View from The TOP

"The View from the Top" will be a current commentary on political and social issues.
I will provide those comments as succinctly and clearly as an old, retired Marine can. My views are based on my life experience, including 30 years in the United States Marine Corps traveling and living all over the world and the United States of America. I retired in 1991 with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9) with great reluctance and sadness. If the Corps called today I would join the heroes that are dedicated to the struggle of freedom and standing in harms way in Afghanistan, Iraq and other battlegrounds around the world. Hell, I'd even join the Army, Navy or Air Force heroes as well. I believe in America and what she stands for, and hope to influence on or two of you people sitting on the fence to return to the values and beliefs that keep us the greatest country in the world - even better than France, Germany, Russia - or, believe it or not, Canada.

Today I would like to present to you the Top's view on a man that, in my opinion, has manipulated his way into a position where he is vying to become the most powerful man in the world. A man who has used the system for over 40 years to turn a military dalliance into a claim of hero status, and a hate America political career into 20-plus years in the Senate.

I was in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines in 1969-1970. I served 13 full months and a few days extra - we were in condition one on the day I should have rotated and couldn't get back to catch the plane. It was in a gun fighting, mine exploding, air support calling, and artillery pounding part of Vietnam we fondly called Dodge City. Most career Marines served two or more tours in Vietnam, 13-month tours. Some Marines went home after a third Purple Heart. That was the standing policy. But I guarantee you this, if a Marine went home with a third Purple Heart, it was because the severity of the wound made him unfit for combat. I’ve known Marines with five purple hearts still watching their brother’s back. If he could fight, he stayed with his brothers. To do less would cause severe emotional problems in his own mind, and loss of respect from his brothers. If you are alive and able to fight, you don't abandon your brothers because of some technicality in the system. The rookie that replaces you cannot serve his brothers the way you can. It takes time to create a combat ready Marine, or soldier, or sailor, and when one leaves it weakens the unit.

Now, why did I say the things I did in the previous paragraph. Here's why. It is my firm belief that John Kerry had an obsession with becoming as powerful a political power as he possibly could. He was a great admirer of John Kennedy, as were many, and he sought to follow Kennedy's path to fame and glory. So, the young Lieutenant volunteered for Swift Boat Patrols, one of the few places in Vietnam were sailors got shot at once in a while (with the exception of Fleet Marine Force Corpsman courageously serving as field medical givers who stood against enemy fire with their Marine buddies). And remember this, when Kerry first volunteered the Swift Boat mission was very simple and safe. It was changed to a more dangerous mission after he got his assignment. That must have come as a big surprise to Lt. Kerry and when it got a little too hot he found the most harmless way out. Now, three really deserved Purple Hearts could have hurt. So our future Senator and Presidential candidate, realizing the danger involved in real Purple Hearts, used minor and superficial wounds - at least one caused by his own ordinance - to buy himself a get out of Dodge early card.

By the time his short but sweet adventure in combat was over, he returned to the land of the big PX to find that the wind was blowing against the war. People were beginning to speak out loud that the American soldier was being mean to people over there. The farsighted Mr. Kerry jumped right on the bandwagon and lied about his service and the service of his brothers. For what, you ask? His life goal was to become a politician with his eyes ever on a run for President at the end. Never mind the pain it would inflict on many returning veterans or the beatings and abuse it would cause Prisoners of War. What he wanted was far more important than the truth or those dummies who couldn't manage to get out of country (Vietnam) early the way he did. He lied about being in Cambodia, he lied on his self-written awards recommendations, he lied on at least one of his Purple Hearts (and took it to a higher authority than the Naval Doctor who would not recommend the award at first inspection of the "scratch), and he lied about his brother in arms (that they were murderers, rapists and akin to the Mongol hoards of ancient history). He even lied about throwing away his medals. When he saw his lying working he went to France and aided the enemy further by sucking up to them in Paris and telling them the same lies he had told America - and APOLOGIZED to Communist North Vietnam politicians for his country's actions. That was enough; the 60's culture made him a U. S. Senator and now this week-kneed, lying, apologist sister wants to be President.

The saddest part about the end of the previous paragraph is that many polls have him very close to a straight speaking, honest, hard-working, God fearing man who has steered this country on a straight and unflinching course against the most bestial and sadistic enemy the country has ever faced. Makes you worry about half of your fellow Americans. The old "Freedom is not free" saying remains as true as ever. The fly in the soup is that many Americans don't understand what that means. Their self-indulgent, coddled and protected lives leave them blind to the realities of the real world.

That's my view for this week. See you in the next "View from the Top."

Written By MgySgt McKee USMC Retired