I disagree with Mr. Garlock’s assertion: “In 2004 the Swiftboat veterans made a mistake ... in starting their campaign going after the validity of Kerry’s medals.”

Quite to the contrary, Swiftboat’s collective series of lies and innuendo had the effect of neutralizing the comparison between the decorated Kerry, and the draft-dodging Bush. In the end, Kerry’s service became a liability while Bush continued to skate on his AWOL.

I guess Mr. Garlock disagrees with himself as well, as he immediately launched an attack on the validity of Kerry’s first Purple Heart, and then implicitly slandered Kerry’s other Purple Hearts and his Silver Star.

Now just for the record, a Purple Heart is a threshold medal. To get one, you have to be wounded in battle. The military does not require you lose an arm or require a colostomy bag. Garlock’s discussion of his friends and the false captain is specious, particularly as regards the validity of Kerry’s Purple Heart. Mr. Garlock did not serve with Lt. Kerry, nor did most of the so called Swiftboat Veterans for Truth.

The enlisted men who actually did serve under Kerry on two separate boats, with the exception of one very disgruntled individual, say that Kerry was a courageous, effective officer and Swiftboat captain. The captain of the other boat involved in the incident for which Kerry received the Silver Star vouched for Kerry’s version of events. Whom do you want to believe?

I wonder why Mr. Garlock is so concerned about Kerry’s medals? You might think he would give the benefit of the doubt to a fellow Vietnam veteran. You might think. At the same time you might notice that the officers who comprise Swiftlie coalesced about the same time Kerry was giving his testimony to the Fulbright Commission. Some intellectual honesty from Mr. Garlock might reveal his complete distaste with Kerry’s testimony all those years ago.

How to get to Kerry? Slander his war record like you were a witness. Acknowledge his wound, but let us know it wasn’t much. Get other guys who were kind of around, but not in position to really see the action to cast doubt on his bravery.

Now let’s talk about something on which I am an expert. For five years I served on a panel of officers which selected individuals to attend Air Force Pilot Training with the view to returning to our squadron to fly A-10s. I can say unequivocally that someone with George Bush’s resume would not have lasted the first cut, much less been our final pick for a very competitive position.

Bush scored in the 25th percentile on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test. Not very impressive for a Yale graduate. Most importantly, George Bush had never evinced an interest in flying in general, or military flying in particular. With no flying time, and no contact with the unit on any continuing basis, we would have doubted his commitment. And as it turned out....

We would have been correct. Bush flew the F-102 for a little over two years. When he applied for pilot training, he had signed a contract agreeing to serve for five years after pilot training. The implication was that he would FLY for five years. He asked to be released from flying and his Guard unit said OK.

In the military, we don’t like people flying our jets who don’t want to fly. It’s important to understand what went on here. Bush used his political pull to get a very rare National Guard Pilot Training slot after his student draft deferment ran out. He then flew the jet for only two years, including the six months he trained on the F-102.

Anyone who understands this process will tell you that even had he fulfilled the letter of his service, the spirit of the agreement and the normal understanding were grossly violated. There was nothing “honorable” in Bush’s service, whatever those chicken hawks at the National Review say about it.

Also there is no way to track the history of the guy who got drafted instead of Bush. Obviously he didn’t have political pull. Maybe he woke up dead in Vietnam, instead of George W. Bush.

So if Mr. Garlock wants to open old wounds, let’s open them all. Let’s review all citations to accompany the award of.... Let’s require numerous witnesses, maybe some who weren’t even there. Let’s drag honorable, brave men who have served their country well through ancient quagmires. Or let’s just shut up about things we don’t know, and attack things political, politically.

And, Mr. Garlock, if you’re looking for men who failed in their duty, start with the White House and the pathetic individual who unfortunately for all of us, is its current occupant.

Timothy J. Parker
LTC CTANG (Ret)
Peachtree City, Ga.

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