*****Gunners Note..this is an email from someone Im well aquainted with
in the retired Special Forces community.

"Gunner
I am personally acquainted with the author of this article in the WSJ.
Steve Sherman is highly thought of in the Special Forces/Special
Operations world and has authored "Who's Who" type books that have
become the authoritative word by those who need to know who was, who
wasn't, who is and who isn't. The man tells the truth as he finds it
without embellishment."

(name with held by Gunner)



*****************

A turning point may have been reached in the Iowa caucuses when
Special Forces Lt. James Rassmann came forward to thank John Kerry for
saving his life in Vietnam. Although Mr. Rassmann, like most of my
veteran friends, is a Republican, he said that he'd vote for Mr. Kerry.
I don't know if the incident influenced the caucus results. But I took
special interest in the story because Jim served in my unit.

Service in Vietnam is an important credential to me. Many felt that
such service was beneath them, and removed themselves from the manpower
pool. That Mr. Kerry served at all is a reason for a bond with fellow
veterans; that his service earned him a Bronze Star for Valor ("for
personal bravery") and a Silver Star ("for gallantry") is even more
compelling. Unfortunately, Mr. Kerry came home to Massachusetts, the one
state George McGovern carried in 1972. He joined the Vietnam Veterans
Against the War and emceed the Winter Soldier Investigation (both
financed by Jane Fonda). Many veterans believe these protests led to
more American deaths, and to the enslavement of the people on whose
behalf the protests were ostensibly being undertaken. But being a
take-charge kind of guy, Mr. Kerry became a leader in the VVAW and even
testified before Congress on the findings of the Investigation, which he
accepted at face value.

In his book "Stolen Valor," B.G. Burkett points out that Mr. Kerry
liberally used phony veterans to testify to atrocities they could not
possibly have committed. Mr. Kerry later threw what he represented as
his awards at the Capitol in protest. But as the war diminished as a
political issue, he left the VVAW, which was a bit too radical for his
political future, and was ultimately elected to the Senate. After his
awards were seen framed on his office wall, he claimed to have thrown
away someone else's medals -- so now he can reclaim his gallantry in
Vietnam.

Mr. Kerry hasn't given me any reason to trust his judgment. As
co-chairman of the Senate investigating committee, he quashed a
revealing inquiry into the POW/MIA issue, and he supports trade
initiatives with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam while blocking any
legislation requiring Hanoi to adhere to basic human rights. I'm not
surprised that there are veterans who support a VVAW activist, if only
because there are so few fellow veterans in politics. Ideally, there'd
be many more. If you are going to vote on military appropriations, it
would be nice if you didn't disrespect the soldiers. Congress hasn't had
the courage to declare war in more than 60 years, despite numerous
instances in which we have sent our military in harm's way. Of all the
"lessons of Vietnam," surely one is that America needs a leader capable
of demonstrating in himself, and encouraging in others, the resolve to
finish what they have collectively started.

But the bond between veterans has to be tempered in light of the
individual's record. Just as Mr. Kerry threw away medals only to claim
them back again, Sen. Kerry voted to take action against Iraq, but
claims to take that vote back by voting against funding the result. So I
can understand my former comrade-in-arms hugging the man who saved his
life, but not the act of choosing him for president out of gratitude.
And I would hate to see anyone giving Mr. Kerry a sympathy vote for
president just because being a Vietnam veteran is "back in style."

Mr. Sherman was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Fifth Special
Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam, 1967-68.

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