To: Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Robe...
A Call To Fellow Vietnam & Veterans Of Other Conflicts
The Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Gentlemen:
It is with great sadness and angst that we, the undersigned Vietnam veterans and veterans of subsequent conflicts feel compelled to ask that you refuse the President’s demand for a “military parade” to rival the French Bastille Day Parade.
Such a parade to aggrandize himself is an affront to all of us who served in theater and especially to our brothers and sisters we left behind and who have passed since from their wounds to body, mind or soul.
To pander to the megalomania of a draft dodger is an insult of the highest order.
Further, as parents and grandparents of men and woman now serving, we are further enraged at the CIC’s contempt to Gold Star families.
To hold such a spectacle is not to honor those who have served nor those who do; rather, it is the act of a tin-pot banana republic narcissist stroking his own ego. Indulging his fantasies dishonors our service.
We, who took the oath, served to preserve and protect the Constitution of the Republic, not to aggrandize would be warriors.
With deep respect for your service, leadership, and adherence to a moral code of conduct:
Daniel B. Kelly, USN
V-1 Division, USS Kitty Hawk
Vietnam, 1966-1967
Joe Paul Patterson, USMC
1st Marines
Vietnam, 1967 - 1967
Burks Hunt, CPO, USN
MACV/JCRC (Tri-country team)
Vietnam, 1971-1973
R Ward Reilly U.S. Army
First Infantry Division-Germany
1971-1974
Thom Walker PR2 USN
1968-1971
Robert G. Karpinski
101st Airborne
Korea
1948-1951
Joseph Kawa
D Co., 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Reg
Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Jon R. Floyd, Capt. USMC
1964-1971, VMA (AW) - 533, Chu lai, Vietnam
Thomas E. Rodgers, Lt Col
USAF ret, 428TFS, Thailand, 1973
Terry L Hilliard
Charlie Company 1/12 Cavalry
First Cavalry Division
Vietnam 1965-1966
John Stryhal USN
Submarine service
1961-1968
Fred Wiand, Maj., USAF (Ret)
AF, Vietnam
1965.
Larry Vladick
11Bravo
Rebel Gunship door gunner
1st Infantry Div.
Vietnam 67-68
Robert Doyon, USN
1966-68
70% Disabled PTSD...
Penni Evans
Red Cross Doughnut Dollie
In-country, Vietnam
1970-1971
William Clothier,
HM3, USN
FMF Corpsman
1stMarDiv, I Corps
1966-67.
Karen Offutt
US Army
MACV, Vietnam
1969-1970
William N. Brissette, USN
ETR2, Lead ET, Operations Intelligence Division
U.S.S. Richard E. Kraus DD - 849
1964 - 68 Vietnam DAV
PFC Arthur Jackson, USMC (Ret)
1st Battalion/1st Marines/1st Mar Div
Vietnam 1966
Douglas A. Yelmen USN
01-19-1965 to 08-15-1968
Assault Craft Unit ONE, SE Asia I Corps, 1968.
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Gentlemen:
It is with great sadness and angst that we, the undersigned Vietnam veterans and veterans of subsequent conflicts feel compelled to ask that you refuse the President’s demand for a “military parade” to rival the French Bastille Day Parade.
Such a parade to aggrandize himself is an affront to all of us who served in theater and especially to our brothers and sisters we left behind and who have passed since from their wounds to body, mind or soul.
To pander to the megalomania of a draft dodger is an insult of the highest order.
Further, as parents and grandparents of men and woman now serving, we are further enraged at the CIC’s contempt to Gold Star families.
To hold such a spectacle is not to honor those who have served nor those who do; rather, it is the act of a tin-pot banana republic narcissist stroking his own ego. Indulging his fantasies dishonors our service.
We, who took the oath, served to preserve and protect the Constitution of the Republic, not to aggrandize would be warriors.
With deep respect for your service, leadership, and adherence to a moral code of conduct:
Daniel B. Kelly, USN
V-1 Division, USS Kitty Hawk
Vietnam, 1966-1967
Joe Paul Patterson, USMC
1st Marines
Vietnam, 1967 - 1967
Burks Hunt, CPO, USN
MACV/JCRC (Tri-country team)
Vietnam, 1971-1973
R Ward Reilly U.S. Army
First Infantry Division-Germany
1971-1974
Thom Walker PR2 USN
1968-1971
Robert G. Karpinski
101st Airborne
Korea
1948-1951
Joseph Kawa
D Co., 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Reg
Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Jon R. Floyd, Capt. USMC
1964-1971, VMA (AW) - 533, Chu lai, Vietnam
Thomas E. Rodgers, Lt Col
USAF ret, 428TFS, Thailand, 1973
Terry L Hilliard
Charlie Company 1/12 Cavalry
First Cavalry Division
Vietnam 1965-1966
John Stryhal USN
Submarine service
1961-1968
Fred Wiand, Maj., USAF (Ret)
AF, Vietnam
1965.
Larry Vladick
11Bravo
Rebel Gunship door gunner
1st Infantry Div.
Vietnam 67-68
Robert Doyon, USN
1966-68
70% Disabled PTSD...
Penni Evans
Red Cross Doughnut Dollie
In-country, Vietnam
1970-1971
William Clothier,
HM3, USN
FMF Corpsman
1stMarDiv, I Corps
1966-67.
Karen Offutt
US Army
MACV, Vietnam
1969-1970
William N. Brissette, USN
ETR2, Lead ET, Operations Intelligence Division
U.S.S. Richard E. Kraus DD - 849
1964 - 68 Vietnam DAV
PFC Arthur Jackson, USMC (Ret)
1st Battalion/1st Marines/1st Mar Div
Vietnam 1966
Douglas A. Yelmen USN
01-19-1965 to 08-15-1968
Assault Craft Unit ONE, SE Asia I Corps, 1968.
Why is this important?
I ask that you read and consider joining me in my letter to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in opposition to the military parade demanded by Trump.