Comments on: The Braggart Soldier http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:48:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Vik Rubenfeld http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5485 Vik Rubenfeld Fri, 17 Sep 2004 03:42:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5485 Oddly enough, Kerry's yacht is named <a href="http://www.luxeword.com/exp/index.php/weblog/kerrys_yacht_is_named_after_a_stock_comedy_character_scaramouche_ie_the_boa/" rel="nofollow">"Scaramouche"</a> -- and Scaramouche is "A stock character in commedia dellÔøΩarte and pantomime, depicted as a boastful coward or buffoon" ! Oddly enough, Kerry’s yacht is named “Scaramouche” — and Scaramouche is “A stock character in commedia dellÔøΩarte and pantomime, depicted as a boastful coward or buffoon” !

]]> By: Ron http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5484 Ron Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:36:04 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5484 Read what it takes for someone not connected to receive a Silver Star. SGT. Carlos Hathcock USMC was a Wimbleton Winner [best rifle shot in the world] who was sent to Viet Nam. He personally killed 93 of the enemy as a sniper, these were confirmed kills. In a 5 day engagement he and his spotter wiped out an entire company of Viet Cong with rifle fire and artillery, these were not counted in the confirmed amount. I don't remember that he even got a citation for the action against the VC Company of men; a company is usually about 200 soldiers. There is a book about his time in Viet Nam and can probably be had at Amazon books. Read what it takes for someone not connected to receive a Silver Star. SGT. Carlos Hathcock USMC was a Wimbleton Winner [best rifle shot in the world] who was sent to Viet Nam. He personally killed 93 of the enemy as a sniper, these were confirmed kills. In a 5 day engagement he and his spotter wiped out an entire company of Viet Cong with rifle fire and artillery, these were not counted in the confirmed amount. I don’t remember that he even got a citation for the action against the VC Company of men; a company is usually about 200 soldiers. There is a book about his time in Viet Nam and can probably be had at Amazon books.

]]> By: Roberts http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5483 Roberts Mon, 09 Aug 2004 20:30:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5483 Interesting contrast: Carlos Hathcock was a Marine in Vietnam who received the Silver Star for his actions when the APC he was riding was destroyed by an enemy mine and caught fire. Despite second and third degree burns over half his body, Hathcock returned repeatedly to the APC to pull seven fellow Marines from its burning interior. Interesting contrast: Carlos Hathcock was a Marine in Vietnam who received the Silver Star for his actions when the APC he was riding was destroyed by an enemy mine and caught fire. Despite second and third degree burns over half his body, Hathcock returned repeatedly to the APC to pull seven fellow Marines from its burning interior.

]]> By: RiverRat http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5482 RiverRat Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:37:04 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5482 Medalgate! If any of you are wondering why 5 of Kerryís ìBand of Brotherî are supporting him I offer the following: Several days after the February 28, 1969 action, Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. flew to An Thoi, South Vietnam, where he pinned the Silver Star on Kerry's chest. All records indicate the award ceremony took place on March 6th. "In addition to Kerry's Silver Star, PCF-94's performance on February 28 also earned Bronze Stars for Tommy Belodeau and Mike Medeiros and Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V Devices for Del Sandusky, Fred Short, and Gene Thorson." - Douglas Brinkley, Tour of Duty, page 294. The entire crew got personal medals for valor! No wonder Kerry got a Silver Star! He probably put himself in for the Navy Cross and Zummie had to downgrade it. Kerry was given two days leave (vacation for civilians) in Saigon after 28 Feb 1969. No, Kerry was not hospitalized as has been rumored. What's funny is that Kerry was on the flight from Saigon with Zummie for the award ceremony. What was he doing in Saigon 2 days after the action? Pandering for medals? Methinks yes. Kerry to the crew, "Hey, guys I'll put you "all" in for medals if you'll agree that this is what I did." This was the most decorated Swift boat in the war for a single action and it was nothing more than a minor firefight. If this is not the most outrageous piece of creative writing I will ever see....I'll eat in my Black Beret! It's no wonder why they all support him now. They were kids bought with medals then and canít admit it now. This is all supported by Brinkleyís reporting in ìTour of Dutyî. Only differenceÖ.objective analysis. RiverRat Medalgate!

If any of you are wondering why 5 of Kerryís ìBand of Brotherî are supporting him I offer the following:

Several days after the February 28, 1969 action, Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. flew to An Thoi, South Vietnam, where he pinned the Silver Star on Kerry’s chest. All records indicate the award ceremony took place on March 6th.

“In addition to Kerry’s Silver Star, PCF-94′s performance on February 28 also earned Bronze Stars for Tommy Belodeau and Mike Medeiros and Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V Devices for Del Sandusky, Fred Short, and Gene Thorson.” – Douglas Brinkley, Tour of Duty, page 294.

