in my own footprints looking at the ground where they died at my hand.

Further more, I don't think that publically politicizing such an event should be supported or praised. If Secretary Kerry wanted to do this, he should have done it in private without publicizing it. In my humble opinion, it lessens the life lost by doing so.

But, maybe that's just me. For clarification, I'm not condemning Kerry, or his emotions that this obviously brought to the surface with him. In fact, he may even wish now that he had done this in private for the very reasons I mentioned above.

AliHajiSheik · Jan 15, 2017

Beaudreaux said:
I can't imagine why anyone that has killed another in combat would want to relive that moment in such a vivid way as revisiting the EXACT point on the ground. I can understand revisiting the overall battleground, like the beaches of Normandy, or the sands of the Middle East, a field in Africa, or the islands of the Pacific. But the EXACT location on the ground? I see mine in my mind almost every night in my dreams without having to be their in my body. I smell the smells, feel the wind, hear the sounds, and feel the report of the gun, without ever leaving my house. I have no interest in standing in my own footprints looking at the ground where they died at my hand.

Further more, I don't think that publically politicizing such an event should be supported or praised. If Secretary Kerry wanted to do this, he should have done it in private without publicizing it. In my humble opinion, it lessens the life lost by doing so.

But, maybe that's just me.

I would think with the passage of time the whole event becomes surreal and revisiting the spot reminds you that it was real. Kerry could have done this in 2 weeks without the publicity but then he would have had to pay for the flight and lodging.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

Beaudreaux said:
I can't imagine why anyone that has killed another in combat would want to relive that moment in such a vivid way as revisiting the EXACT point on the ground. I can understand revisiting the overall battleground, like the beaches of Normandy, or the sands of the Middle East, a field in Africa, or the islands of the Pacific. But the EXACT location on the ground? I see mine in my mind almost every night in my dreams without having to be their in my body. I smell the smells, feel the wind, hear the sounds, and feel the report of the gun, without ever leaving my house. I have no interest in standing in my own footprints looking at the ground where they died at my hand.

Further more, I don't think that publically politicizing such an event should be supported or praised. If Secretary Kerry wanted to do this, he should have done it in private without publicizing it. In my humble opinion, it lessens the life lost by doing so.

But, maybe that's just me.

Right?

Plus this is supposed to mean so much to him but he cant remember were it happened, and after he gets there with his posse and tag along journalists (Kerry was in "Boat 1", how many boats were there on this tour?) he offered up some word salad, I mean Jesus, he and is office spent so much time on this you would think he had something the say....or would invent something.

This was so lame.

And fitting.

Deuce · Jan 15, 2017

Hawkeye10 said:
Right?

Plus this is supposed to mean so much to him but he cant remember were it happened, and after he gets there with his posse and tag along journalists (Kerry was in "Boat 1", how many boats were there on this tour?) he offered up some word salad, I mean Jesus, he and is office spent so much time on this you would think he had something the say....or would invent something.

This was so lame.

And fitting.

Actually I would think a lot of veterans would get tangled up in a flood of memories. You probably don't know any, so you wouldn't understand.

chuckiechan · Jan 15, 2017

So someone is try to rehabilitate Kerry's image. Why? Is he planning to run in 2020.

Personally, I'm suspicious. I'd like to read the after action report, and hear from some other witnesses. During the last go - a - round, Kerry's recollection of events was strongly challenged by people who were in a position to know.

Sounds to me like Kerry hired a PR firm, and is beginning to rewrite and decorate a new story as part of shielding him from accusations sure to be heading his way.

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

Deuce said:
Actually I would think a lot of veterans would get tangled up in a flood of memories. You probably don't know any, so you wouldn't understand.

The trouble with the theory is that John Kerry very often suffers from an inability to speak, but if this is really important to him I would expect him to rise to the occasion.

chuckiechan · Jan 15, 2017

Middleground said:
You're all for the American military -- the people who protect and serve you -- until it's a lefty, a Democrat or maybe even a gay? Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Do you remember him throwing his medals over the White House fence like so much garbage, then testifying before congress that US troops routinely committed war crimes as a matter of common practice?

I don't know what did or didn't happen, but I do have a sense that Kerry's V.C. enemies were better men than he was.

Like Obama, he's one more relic of a bad history that needs to be put away with the rest of the nations nightmares.

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

Priceless:

Obama was oblivious to the way things were done. Kerry was just oblivious. He understood the forms of diplomacy, but was as inept at assessing the sincerity of the other side as a sucker at a used car lot. When it came to Syria, no one could forget his pandering to Assad, and his confused statements made an already incoherent administration policy seem like it was coming apart at its contradictory seams.

