These Men Died in Vietnam While GW Bush & Cheney were Cowards

http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/04/02.html

Winning the Hearts and Minds of Americans: The Battle for Democracy in Our Homeland, Part III

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

Third in a Series of BuzzFlash Editorials

These Men Died in Vietnam While George W. Bush and Dick Cheney Avoided Combat Like Cowards

Right now, hundreds of American soldiers are dying and being wounded in a war that was sold to Americans on a shifting desert sand of lies. Most of the men who are responsible for sending our brave young men off to die were themselves cowards (Chickenhawks) who supported the Vietnam War, but sent other young men to die in their places.

The top two Chickenhawks, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, had different excuses to explain the yellow streaks down their backs. Dick Cheney said he was too busy to go to Vietnam. George W. Bush said he was too busy patrolling the skies of Texas. The reality is that both of them spent most of the Vietnam War boozing themselves up (and in George W's case indulging in some white candy on the side).

In memory of the young men in Vietnam who died in combat so that George and Dick could save their hides and guzzle down the booze, we are posting this BuzzFlash editorial.

Here are the young men from Midland, Texas, (Bush's hometown) who died in Vietnam in place of George W. Bush, as he stayed in Texas afraid to go to war:

(1) LASTNAME: CUTBIRTH FIRSTNAME: KENDELL DWAYNE IDNO: 1912851 SVC: M COMP: R RANK: SSG GRADE: E6 MOS: 0369 AGE: 23 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19670225 CAS1: A1 CAS2: G CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 01 LSVC: 06 BIRDATE: 19430429 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: ------ PANL: 15E LINE: 089 REFNO: 2287 PDATE: 6702

(2) LASTNAME: DYER FIRSTNAME: IRBY III IDNO: 458709452 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SGT GRADE: E5 MOS: 91B40 AGE: 23 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19661202 CAS1: A3 CAS2: B CAS3: 6 BODY: BNR CTRY: LA PROV: LZ LSVC: ** BIRDATE: 19430612 RACE: C REL: 99 MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 661202 PANL: 13E LINE: 004 REFNO: 133 PDATE: 6701

(3) LASTNAME: GUERRERO FIRSTNAME: ANDREW CASTRO IDNO: 449984505 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: CPL PP: + GRADE: E3 MOS: 11B10 AGE: 19 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19701217 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 02 LSVC: ** BIRDATE: 19510516 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 700619 PANL: 06W LINE: 127 REFNO: 28717 PDATE: 7012

(4) LASTNAME: HALL FIRSTNAME: BRUCE IDNO: 18742754 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 11B2P AGE: 19 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19671227 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 09 LSVC: 02 BIRDATE: 19480516 RACE: C REL: BO MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 671003 PANL: 32E LINE: 072 REFNO: 9539 PDATE: 6712

(5) LASTNAME: HODGES FIRSTNAME: RUFUS WELDON IDNO: 54388226 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 67V20 AGE: 21 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19690117 CAS1: C1 CAS2: B CAS3: 6 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 26 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19471017 RACE: C REL: BO MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680518 PANL: 34W LINE: 024 REFNO: 3232 PDATE: 6901

(6) LASTNAME: HOLLEY FIRSTNAME: GLYNN BYRON IDNO: 566821922 SVC: F COMP: R RANK: A1C GRADE: E3 MOS: ----- AGE: 20 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19691226 CAS1: C2 CAS2: L CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 11 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19490527 RACE: C REL: CC MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 691206 PANL: 15W LINE: 093 REFNO: 427 PDATE: 6912

(7) LASTNAME: LOPEZ FIRSTNAME: PAULINO GUTIERREZ IDNO: 54382708 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: PFC GRADE: E3 MOS: 11B10 AGE: 23 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19670722 CAS1: A2 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 25 LSVC: ** BIRDATE: 19440622 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 670501 PANL: 23E LINE: 106 REFNO: 7260 PDATE: 6707

(8) LASTNAME: MC KINNEY FIRSTNAME: CECIL CURTIS IDNO: 18728047 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP5 GRADE: E5 MOS: 91B2P AGE: 22 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19681005 CAS1: A1 CAS2: I CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 02 LSVC: 02 BIRDATE: 19460926 RACE: C REL: BO MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 670520 PANL: 41W LINE: 014 REFNO: 17621 PDATE: 6810

