Vietnam War Secrets, an eleven-hour DVD series was released in January 2008 by BCI a division of Navarre Corp. It features full-length interviews with General Nguyen, former Prime Minister of South Viet-Nam; Colonel Phong Ngoc An, commander of the South Vietnamese Air Force combat operations center; and, Frank Snepp, chief CIA analyst in Sai Gon from 1972 until April 29, 1975, the day before Sai Gon was captured by the North Vietnamese Army.
Also, if features rare film from the National Liberation Front (NLF) better known as the Viet Cong and the Pathet Lao in Laos. Plus it has an incredible episode about the secret war in Cambodia. Also included are rare films from the defunct Republic of Viet-Nam about the February and May 1968 attacks against Sai Gon and rare footage of U.S. Marines fighting during February 1968 in Hue, the former Imperial city.
Additionally, there is an incredible film report about the fighting at Khe Sanh, near the demilitarized zone during January and February 1968.
The four disc series is available at Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, and Borders stores and websites plus amazon.com
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Nixon and Mao
Richard Nixon and entourage departed the White House during the morning of February 17, 1972 for his historic trip to China and meeting with Chairman Mao. Strangely, the farwell ceremony did not include any demonstrators although several, young schoolchildren were almost arrested by White House policemen for displaying a sign.
However, anti-Communist Republicans, pro-Taiwan Chinese, and militant Viet-Nam veterans were not in appearance during the morning ceremony at the White House south lawn. Ironically, U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Barry Goldwater accompanied Mr. Nixon on his trip, apparently to confirm that the Chinese were not red.
Approximately, 5000 people including 1500 school-children from Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland attended the orchestrated, fifteen-minute, farewell ceremony in near-freezing weather. The children and their teachers had not been informed they were important props for Mr. Nixon's departure speech.
The President told the small crowd, assembled in roped-areas that the United States and China must "find a way to see that we can have differences without being enemies at war. If we can make progress toward that goal on this trip, the world will be a much safer world and the chance particularly for all of those young children over there to grow up in a world of peace will be infinitely greater." As he spoke those words, he pointed to the children shivering in the cold. However, Mr. Nixon's vision of peace had not been relayed to White House police.
When a group of giggling children raised a hand-painted sign that said "Be a nice guy to Chou En-lai," three White House policemen rushed over and grabbed it. The children were admonished but not arrested. Obviously, as usual, Mr. Nixon considered any type of demonsration threatening to his carefully orchestrated world.
The departure ceremony at the White House was very unusual because normally the President departed on foreign trips from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland with a simple ceremony only attended by Cabinet members. The White House press secretary later revealed that 6,200 invitations had been issued to ranking Administration officials, their families, and loyal government employees.
After, the brief speech, Mr. Nixon walked along a line of Cabinet members and Congressional leaders, shaking their hands. He was followed by Pat Nixon, his wife, who was wearing a full-length, blond mink coat. She also shook hands and touched arms. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nixon kissed their daughters, Tricia and Julie.
Then they were led by Secretary of State William P. Rogers and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger to the waiting U.S. Marine helicopter for a brief flight to Andrews Air Force Base where Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, was waiting. As heavy snow began falling, Air Force One departed at 10:36 a.m. for Honolulu, Hawaii where the Nixons and their entourage rested for 46 hours.
The Nixons stayed with Brigadier General Victor Armstrong, commander of the First Marine Brigade. It remains unknown how much money was spent by the U.S. Marine Corps to prepare for the visit and dinner parties.
The Nixons departed on Saturday for Guam where they spent the night. The next day the President and his party departed for Shanghai, China for a brief refueling stop. Air Force One arrived in Beijing during Monday at 11:40 a.m. (Beijing time) which was 10:40 p.m. during Sunday in Washington, D.C. The Beijing arrival was broadcast live by satellite to the United States and presented by all three television networks.
Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were welcomed by Premier Chou En-lai but no welcoming speeches were made. Instead, the Peoples Liberation Army band played the Star Spangled Banner.
Two planes with government officials, technicians, journalists and security personnel had preceded the arrival of Air Force One.
