“The Memorial Day nap”

“The Memorial Day nap” May 30, 2011 Monday, Memorial Day in Westminster Maryland by Kevin Dayhoff

After a full day that included the annual Memorial Day parade, ceremonies at the Westminster Cemetery and the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial park in Westminster, and visiting with friends and family at the American Legion; even an ever-ready battery trooper, needs a nap.  And Pumba was careful to stand guard.

Related: Annual Westminster Memorial Day Parade Steeped in Tradition  http://twitpic.com/54juf7  http://westminster.patch.com/articles/annual-westminster-memorial-day-parade-and-ceremonies-set-for-today  http://tinyurl.com/3rjb32d

DAYHOFF: Recalling a fallen son of Carroll, Staff Sgt. James Norman Byers

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/5452/dayhoff-recalling-fallen-son-carroll-staff-sgt-james-norman-byers/  http://tinyurl.com/3lxqbmr  http://twitpic.com/54t2ef

[20110530 CB 2b asleep Memorial Day] 


Annual Memorial Day


LABELS: ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY, DAYHOFF WRITING ESSAYS MILITARY,HISTORY 1957 1975 VIETNAM, MILITARY MEMORIAL DAY, MILITARY VIETNAM CC MEMORIAL, SMURF FAMILY

http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day-nap.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/56220705/%E2%80%9CTours-of-Duty-Carroll-County-MD-and-the-Vietnam-War%E2%80%9D-By-Gary-D-Jestes-and-Jay-A-Graybeal

Vietnam, History, military, Memorial Day, Historical Society of Carroll County, Carrie Ann Knauer, Jay Graybeal  Labels: Annual Memorial Day, Dayhoff writing essays Vietnam, Military Vietnam, Military Vietnam Byers James N,Military Vietnam CC Memorial

Related: Memorial Day: Honoring the sacrifice of Staff Sgt. James Norman Byers  By Kevin Dayhoff Wednesday, May 25, 2011 http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4418

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day-honoring-sacrifice-of.html

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/05/tours-of-duty-carroll-county-md-and.html

Annual Memorial Day

Related: Annual Westminster Memorial Day Parade Steeped in Tradition  http://twitpic.com/54juf7  http://westminster.patch.com/articles/annual-westminster-memorial-day-parade-and-ceremonies-set-for-today  http://tinyurl.com/3rjb32d

DAYHOFF: Recalling a fallen son of Carroll, Staff Sgt. James Norman Byers

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/5452/dayhoff-recalling-fallen-son-carroll-staff-sgt-james-norman-byers/  http://tinyurl.com/3lxqbmr  http://twitpic.com/54t2ef

[20110530 CB 2b asleep Memorial Day]

LABELS: ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY, DAYHOFF WRITING ESSAYS MILITARY,HISTORY 1957 1975 VIETNAM, MILITARY MEMORIAL DAY, MILITARY VIETNAM CC MEMORIAL, SMURF FAMILY

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

Scribd Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.scribd.com/kdayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Gizmo's: http://www.gizmosart.com/dayhoff.html

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

Annual Memorial Day, Dayhoff writing essays military, History 1957 1975 Vietnam, Military Memorial Day, Military Vietnam CC Memorial, Smurf family

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Jesse Miller, Jr., KIA VN 1966 http://tinyurl.com/2vkfljc

Unites States Military Academy West Point graduation photo 1955

Just One of Our Fallen Heroes http://tinyurl.com/2vkfljc

May 26, 2010 Kevin E. Dayhoff

As this Memorial Day approaches, the Vietnam War has been over for 35 years, and yet for many of us; the memories of lost friends, and loved ones is indelibly etched in our minds. Hopefully, you and your friends, family and loved-ones will pause Monday to remember those men and women in uniform who have gone before us and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and our way of life.

Over 2.7 million Americans served in the Vietnam War. Of that number, 300,000 were wounded in action, and 75,000 were disabled. Of the 58,200 names listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, 1,046 are Marylanders who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War.

Some we knew. Some we didn’t. But they were all someone’s son or father, daughter or mother, sister or brother or aunt or uncle – or a cherished childhood friend. Their faces have been silent for many years, but they all have a story to tell.

One of the stories is that of U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Jesse Miller, Jr., who died at the age of 34 on October 29, 1966, two months after he had arrived in Vietnam August 24, 1966.

[...]