(9) LASTNAME: NIEDECKEN FIRSTNAME: RAYMOND ALVIS IDNO: 2353821 SVC: M COMP: R RANK: PFC GRADE: E2 MOS: 0311 AGE: 20 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19671228 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 03 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19470812 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 671117 PANL: 32E LINE: 088 REFNO: 5441 PDATE: 6712

(10) LASTNAME: SATTERFIELD FIRSTNAME: HOWARD EUGENE IDNO: 525660321 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP5 GRADE: E5 MOS: 94B20 AGE: 37 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19700829 CAS1: C2 CAS2: U CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 02 LSVC: ** BIRDATE: 19320909 RACE: C REL: 99 MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 700219 PANL: 07W LINE: 023 REFNO: 5556 PDATE: 7008

(11) LASTNAME: SEGOVIA FIRSTNAME: RAUL LERMA IDNO: 54388602 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 11B20 AGE: 20 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19690130 CAS1: C1 CAS2: V CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 07 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19480330 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680909 PANL: 33W LINE: 022 REFNO: 3271 PDATE: 6901

(12) LASTNAME: SIMMONS FIRSTNAME: TRAVIS A JR IDNO: 7715206 SVC: N COMP: V RANK: HM3 GRADE: E4 MOS: HM3 AGE: 23 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19670316 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 05 LSVC: 02 BIRDATE: 19430827 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: ------ PANL: 16E LINE: 098 REFNO: 240 PDATE: 6703

(13) LASTNAME: STALL FIRSTNAME: WILLIAM ROBB IDNO: 2303522 SVC: M COMP: R RANK: LCPL GRADE: E3 MOS: 0846 AGE: 20 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19680118 CAS1: A1 CAS2: G CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 01 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19470214 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 670922 PANL: 34E LINE: 071 REFNO: 5613 PDATE: 6801

(14) LASTNAME: TAYLOR FIRSTNAME: SELVWYN RISHER IDNO: W3161245 SVC: A COMP: V RANK: WO GRADE: W1 MOS: 061B AGE: 31 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19690316 CAS1: C1 CAS2: B CAS3: 1 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 30 LSVC: 12 BIRDATE: 19371218 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680819 PANL: 29W LINE: 056 REFNO: 3435 PDATE: 6903

(15) LASTNAME: WATSON FIRSTNAME: GARY EUGENE IDNO: 54387872 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 11B20 AGE: 24 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19680403 CAS1: A1 CAS2: H CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 06 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19440318 RACE: C REL: CC MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 670725 PANL: 47E LINE: 057 REFNO: 12830 PDATE: 6804

(16) LASTNAME: ZONNE FIRSTNAME: ROBERT JOHN JR IDNO: 462620728 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: CPT GRADE: O3 MOS: 0200 AGE: 27 HOME: MIDLAND ST: TX CASDATE: 19700420 CAS1: C1 CAS2: B CAS3: 6 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 25 LSVC: 04 BIRDATE: 19420528 RACE: C REL: EP MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 690718 PANL: 11W LINE: 029 REFNO: 5085 PDATE: 7004

Here are young men from Casper, Wyoming, (Dick Cheney's hometown), who died in Vietnam in place of Cheney, who said that he had "important things" that kept him from fighting for his beliefs:

(1) LASTNAME: BARNES FIRSTNAME: ROBERT EUGENE IDNO: 16915925 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 91B20 AGE: 20 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19680607 CAS1: A1 CAS2: G CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 27 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19480502 RACE: C REL: PB MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680102 PANL: 59W LINE: 019 REFNO: 15220 PDATE: 6806

(2) LASTNAME: BYERS FIRSTNAME: JERRY DUANE IDNO: 55874873 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 91B20 AGE: 20 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19670301 CAS1: A1 CAS2: E CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 23 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19460717 RACE: C REL: BO MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 660823 PANL: 15E LINE: 126 REFNO: 4983 PDATE: 6703