The following day Mr. Nixon met with Chairman Mao. That was approximately five months before Jane Fonda made her famous trip to Ha Noi, the capital of North Viet-Nam. Ironically, conservative politicians did not chastise Mr. Nixon for embracing Mao and diplomatically recognizing Red China. Yet, five months later they vocally attacked Ms. Fonda.
Also, the same psuedo-patriots never attacked Mr. Kissinger, who during his prior visit to China had told Chou En-lai that the United States would unilaterally withdraw from Viet-Nam, regardless of what President Thieu of South Viet-Nam said or did.
During the official welcome dinner in Beijing, Mr. Nixon gave a brief speech during which he quoted Chairman Mao: "This is the day, this is the hour." In reality, it was the end of U.S. presence in Viet-Nam because Mr. Nixon considered Viet-Nam a unnecessary burden in his quest to be an historic, world statesman. Jane Fonda's trip to Ha Noi, was meaningless. Mr. Nixon had previously decided to abandon Viet-Nam. This was the day, this was the hour.
Special thanks to Richard Nixon Library. Edward Rasen.
However, anti-Communist Republicans, pro-Taiwan Chinese, and militant Viet-Nam veterans were not in appearance during the morning ceremony at the White House south lawn. Ironically, U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Barry Goldwater accompanied Mr. Nixon on his trip, apparently to confirm that the Chinese were not red.
Approximately, 5000 people including 1500 school-children from Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland attended the orchestrated, fifteen-minute, farewell ceremony in near-freezing weather. The children and their teachers had not been informed they were important props for Mr. Nixon's departure speech.
The President told the small crowd, assembled in roped-areas that the United States and China must "find a way to see that we can have differences without being enemies at war. If we can make progress toward that goal on this trip, the world will be a much safer world and the chance particularly for all of those young children over there to grow up in a world of peace will be infinitely greater." As he spoke those words, he pointed to the children shivering in the cold. However, Mr. Nixon's vision of peace had not been relayed to White House police.
When a group of giggling children raised a hand-painted sign that said "Be a nice guy to Chou En-lai," three White House policemen rushed over and grabbed it. The children were admonished but not arrested. Obviously, as usual, Mr. Nixon considered any type of demonsration threatening to his carefully orchestrated world.
The departure ceremony at the White House was very unusual because normally the President departed on foreign trips from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland with a simple ceremony only attended by Cabinet members. The White House press secretary later revealed that 6,200 invitations had been issued to ranking Administration officials, their families, and loyal government employees.
After, the brief speech, Mr. Nixon walked along a line of Cabinet members and Congressional leaders, shaking their hands. He was followed by Pat Nixon, his wife, who was wearing a full-length, blond mink coat. She also shook hands and touched arms. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nixon kissed their daughters, Tricia and Julie.
Then they were led by Secretary of State William P. Rogers and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger to the waiting U.S. Marine helicopter for a brief flight to Andrews Air Force Base where Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, was waiting. As heavy snow began falling, Air Force One departed at 10:36 a.m. for Honolulu, Hawaii where the Nixons and their entourage rested for 46 hours.
The Nixons stayed with Brigadier General Victor Armstrong, commander of the First Marine Brigade. It remains unknown how much money was spent by the U.S. Marine Corps to prepare for the visit and dinner parties.
The Nixons departed on Saturday for Guam where they spent the night. The next day the President and his party departed for Shanghai, China for a brief refueling stop. Air Force One arrived in Beijing during Monday at 11:40 a.m. (Beijing time) which was 10:40 p.m. during Sunday in Washington, D.C. The Beijing arrival was broadcast live by satellite to the United States and presented by all three television networks.
Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were welcomed by Premier Chou En-lai but no welcoming speeches were made. Instead, the Peoples Liberation Army band played the Star Spangled Banner.
Two planes with government officials, technicians, journalists and security personnel had preceded the arrival of Air Force One.
