No More Swiftboating Allowed

July 26, 2005 B. John 201 Views

Eric Minamyer, an advisor to Jean Schmidt (R), running for Congress in Southern Ohio, sees fit to question Paul Hackett’s service to this country in Iraq. How dare he. Hackett is a Democrat running against Ms. Schmidt, and, if elected, would be the only Iraq War veteran in Congress.

I understand that Hackett did not participate in combat at all. … Let’s just not act as though we led marines in combat if we did not, okay.

Paul Hackett served as a civil affairs officer. ELEVEN members of various civil affairs units have given their lives serving overseas in the Iraqi theater. One was just 19 years old. With his words, Eric Minamyer shamefully denigrates the sacrifices all these civil affairs soldiers and marines made.

The entire COUNTRY is a warzone. These civil affairs men and women put themselves at risk just by going over there – IEDs do not discriminate, nor do insurgents, nor does disease.

Whether you drove a truck down the airport road to Baghdad or led the Iraqi equivalent of the charge over Bunker Hill, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve faced combat. This is fourth generation war, not chessmen at Agincourt. Paul Hackett and his men faced violent death every day. Hell, he served in Fallujah. Would you like to visit Fallujah? Just asking.

So, memo to the GOP: We won’t let you get away with Swift Boating another heroic Democratic war veteran. And we won’t let you desecrate the memories of the eleven civil affairs men and women who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Shame on you for even trying.

B. John

Records and Content Management consultant who enjoys good stories and good discussion. I have a great deal of interest in politics, religion, technology, gadgets, food and movies, but I enjoy most any topic. I grew up in Kings Mountain, a small N.C. town, graduated from Appalachian State University and have lived in Atlanta, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Dayton and Tampa since then.