(3) LASTNAME: CARDENAS FIRSTNAME: LEROY ROBERT IDNO: 54905640 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: PFC GRADE: E3 MOS: 11B10 AGE: 23 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19690604 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 23 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19460511 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 690407 PANL: 23W LINE: 062 REFNO: 22646 PDATE: 6906

(4) LASTNAME: ENDICOTT FIRSTNAME: RICHARD LEROY IDNO: OF104722 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: CPT GRADE: O3 MOS: 1542 AGE: 25 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19680430 CAS1: A1 CAS2: E CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 42 LSVC: 02 BIRDATE: 19421114 RACE: C REL: LU MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680303 PANL: 53E LINE: 011 REFNO: 13624 PDATE: 6804

(5) LASTNAME: GROVE FIRSTNAME: ROBERT WOODROW IDNO: 306455 SVC: M COMP: R RANK: GSGT GRADE: E7 MOS: 0369 AGE: 47 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19650218 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 11 LSVC: 20 BIRDATE: 19170301 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: ------ PANL: 01E LINE: 092 REFNO: 13 PDATE: 6502

(6) LASTNAME: HANDY FIRSTNAME: WALTER ELMER IDNO: 54901810 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: PFC GRADE: E3 MOS: 64B20 AGE: 26 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19680313 CAS1: A1 CAS2: V CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 08 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19410927 RACE: C REL: AD MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 671216 PANL: 44E LINE: 036 REFNO: 12378 PDATE: 6803

(7) LASTNAME: HOLLAND FIRSTNAME: CARLTON JAKE IDNO: O2270112 SVC: A COMP: V RANK: CPT GRADE: O3 MOS: 82162 AGE: 36 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19650209 CAS1: A3 CAS2: H CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 99 LSVC: 18 BIRDATE: 19280531 RACE: C REL: BO MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: ------ PANL: 01E LINE: 086 REFNO: 200 PDATE: 6502

(8) LASTNAME: KASTNER FIRSTNAME: RICHARD THOMAS IDNO: 520563368 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: PFC GRADE: E3 MOS: 11B10 AGE: 20 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19691115 CAS1: A1 CAS2: G CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 14 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19490227 RACE: C REL: RC MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 690924 PANL: 16W LINE: 080 REFNO: 25172 PDATE: 6911

(9) LASTNAME: NIX FIRSTNAME: VERNON WALTER III IDNO: 16915371 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SSG PP: + GRADE: E5 MOS: 11B4P AGE: 19 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19680429 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 02 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19481216 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680402 PANL: 53E LINE: 003 REFNO: 14026 PDATE: 6805

(10) LASTNAME: PATRICK FIRSTNAME: DOUGLAS TYRONE IDNO: 55809144 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: PFC GRADE: E3 MOS: 11H10 AGE: 19 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19660806 CAS1: C1 CAS2: C CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 99 LSVC: 00 BIRDATE: 19460828 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 660609 PANL: 09E LINE: 108 REFNO: 597 PDATE: 6608

(11) LASTNAME: REBERG FIRSTNAME: CHARLES WAYNE IDNO: 16914092 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SGT PP: + GRADE: E4 MOS: 11C2P AGE: 20 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19680421 CAS1: A1 CAS2: H CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 02 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19471030 RACE: C REL: LU MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 671201 PANL: 51E LINE: 024 REFNO: 13662 PDATE: 6804

(12) LASTNAME: SWEENEY FIRSTNAME: RICHARD JOHN IDNO: 54903457 SVC: A COMP: Y RANK: SP4 GRADE: E4 MOS: 11B20 AGE: 21 HOME: CASPER ST: WY CASDATE: 19690223 CAS1: A1 CAS2: D CAS3: 7 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 22 LSVC: 01 BIRDATE: 19470904 RACE: C REL: LU MAR: S SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680623 PANL: 31W LINE: 025 REFNO: 19992 PDATE: 6902

Why is this BuzzFlash.com memorial to Vietnam combat fighters presented as Part III of our editorial series "Winning the Hearts and Minds of Americans: The Battle for Democracy in Our Homeland"?

