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Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8083
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 12:43 pm: |     |
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/09/01/build/s tate/25-swift-boat.inc
quote:Columbus swift boat vet angry about letter
By LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA
Of The Gazette Staff
COLUMBUS - Swift boat veteran Bob Anderson of Columbus is ticked.
It bothers him that Sen. John Kerry's swift boat history has become such a political hot potato. But he's even more irritated that his name was included - without his permission - on a letter used to discredit Kerry.
"I'm pretty nonpolitical," the 56-year-old Anderson said Tuesday. So, when he found out last week that his name was one of about 300 signed on a letter questioning Kerry's service, he was "flabbergasted."
"It's kind of like stealing my identity," said Anderson, who spent a year on a swift boat as an engine man and gunner.
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Michael Janay
Citizen
Username: Childprotect
Post Number: 762
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 1:03 pm: | |
Official response to Billings Gazette:
From:
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
Post Office Box 26184
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
Billings Gazette
Via Email
To the Editors:
We read with concern “Columbus Swift Boat Vet Angry About Letter” (September 1), and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SwiftVets) wanted to set the record straight.
On April 27, 2004, Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann, U.S. Navy (Ret.), founder and chairman of SwiftVets, wrote an email appeal to many former officers and enlisted men who served in Swift boats and related commands and staffs.
His proposed letter to Senator John Kerry was attached. The Admiral concluded the email with this appeal: "We want you to join us, by lending your name to the letter to Senator Kerry...You need to let us know...[if] we can use your name. You can do so by replying to this email, with a ‘yes’…”
In addition, the Admiral added: "If you have other Swift sailors that you know of who might be interested in this, please forward this email to them..."
Many did forward the Admiral's email to other former Swift boat veterans, and the requested emails with “Yes” rolled in.
On Tuesday, April 27 at 9:43 p.m., an individual who identified himself as Robert Wedge said “yes” in the following email to the Admiral:
"Robert T. Wedge jr.
QM1 USN/Ret.
LST-848
PCF-3,64,67
1967,68,69
YES to Letter"
An individual who identified himself as Robert Andersen said “Yes” in this email to the Admiral May 6:
"Yes; I was on swifts July 1, 1969 to June 23, 1970…bob anderson EN2"
Admiral Hoffmann will endeavor to contact former Petty Officers Anderson and Wedge personally to confirm their desire to be removed from the letter.
If and when confirmed, we will remove their names. In the meantime, we wanted your readers to be aware of the the emails we received.
Additionally, we would ask all journalists to file inquiries with SwiftVets when their stories concern us. Channels for media and public inquiries can be found at www.swiftvets.com.
Sincerely,
Thomas C. Wyld
Communications Coordinator
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
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