Read the entire column here: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3772

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

http://explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Hampstead man arrested for setting Greens Apartments fire
Published July 13, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... damage is estimated at $450,000, according to fire marshals. Kevin Dayhoff contributed to this report....

DAYHOFF: 11th Air Cavalry Troop memorial recalls service of Carroll natives
Published July 11, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... to help honor these men and their families, as well those others named on the memorial who paid so dearly in the service of their community and nation. Kevin Dayhoff may reached at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com, or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....

Bringing Corbit's Charge, and Douglass, back to Westminster
Published July 5, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... for his age," Crutcher responded that Douglass has "rested a lot" over the years. When he's not traveling back in time to the 1800s, … or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....

DAYHOFF: Margaret Mitchell wrote what she knew; the rest is gone with the wind
Published July 2, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... And that is all I know for right now. Hope you and your family have a great Fourth of July weekend. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

Westminster was all abuzz for the great fly roundup of 1914
Published June 28, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... reminds me that it was Groucho Marx who once said, "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." When he is not swatting flies …

DAYHOFF: Hoffa Field and the Sheathing of the Sword
Published June 23, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... . Lightner and the June 1922 American Sentinel newspaper article have left us with an extensive and fascinating account of the “The Sheathing of the Sword.”

'Year without summer' killed crops ... and created a monster
Published June 21, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... village folk that it's not a bad idea to keep a torch handy on these cool summer nights. When he is not playing with laboratory-harnessed lightning…

Historic Blue Ridge College bell dedicated In Union Bridge
Published June 20, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
UNION BRIDGE — Several hundred folks braved threatening weather June 20 to witness the unveiling and dedication of the historic 1900 Blue Ridge College bell in Lehigh Square, the original site of the college which had thrived in Union Bridge from 1898 to ... ...

When city got 'sole' in the 1920s, it was cause for a celebration
Published June 14, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... be the guest speaker. There will be a retirement ceremony for worn flags. Guests may bring old flags for retirement. When he is not waving the flag, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....

Remember when you could walk to work in Westminster?
Published June 7, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
When he's not on a "walk-about" in Westminster, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com. ...

20090716 SDOSM Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

Recent http://www.explorecarroll.com/ articles by Kevin Dayhoff

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

Former Middletown resident's Vietnam Veterans Memorial entry to be updated

Former Middletown resident's Vietnam Veterans Memorial entry to be updated

By Justin M. Palk Originally published in the Frederick News-Post on May 06, 2009

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. James K. Caniford's entry on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is being updated.

The update comes after the Defense Department announced last year it had identified remains as those of Caniford, a former Middletown resident.

[…]

Along with Caniford, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ralph C. Bisz and U.S. Air Force Maj. John L. McElroy, Maj. Barclay B. Young and Col. David H. Zook Jr. will have diamonds inscribed over their crosses on the memorial.

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Enrique Valdez's name will also be added to the memorial.

[…]

Read Mr. Palk’s entire article here: Former Middletown resident's Vietnam Veterans Memorial entry to be updated

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_Comments.htm?section=a1&storyID=89886#postComments

20090506 Caniford Vietnam Vets Mem entry to be updated by Palk

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

20070216 Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson, former POW: “The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors”

http://www.samjohnson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=58470

Washington, Feb 16 – 2007

_____

To gain some additional understanding of where Representative Johnson is coming from go to:

20040527 POW Congressman Johnson Hanoi Used Kerry Speech
Or
http://www.kevindayhoff.com/2004/05/20040527-pow-congressman-johnson-hanoi.html
or
POW Congressman: Hanoi Used Kerry Speech, Gore Comments 'Traitorous'

Thursday, May 27, 2004 11:34 a.m. EDT

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/5/27/113857.shtml

For a brief biography of Representative Johnson – go to the end of the speech…
_____

Congressman Johnson (R-TX) Floor Speech (02.16.07)

YouTube video Provided By: Republican Whip Roy Blunt

Congressman Sam Johnson served in the U. Congressman Sam Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force for 29-years as a highly decorated pilot. He flew combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a prisoner of war in Hanoi for nearly seven years. Then, in 1991, he embarked on a new mission of service - representing the people of Texas' third district in the United States Congress.




_____

20070216 Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson, former POW: “The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors”

http://www.samjohnson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=58470

Washington, Feb 16 – 2007

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) delivered the following closing statement on the floor of the House during the 36-hour debate on Iraq.
A 29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War, more than half of that time in solitary confinement.

