Kerry's love for the human race detailed

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Kerry's love for the human race detailed
4
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 2:05pm
George Bates, an officer in Coastal Division 11, participated in numerous operations with Kerry. In UNFIT FOR COMMAND, Bates recalls a particular patrol with Kerry on the Song Bo De River. He is still "haunted" by the incident:

With Kerry in the lead, the boats approached a small hamlet with three or four grass huts. Pigs and chickens were milling around peacefully. As the boats drew closer, the villagers fled. There were no political symbols or flags in evidence in the tiny village. It was obvious to Bates that existing policies, decency, and good sense required the boats to simply move on.

Instead, Kerry beached his boat directly in the small settlement. Upon his command, the numerous small animals were slaughtered by heavy-caliber machine guns. Acting more like a pirate than a naval officer, Kerry disembarked and ran around with a Zippo lighter, burning up the entire hamlet.

Bates has never forgotten Kerry's actions.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-2004
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 6:44pm
Are you talking about the Song Bo Dieu River????
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 10:14pm
Does the name of the river matter much? I'd think the description of the event would cause more concern... it'd be nice if Kerry could discuss his war crimes in more detail, we are left to wonder is this one of the war crimes he admitted to?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 11:22pm
Yes the correct spelling of the river is important & the location. John Kerry went on many missions up and down different rivers while serving his country in Vietnam.



Do you think situations like this "never" happened during a war? I'm not saying that it is right. If you think it “never” happens you are living in dreamland.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 11:45pm
I believe the swiftvets are attempting to articulate the nature of the war crimes and atrocities Mr. Kerry spoke of performing while employed by the Navy... Kerry seems unwilling to this point to provide us with details... shooting a mostly naked kid in the back... certainly does cast Kerry's service in a slightly different light... if true... doesn't it? Kerry could be more helpful by trying to recall some of his atrocities in detail for the record.