And Kerry couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. Before long the real job of the State Department spokespeople became explaining what Kerry had really meant. Kerry’s infamous ‘for and against’ gaffe had helped take down his presidential bid, but miscommunications in diplomacy are far more damaging. Most governments read comments at a more subtle and convoluted level than the United States does. Kerry’s statements, misstatements and corrections were interpreted as double-dealing by America.
.
.
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Obama stopped paying whatever little attention he had to Kerry. And Kerry became the man who totes potatoes back from Russia while imagining that he is changing the world. A clown in a diplomatic circus he is too oblivious to see.

Whatever Happened to John Kerry

Middleground · Jan 15, 2017

chuckiechan said:
Do you remember him throwing his medals over the White House fence like so much garbage, then testifying before congress that US troops routinely committed war crimes as a matter of common practice?

I don't know what did or didn't happen, but I do have a sense that Kerry's V.C. enemies were better men than he was.

Like Obama, he's one more relic of a bad history that needs to be put away with the rest of the nations nightmares.

You may not agree one iota for the **** he might of done, but you know what? He had earned that right, don't you think? He's the one that got shot at. He's the one who killed for you. He's the one that put himself out there to protect your freedom. So get off your righteous pedestal and -- even just for a moment -- try to ****ing stand in his shoes. Jesus christ.

Risky Thicket · Jan 15, 2017

Middleground said:
You're all for the American military -- the people who protect and serve you -- until it's a lefty, a Democrat or maybe even a gay? Tsk, tsk, tsk.

He is also an avowed Putin fan. He prefers Russia over the U.S.

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

Middleground said:
You may not agree one iota for the **** he might of done, but you know what? He had earned that right, don't you think? He's the one that got shot at. He's the one who killed for you. He's the one that put himself out there to protect your freedom. So get off your righteous pedestal and -- even just for a moment -- try to ****ing stand in his shoes. Jesus christ.

Kerry has done plenty enough damage to America to be far beyond such ideas I should think....

RetiredNSmilin · Jan 15, 2017

Beaudreaux said:
I can't imagine why anyone that has killed another in combat would want to relive that moment in such a vivid way as revisiting the EXACT point on the ground. I can understand revisiting the overall battleground, like the beaches of Normandy, or the sands of the Middle East, a field in Africa, or the islands of the Pacific. But the EXACT location on the ground? I see mine in my mind almost every night in my dreams without having to be their in my body. I smell the smells, feel the wind, hear the sounds, and feel the report of the gun, without ever leaving my house. I have no interest in standing in my own footprints looking at the ground where they died at my hand.

Further more, I don't think that publically politicizing such an event should be supported or praised. If Secretary Kerry wanted to do this, he should have done it in private without publicizing it. In my humble opinion, it lessens the life lost by doing so.

But, maybe that's just me. For clarification, I'm not condemning Kerry, or his emotions that this obviously brought to the surface with him. In fact, he may even wish now that he had done this in private for the very reasons I mentioned above.

^^^ THIS ^^^

This crap is etched on your soul. No need to publicize or have a press conference about it. It is about as private as a demon gets.

Risky Thicket · Jan 15, 2017

chuckiechan said:
Do you remember him throwing his medals over the White House fence like so much garbage, then testifying before congress that US troops routinely committed war crimes as a matter of common practice?

I don't know what did or didn't happen, but I do have a sense that Kerry's V.C. enemies were better men than he was.

Like Obama, he's one more relic of a bad history that needs to be put away with the rest of the nations nightmares.

Kerry did what he could do at the time to try to end an unnecessary, bloody and protracted war. He also paid over and above the price to speak his mind. Yes, there were atrocities. In fact the entire feckin war was an atrocity. It never should have happened.

Why would the VC be better men that Kerry? That's an ignorant statement.

Hawkeye10 · Jan 15, 2017

RetiredNSmilin said:
^^^ THIS ^^^

This crap is etched on your soul. No need to publicize or have a press conference about it. It is about as private as a demon gets.

But if you are ending a SS gig with nothing to show for it but a rep for being a clown maybe you get desperate to find something to offer up to the press on your goodbye tour, you sell what he just sold, you go where others would never dream to go.

Deuce · Jan 15, 2017

Hawkeye10 said:
The trouble with the theory is that John Kerry very often suffers from an inability to speak, but if this is really important to him I would expect him to rise to the occasion.

Like I said, you wouldn't understand.