Coincidentally, this week in 1973 as one of the longest held captives, Johnson finally left Hanoi on February 12, 1973 and returned home to Texas on February 17, 1973.

Earlier this week on Monday, Johnson spent the anniversary of his release pleading with a House panel to accept his amendment to support and fully fund the troops for the 36 hours of debate on the troop escalation in Iraq.
Johnson’s floor statement follows:

“You know, I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and 25 missions in the Vietnam War before being shot down.

“I had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for 29 years, attending the prestigious National War College, and commanding two air bases, among other things.

“I mention these stories because I view the debate on the floor not just as a U.S. Congressman elected to serve the good people of the Third District in Texas, but also through the lens of a life-long fighter pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader of men, and a Prisoner of War.

“Ironically, this week marks the anniversary that I started a new life – and my freedom from prison in Hanoi.

“I spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam, more than half of that time in solitary confinement. I flew out of Hanoi on February 12, 1973 with other long-held Prisoners of War – weighing just 140 pounds. And tomorrow – 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas – a truly unspeakable blessing of freedom.

“While in solitary confinement, my captors kept me in leg stocks, like the pilgrims… for 72 days….

“As you can imagine, they had to carry me out of the stocks because I couldn’t walk. The following day, they put me in leg irons… for 2 ½ years. That’s when you have a tight metal cuff around each ankle – with a foot-long bar connecting the legs.

“I still have little feeling in my right arm and my right hand… and my body has never been the same since my nearly 2,500 days of captivity.

“But I will never let my physical wounds hold me back.

“Instead, I try to see the silver lining. I say that because in some way … I’m living a dream…a hope I had for the future.

“From April 16, 1966 to February 12, 1973 – I prayed that I would return home to the loving embrace of my wife, Shirley, and my three kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly…

“And my fellow POWs and I clung to the hope of when – not if – we returned home.

“We would spend hours tapping on the adjoining cement walls about what we would do when we got home to America.

“We pledged to quit griping about the way the government was running the war in Vietnam and do something about it… We decided that we would run for office and try to make America a better place for all.

“So – little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth… I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm’s way….and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support our troops to the hilt.

“We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for Vietnam. I know what it does to morale and mission success. Words can not fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.

“Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans protesting back home…tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came home... and worse.

“We must never, ever let that happen again.

“The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors.

“Our troops – and their families – want, need and deserve the full support of the country – and the Congress. Moms and dads watching the news need to know that the Congress will not leave their sons and daughters in harm’s way without support.

“Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq last month, there has been steady progress. He changed the rules of engagement and removed political protections.

“There are reports we wounded the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his deputy. Yes, Al Qaeda operates in Iraq. It’s alleged that top radical jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq – maybe to Iran. And Iraq’s closed its borders with Iran and Syria. The President changed course and offered a new plan …we are making progress. We must seize the opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.

“Debating non-binding resolutions aimed at earning political points only destroys morale, stymies success, and emboldens the enemy.
“The grim reality is that this House measure is the first step to cutting funding of the troops…Just ask John Murtha about his ‘slow-bleed’ plan that hamstrings our troops in harm’s way.

“Now it’s time to stand up for my friends who did not make it home – and those who fought and died in Iraq - so I can keep my promise that when we got home we would quit griping about the war and do something positive about it…and we must not allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.
“Today, let my body serve as a brutal reminder that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past… instead learn from them.

“We must not cut funding for our troops. We must stick by them. We must support them all the way…To our troops we must remain…always faithful.

“God bless you and I salute you all. Thank you.”

Biography of Representative Johnson:

Sam Johnson returned home to Texas after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 29-years as a highly decorated pilot. He flew combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a prisoner of war in Hanoi for nearly seven years. After his military career, he established a home-building business and served in the Texas legislature. Then, in 1991, he embarked on a new mission of service- representing the people of Texas' third district in the United States Congress.

Dubbed a "Top Texan" by USA Today, Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on both the prestigious Ways & Means Committee and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. On these committees, he is able to influence the key issues of economic security, health care and improving our children's education. As one of a few Members of Congress who has fought in combat, Johnson serves as an informal advisor on military readiness issues.

He has consistently advocated smarter government, lower taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and pushing for a simpler, fairer tax system.