The following day Mr. Nixon met with Chairman Mao. That was approximately five months before Jane Fonda made her famous trip to Ha Noi, the capital of North Viet-Nam. Ironically, conservative politicians did not chastise Mr. Nixon for embracing Mao and diplomatically recognizing Red China. Yet, five months later they vocally attacked Ms. Fonda.
Also, the same psuedo-patriots never attacked Mr. Kissinger, who during his prior visit to China had told Chou En-lai that the United States would unilaterally withdraw from Viet-Nam, regardless of what President Thieu of South Viet-Nam said or did.
During the official welcome dinner in Beijing, Mr. Nixon gave a brief speech during which he quoted Chairman Mao: "This is the day, this is the hour." In reality, it was the end of U.S. presence in Viet-Nam because Mr. Nixon considered Viet-Nam a unnecessary burden in his quest to be an historic, world statesman. Jane Fonda's trip to Ha Noi, was meaningless. Mr. Nixon had previously decided to abandon Viet-Nam. This was the day, this was the hour.
Special thanks to Richard Nixon Library. Edward Rasen.
Monday, January 28, 2008
U.S. Supports Viet-Nam Coup d'etat
General Nguyen Khanh during January 29,1964 met with U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge in Sai Gon and accused generals Tran Van Don, Le Van Kim and Mai Huu Xuan of plotting to negotiate with the National Liberation Front, more commonly known as the Viet Cong. The generals were leaders of the Military Revolutionary Council, then ruling southern Viet-Nam. They had led the coup d'etat which toppled President Ngo Dinh Diem during November 1, 1963. General Khanh had supported them during the 1963 coup.
Less than twelve hours after meeting with Ambassador Lodge, Khanh with the support of generals Tran Thien Khiem and Le Van Nghiem, seized control of the Military Revolutionary Council. Khiem was angry with Le Van Kim, who seized his government position. Kim was a high-ranking member of the old Dai Viet political party, which long had opposed Ngo Dinh Diem and Diem's family.
Despite all the propaganda about fighting the Viet Cong, the real battle always had been between Catholics who supported Diem, the Dai Viet party, the Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, and other political groups and of course the Buddhist temple leaders, who represented most of the people. Of course, President Lyndon Johnson nor his advisors ever told such to the American people. It was much easier to pretend the United States was helping a struggling democracy resist Communist aggression.
Moreover, Diem's repressive dictatorship had forced many nationalist groups to join the National Liberation Front in order to survive. The internal battle for control of southern Viet-Nam was always far greater than the external until Spring 1972.
Less than twelve hours after meeting with Ambassador Lodge, Khanh with the support of generals Tran Thien Khiem and Le Van Nghiem, seized control of the Military Revolutionary Council. Khiem was angry with Le Van Kim, who seized his government position. Kim was a high-ranking member of the old Dai Viet political party, which long had opposed Ngo Dinh Diem and Diem's family.
Despite all the propaganda about fighting the Viet Cong, the real battle always had been between Catholics who supported Diem, the Dai Viet party, the Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, and other political groups and of course the Buddhist temple leaders, who represented most of the people. Of course, President Lyndon Johnson nor his advisors ever told such to the American people. It was much easier to pretend the United States was helping a struggling democracy resist Communist aggression.
Moreover, Diem's repressive dictatorship had forced many nationalist groups to join the National Liberation Front in order to survive. The internal battle for control of southern Viet-Nam was always far greater than the external until Spring 1972.
WAR ENDS
War ended thirty-five years ago in Viet-Nam duing January 28, 1973 at 2400 hours Greenwich Mean Time per the Paris Peace Accord signed January 27th. the final artillery rounds were fired at 0805 (8:05 a.m.) local time Viet-Nam.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel William B. Nolde of Mount Pleasant, Michigan was killed by an artillery shell at An Loc in Binh Long Province, eleven hours after the cease-fire commenced. He is listed on the Viet-Nam War Memorial as the last official casualty of the conflict.
However, U.S. Army Warrant Officer First Class Anthony Dal Pozzo, Jr., from Santa Barbara, California was wounded by small-arms fire approximately two-hours before the ceasefire while flying a UH1H "Huey" from the 18th Aviation Company into Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. He died the following day.
