Your View 8/13: Veteran's view

"I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty," a line from John Kerry's acceptance speech last week at the Democratic National Convention. Kerry is making his four-month tour of duty in Vietnam the centerpiece of his campaign. What a joke!

To hear the Kerry campaign tell it, the men who served with him consider him the next John Wayne; a war hero who would make a fine commander-in-chief.

The truth is, only one of the 23 officers who served with Kerry in Coastal Division II has actually endorsed him. Most of them resent their images being used to help the candidate.

To me, what Kerry did in Vietnam is not the real issue. It's what he did when he came back home from his four-month tour. Kerry testified before Congress in April 1971. He said the American soldiers had raped women, cut off ears, cut off heads, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, shot civilians, shot cattle, poisoned food supplies; and also attacked the veterans who served with him.

How can Kerry be commander-in-chief if he lies about the veterans he served with and dishonors the Vietnam veterans? He is the closest thing to Jane Fonda I ever saw.

Gary L. Howard, Sikeston

11B40 4th Division - U.S. Army

1970 - Republic of Vietnam