On the Education Committee, Johnson continues to work to return control of education to parents, teachers, and local school boards-where it belongs. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, Johnson is one of three Members of 535 who has authority over retirement, health and labor issues.

After growing up in Dallas and graduating from Southern Methodist University, Johnson began his 29-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as director of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying demonstration team. In the Korean War, he flew F-86s in 62 combat missions.

In the Vietnam War, Johnson flew F-4s. While flying his 25th combat mission in 1966, he was shot down over North Vietnam. He spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war, half of that time in solitary confinement. Fellow POW Capt. James Mulligan, USN (Ret.) recalled the day Johnson was allowed to return to a joint cell. He walked into the room with the two other detained American officers, "stood at attention with tears in his eyes, and said simply, 'Lieutenant Colonel Sam Johnson reporting for duty, sir'...after he had not talked to or directly been with an American for three full years." Johnson recounts the details of his POW experience in his autobiography, Captive Warriors.

A decorated war hero, Johnson was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards.

Sam Johnson is married to the former Shirley L. Melton, of Dallas. They are proud parents of three children and ten grandchildren.

####

20060805 KDDC Vietnam Memorial Visitor Center Approved

Photo by Flickr user adrummer_boy.

Vietnam Memorial Visitor Center Approved

Jeff Beam, writing in the DCist reports that the long awaited Vietnam Memorial visitor center has been approved:

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced yesterday that their proposed Visitor Center received the final go-ahead from the National Capitol Planning Commission, which oversees the approval and design of monuments and memorials in D.C. The privately funded, $100 million complex will supplement Maya Lin’s 1982 Memorial Wall, with exhibits and programs to tell the story of the Vietnam War and commemorate the soldiers who fought it. The Visitor Center will be built just west of the Wall in the area between it and the Lincoln Memorial; however, NCPC requires that it be completely buried and hidden from view, in order to preserve the openness and visual order of the Mall. The Polshek Partnership, architect of the Clinton Library and the Newseum/Freedom Forum, was selected in 2004 to design the Center.

Read the rest of his article here.

####

20060521 KDDC Carroll Co. Vietnam Memorial

Carroll Co. Vietnam Memorial

May 21st, 2006

Today I’ve been working on my next Westminster Eagle column and I stopped by the Carroll County Maryland Vietnam Memorial at Willis and Court Streets in Westminster.

The inscription on the black memorial lists has the following inscription and names:

“This memorial is dedicated to mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, lovers, friends and most of all dreams of the men and women “from Carroll County” who risked it all in Vietnam.”

Steve Mason, Poet Laureate V.V.A

1966

Ronald Kenny, February 1966

Christopher Miller, Jr., October 1966

Carl Egolf, December 1966

1967

James Byers, January 1967

1968

Russell Amoss, January 1968

Russell Milberry, January 1968

Everett Justice, Jr., February 1968

Michael Kidd, May 1968

John Feezer, July 1968

Sherman Flanagan, Jr., July 1968

Muriel Groomes, November 1968

1969

Joseph Oreto, April 1969

Frederick Magsamen, May 1969

Franklin Underwood, Jr., June 1969

1970

James Zumbrun, January 1970

Joseph Blickenstaff, Jr., December 1970

David Steger, December 1970

1971

Herbert Mulkey, Jr., March 1971

_________________

Peter Drabic POW September 1968 – March 1973.

05/21/2006 - ked

Baltimore Sun Op-ed: Righting the CIA by Melvin A Goodman

Baltimore Sun Op-ed: Righting the CIA by Melvin A Goodman

Righting the CIA by Melvin A. Goodman Published on Friday, November 19, 2004 by the Baltimore Sun

President Harry S. Truman created the Central Intelligence Agency in 1947 to coordinate the various assessments of the intelligence community and to place the CIA outside the policy community. In this way, Mr. Truman wanted to encourage competitive analysis within the intelligence community and to make sure that policy-makers did not tailor intelligence to suit their interests.

Over the years, there have been many attempts to politicize intelligence. But no government has been so blatant as the Bush administration, which used phony intelligence to justify the war against Iraq and has introduced a new director of central intelligence, Porter J. Goss, to conduct a political housecleaning at the highest levels of the agency.