Why? Because nothing more vividly illustrates the gap between the image of Bush and Cheney as "wise, seasoned leaders of a nation at war" than their cowardliness in supporting the Vietnam War while running from combat with a yellow streak down their backs.

Most Americans don't even know that Bush and Cheney let other young Americans die in their places. In large part, that's because Al Gore and the Democrats never made it an issue in the 2000 election, even though Gore was a Vietnam Veteran who volunteered for service. Gore was just not the kind of guy to make it an issue. That was a big mistake. It means that Gore lost the chance to define Bush as the phony, radical hypocrite that he really is.

The Bush/Cheney Vietnam evasion also plays a significant role in understanding how an ill-prepared war cabinet composed primarily of Vietnam Chickenhawks put our young soldiers at risk by overruling the advice of Pentagon generals, analysis from the CIA, and common sense in launching an ill-advised war.

Here's another example of the gap between image and reality in terms of the Bush administration and military affairs. While Karl Rove is getting the likes of Bush contributor "Clear Channel Radio" to sponsor thinly veiled -- and thinly attended -- pro-war rallies, Bush is decimating programs, medical services and financial support for veterans. But do you hear the Democratic leadership making a daily case pointing out the betrayal of our veterans by the Bush administration? The answer is "No."

The image of the Bush administration as a pro-military one is an illusion. They are a pro-military contracts for contributors administration. In order to restore democracy to America, in order to win back the hearts and minds of Americans, the Democrats are going to have to start revealing the truth behind the Bush Cartel veil of lies.

They should start by memorializing the men who died in Vietnam because Bush and Cheney did not have the courage of their convictions to serve their nation in combat, even though they were gung-ho for other young men to die in a war they supported in word, but not in deed.

And now, young men are again dying in a war that no child of Bush or Cheney or Ashcroft or Powell or Rumsfeld or Perle or Wolfowitz runs the risk of dying in. Because it is not a war for the children of rich Republicans.

When the Bush Cartel gets Clear Channel to run "Support Our Troops" rallies, what they really mean is "support the troops of poor and middle class Americans who are fighting for oil and tax cuts for the children of wealthy people like us. They are expendable."

The men who died in Vietnam from Midland, Texas, and Casper, Wyoming, gave their lives for our Constitution and our freedoms. Let's make sure that they didn't die in vain.

The American people support the war in Iraq based on the deceptions, propaganda and misinformation that they have been told by the Bush administration (Iraq involvement in 9/11; Iraqis as the 9/11 hijackers; Saddam being ready to attack the U.S.; imminent threat of Iraq nuclear capability; significant links between Iraq and Al Qaeda; a quick and easy war). These claims went basically unchallenged by the Democratic leadership.

If Americans had known the truth, more people would had been opposed to the war than supported it.

It's time for the Democratic leadership to stand up for democracy and show that the robe of the emperor is composed of cloth cut from a bolt of lies.

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

* * *

Also see:

Part I: The "Infallibility" of America's God King
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/31.html

Part II: The Democratic Leadership Doesn't Even Have a Clue
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/04/01.html

BuzzFlash Note: The names of soldiers who died serving America in the Vietnam War are listed at http://www.no-quarter.org/index.html. Our gratitude to BuzzFlash reader Rick for bringing this information to our attention.

* * *

The Perfect War
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/27.html

We are in a Nation Ruled by Madmen Who Will Bury the U.N.
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/21.html

Endgame
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/17.html

The U.N. "Win-Win" for the Bush Cartel: Security Council Supports Iraq War Or U.N. Disbands
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/04.html

George W. Bush Can't Tell the Difference Between a Democracy And a Puppet Government
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/03.html

There Tom Daschle Goes Again
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/02/06.html

In Just Two Weeks, Rumsfeld Insults, Disparages and Demeans Veterans, the French, the Germans and the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The Ship of Fools is Running Our Ship of State
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/01/27.html

Welcome to the Muscle Beach Party
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/01/23.html

who were in 'Nam while AWOL and his buddy stayed home. AWOL respects them so much that he made sure to CUT FUNDING to disabled vets, and make it harder to get to a VA hospital. These clowns are not only cowards, they have no respect for the fighting men and women of our country.