RetiredNSmilin · Jan 15, 2017

Hawkeye10 said:
But if you are ending a SS gig with nothing to show for it but a rep for being a clown maybe you get desperate to find something to offer up to the press on your goodbye tour, you sell what he just sold, you go where others would never dream to go.

He will soon learn making private demons public is a bad idea.

Mycroft · Jan 15, 2017

Beaudreaux said:
I can't imagine why anyone that has killed another in combat would want to relive that moment in such a vivid way as revisiting the EXACT point on the ground. I can understand revisiting the overall battleground, like the beaches of Normandy, or the sands of the Middle East, a field in Africa, or the islands of the Pacific. But the EXACT location on the ground? I see mine in my mind almost every night in my dreams without having to be their in my body. I smell the smells, feel the wind, hear the sounds, and feel the report of the gun, without ever leaving my house. I have no interest in standing in my own footprints looking at the ground where they died at my hand.

Further more, I don't think that publically politicizing such an event should be supported or praised. If Secretary Kerry wanted to do this, he should have done it in private without publicizing it. In my humble opinion, it lessens the life lost by doing so.

But, maybe that's just me. For clarification, I'm not condemning Kerry, or his emotions that this obviously brought to the surface with him. In fact, he may even wish now that he had done this in private for the very reasons I mentioned above.

It's not just you, brother.

There's a reason people tend not to talk about their war-time experiences...and you just expressed it. Thanks for putting into words what some of us can't.

Mycroft · Jan 15, 2017

Middleground said:
You may not agree one iota for the **** he might of done, but you know what? He had earned that right, don't you think? He's the one that got shot at. He's the one who killed for you. He's the one that put himself out there to protect your freedom. So get off your righteous pedestal and -- even just for a moment -- try to ****ing stand in his shoes. Jesus christ.

Bull****.

Kerry didn't any of those things for the reasons you state. He didn't do it to protect anybody's freedom. He didn't kill for anybody...but himself.

His goal was to be a politician. He needed his military ticket punched. As soon as he got that...as soon as he could...he beat feet out of there and started demonstrating against the very people he was working with...our military.

As far as I'm concerned, Kerry has earned the right to nothing.

chuckiechan · Jan 15, 2017

Risky Thicket said:
Kerry did what he could do at the time to try to end an unnecessary, bloody and protracted war. He also paid over and above the price to speak his mind. Yes, there were atrocities. In fact the entire feckin war was an atrocity. It never should have happened.

Why would the VC be better men that Kerry? That's an ignorant statement.

They had inferior weapons, fair to middling leadership, lousy communications, but they had superior situational awareness and a willingness to die for their country. Dick heads Like Jerry led to returning soldiers being called "baby killers".

Until the facts if Kerry's service are made public, IMO he is the same old ****head people like me think he is.

Risky Thicket · Jan 15, 2017

chuckiechan said:
They had inferior weapons, fair to middling leadership, lousy communications, but they had superior situational awareness and a willingness to die for their country. Dick heads Like Jerry led to returning soldiers being called "baby killers".

Until the facts if Kerry's service are made public, IMO he is the same old ****head people like me think he is.

Every nation that fights a conventional war with the US has inferior weapons. Fair to middling leadership? But somehow waging and ultimately winning an asymmetric war. As to willing to die for their country that's pretty much bull****, certainly with the Viet Cong. The NVA had more hardcore dedicated troops.

I'm not going to criticize anyone's personal behavior in a war zone unless I was present at the time. The truth is that most of the time you have very limited knowledge of what's going on almost anywhere else in-country other than where you are. So many factors go into who did what, where and why that it's a leap to make wholesale judgement.

I don't know about your experience but I would estimate that in a war zone it takes about a minimum of 30 days before you re-socialize and acclimate yourself to the hostile environment in which you live. Your thinking must change or you aren't likely to handle it mentally and emotionally. It works in reverse when you return. Maybe it takes on average 60 days or more to feel reacclimated.

The John Kerry who was on a PBR in the Delta was not the same John Kerry 60+ days later after he rotated back to World. Neither were sailors who served with him.

Unless you served with Kerry your opinion is worthless and so is mine for that matter. That is precisely why I refuse to judge him.

Mason66 · Jan 15, 2017

Tigerace117 said:
Look at that. A Trump supporter dissing the military. What a suprise :roll:

I'm sure you can regale us with the tales of all the exact locations of firefights you had when you were serving this country. Oh wait, that's right......

Not the military, just the idiot Kerry.

Didn't Kerry renounce everything military earlier in his life?

Why the nostalgia now?

John Kerry finds Vietnam War site where he killed a man

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