I joined the CIA in 1966 during the Vietnam War and witnessed a major campaign to ensure that intelligence supported the Johnson administration's troop buildup in Southeast Asia. Working-level analysts correctly estimated the size of the Viet Cong forces and even predicted the Tet offensive in 1966, but time and again, senior officials caved in to Pentagon demands to limit the order of battle for irregular forces and to downplay the strength of Vietnam's military capabilities. After Tet in 1968, the CIA made honest efforts to accurately assess the capabilities and strengths of the enemy.

We are witnessing a similar phenomenon today, with agency analysts trying to improve their Iraqi intelligence reporting after tailoring intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism prior to the war.

[…]

I resigned from the CIA in 1990 because of the politicization of intelligence on the Soviet Union, which was championed by CIA Director William J. Casey and his deputy for intelligence, Robert M. Gates. The overestimates of the strength of the Soviet Union in the 1980s meant that the policy community was completely surprised by the Soviet collapse and missed numerous negotiating opportunities with Moscow.

[…]

Read the entire opinion piece here: Righting the CIA by Melvin A. Goodman Published on Friday, November 19, 2004 by the Baltimore Sun

20041119 Baltimore Sun Op ed Righting the CIA by Melvin A Goodman

20040527 POW Congressman Johnson Hanoi Used Kerry Speech

20040527 POW Congressman Johnson Hanoi Used Kerry Speech

POW Congressman: Hanoi Used Kerry Speech, Gore Comments 'Traitorous'

Thursday, May 27, 2004 11:34 a.m. EDT

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/5/27/113857.shtml

POW Congressman: Hanoi Used Kerry Speech, Gore Comments 'Traitorous'

North Vietnamese jailers at the Hanoi Hilton invoked Sen. John Kerry's 1971 anti-war testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to taunt and demoralize U.S. POWs, Vietnam war hero Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, revealed on Wednesday.

Johnson, who spent six years at the infamous prison camp, also called former Vice President Al Gore's remarks yesterday to the radical left-wing group Moveon.org "traitorous."

Asked if he'd heard about Kerry's speech while he was at the Hanoi Hilton, Johnson told WABC Radio's Mark Levin, "Yes, we did."

"[Hanoi Hilton jailers] played stuff on the loudspeaker darn near 24 hours a day - propaganda, of course - telling us about the 'uprisings' in the United States," he said.

A fighter pilot in both Korea and Vietnam, Johnson was shot down on his 87th combat mission in 1966. He spent three and a half of his six POW years in solitary confinement, during which he was repeatedly tortured and had no contact whatsoever with any other American.

A fellow POW Navy captain recalls that Johnson's first words upon being released from solitary were "Lieutenant Colonel Sam Johnson reporting for duty, sir."

Johnson told Levin that his North Vietnamese jailers found the anti-war activities of actress Jane Fonda, who teamed up with Kerry's Vietnam Veterans Against the War in 1970 and '71, to be particularly useful.

"They played her speech to the guys on the front line, where she talked through a loudspeaker and told them to lay down their arms and quit fighting," he recalled. "And John Kerry was part of that anti-war movement."

"He was a Jane Fonda type, if you will," added Johnson, who referred to Kerry on the House floor last month as "Hanoi John." "That's what most of the POWs refer to him as," he explained.

"[Kerry] let the veterans down. When you're in a war you don't go out there badmouthing your fellow soldiers," he noted, referring to Kerry's 1971 speech. "You know, that's a disservice to the veterans."

"Anybody who comes back and works against the best interests of the United States, in my view, doesn't deserve to be president of the United States," the former fighter ace said.

Johnson also weighed in on former Vice President Al Gore's speech to Moveon.org yesterday, where Gore called on top Bush defense and national security officials to resign.

After Levin played a clip from the Gore speech, the Texas Republican was livid, saying that the comments were "as close to being traitorous as I can think of."

"You know what, we're in a war. I think people ought to stop and think about that," Johnson added. "I think that our [soldiers] are doing such a grand job [in Iraq] that they just need to be commended and not slaughtered by traitorous remarks that I just heard."

"Al Gore is no friend of America the way he was talking in those clips you played," he told Levin. "It's just unbelievable to me that anyone would make comments like that about our nation and the war that we're involved in today."

Rep. Johnson's war decorations include two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals and three Outstanding Unit Awards.

He also served as director of the Air Force "Top Gun" Fighter Weapons School.

Editor's note:

 Breaking: The Real Story About John Kerry`s Vietnam Record – Click Here!