The entire crew got personal medals for valor! No wonder Kerry got a Silver Star! He probably put himself in for the Navy Cross and Zummie had to downgrade it. Kerry was given two days leave (vacation for civilians) in Saigon after 28 Feb 1969. No, Kerry was not hospitalized as has been rumored.

What’s funny is that Kerry was on the flight from Saigon with Zummie for the award ceremony. What was he doing in Saigon 2 days after the action? Pandering for medals? Methinks yes.

Kerry to the crew, “Hey, guys I’ll put you “all” in for medals if you’ll agree that this is what I did.” This was the most decorated Swift boat in the war for a single action and it was nothing more than a minor firefight.

If this is not the most outrageous piece of creative writing I will ever see….I’ll eat in my Black Beret!

It’s no wonder why they all support him now. They were kids bought with medals then and canít admit it now.

This is all supported by Brinkleyís reporting in ìTour of Dutyî. Only differenceÖ.objective analysis.

RiverRat

]]> By: richard mcenroe http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5481 richard mcenroe Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:23:13 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5481 Just a question for consideration: With all of this "charging to the sound of the guns" and "driving his boat into intense enemy fire," how many of Kerry's crew men were wounded or killed? One? Some? Any? Just a question for consideration: With all of this “charging to the sound of the guns” and “driving his boat into intense enemy fire,” how many of Kerry’s crew men were wounded or killed? One? Some? Any?

]]> By: hollywood http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5480 hollywood Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:12:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5480 Roberts, Sounds like you're projecting your own fears. Roberts,

Sounds like you’re projecting your own fears.

]]> By: Bostonian http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5479 Bostonian Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:07:15 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5479 The idea of "playboy tax hiker and an ambulance chaser in the White House" doesn't give me the heebie-jeebies. It just makes me feel sick. I get the heebie-jeebies from the idea of the country being run by a guy who thinks that France's opinion is important, despite profuse evidence of France's conflict of interest in Iraq and Syria. Chirac has pledged an "indestructible friendship" with Syria (in Chirac's official speech when receiving Bashar Al Assad in Paris): http://www.elysee.fr/cgi-bin/auracom/aurweb/search/file?aur_file=discours/2001/T010625.html The idea of “playboy tax hiker and an ambulance chaser in the White House” doesn’t give me the heebie-jeebies. It just makes me feel sick.

I get the heebie-jeebies from the idea of the country being run by a guy who thinks that France’s opinion is important, despite profuse evidence of France’s conflict of interest in Iraq and Syria.

Chirac has pledged an “indestructible friendship” with Syria (in Chirac’s official speech when receiving Bashar Al Assad in Paris):

http://www.elysee.fr/cgi-bin/auracom/aurweb/search/file?aur_file=discours/2001/T010625.html

]]> By: Roberts http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5478 Roberts Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:01:04 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5478 Sure, Hollywood, "reasonable conservative minds" who are obsessed with gay marriage. ROFL. Sure, Hollywood, “reasonable conservative minds” who are obsessed with gay marriage.

ROFL.

]]> By: hollywood http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5477 hollywood Mon, 09 Aug 2004 14:57:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5477 Terrye, Nice Wayne story. You say you fear Kerry. Consider the alternative. Reasonable conservative minds fear Bush more. http://www.andrewsullivan.com/print.php?artnum=20040725 Terrye,

Nice Wayne story.

You say you fear Kerry. Consider the alternative. Reasonable conservative minds fear Bush more. http://www.andrewsullivan.com/print.php?artnum=20040725

]]> By: richard mcenroe http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5476 richard mcenroe Mon, 09 Aug 2004 13:54:38 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/#comment-5476 Fresh Air ó A clarification. Gardiner is supposedly the only enlisted man <i>from Kerry's crew</i> who has come out against him. The vast majority of the SBVT's are enlisted men from that unit. By the way, Kerry's "band of brothers" is cherry-picked from all the crew who served with him. None of them served a full tour with Kerry, or even, if I read correctly, Kerry's full tour. Of course, Kerry's actual time in combat was so short that this would probably be impossible for an enlisted man who was there for the whole hitch. Fresh Air ó A clarification. Gardiner is supposedly the only enlisted man from Kerry’s crew who has come out against him. The vast majority of the SBVT’s are enlisted men from that unit.

By the way, Kerry’s “band of brothers” is cherry-picked from all the crew who served with him. None of them served a full tour with Kerry, or even, if I read correctly, Kerry’s full tour. Of course, Kerry’s actual time in combat was so short that this would probably be impossible for an enlisted man who was there for the whole hitch.

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