The Army of the Republic of Viet-Nam (ARVN) at the time of the ceasefire, had approximately thirteen infantry divisions and seven Ranger groups, plus various paramilitary and home-guard units. Almost all were in static, defensive positions near major cities and towns.
The Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) 2,075 fixed-wing aircraft assembled in sixty-five squadrons with 61,147 personnel not counting U.S. military advisors and civilian technicians. Additionally, the ARVN and the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) had 929 helicopters, all U.S. made. While the numbers are impressive, major problems existed because VNAF lacked qualified pilots and maintenance technicians. Plus, the ARVN and VNAF did not have the supply and maintenance sources or budgets of their counterpart U.S. military services.
Within two years less than half of the aircraft were in operation and many had been stripped for parts.
The Peoples Army of Viet-Nam (PAVN) had fifteen infantry divisions and twenty-seven seperate infantry and sapper regiments in southern Viet-Nam, supported by various local-force guerrilla units ranging in sized from companies to regiments.
U.S. Navy fighter-bombers stationed on the USS Constellation operating at "Yankee Station" off northern Viet-Nam, were diverted to alleged military targets in Laos, which was not covered by the Peace agreement. However, the United States previously had signed an agreement in Geneve, Switzerland, which prohibited any type of U.S. military activity in Laos.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel William B. Nolde of Mount Pleasant, Michigan was killed by an artillery shell at An Loc in Binh Long Province, eleven hours after the cease-fire commenced. He is listed on the Viet-Nam War Memorial as the last official casualty of the conflict.
However, U.S. Army Warrant Officer First Class Anthony Dal Pozzo, Jr., from Santa Barbara, California was wounded by small-arms fire approximately two-hours before the ceasefire while flying a UH1H "Huey" from the 18th Aviation Company into Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. He died the following day.
The Army of the Republic of Viet-Nam (ARVN) at the time of the ceasefire, had approximately thirteen infantry divisions and seven Ranger groups, plus various paramilitary and home-guard units. Almost all were in static, defensive positions near major cities and towns.
The Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) 2,075 fixed-wing aircraft assembled in sixty-five squadrons with 61,147 personnel not counting U.S. military advisors and civilian technicians. Additionally, the ARVN and the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) had 929 helicopters, all U.S. made. While the numbers are impressive, major problems existed because VNAF lacked qualified pilots and maintenance technicians. Plus, the ARVN and VNAF did not have the supply and maintenance sources or budgets of their counterpart U.S. military services.
Within two years less than half of the aircraft were in operation and many had been stripped for parts.
The Peoples Army of Viet-Nam (PAVN) had fifteen infantry divisions and twenty-seven seperate infantry and sapper regiments in southern Viet-Nam, supported by various local-force guerrilla units ranging in sized from companies to regiments.
U.S. Navy fighter-bombers stationed on the USS Constellation operating at "Yankee Station" off northern Viet-Nam, were diverted to alleged military targets in Laos, which was not covered by the Peace agreement. However, the United States previously had signed an agreement in Geneve, Switzerland, which prohibited any type of U.S. military activity in Laos.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Peace Agreement Announced
President Richard Nixon at the White House during January 23, 1973, (35 years ago as of date during 2008) announced a peace agreement had been concluded regarding the Viet-Nam War. The so-called Paris Peace Accord was signed in Paris by representatives for the United States, the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam (North Viet-Nam), the Republic of Viet-Nam (South Viet-Nam), and the National Liberation Front (South Viet-Nam).
The primary point of agreement was a cease-fire scheduled to commence five days later during the morning of January 28th. Also, the United States agreed to terminate all combat activities in north and south Viet-Nam. However, since the governments of Laos and Cambodia or their opponents did not participate in the negotiations or agreement, the two countries are not included. Subsequently, this will become a major problem for the United States.
Nixon touted the Peace Accord as a great accomplishment but in reality the agreement was less favorable to the United States than a similar agreement signed during October 1972. And although many pro-war warriors later blamed the U.S. Congress for abandoning South Viet-Nam, they were either ignorant, delusional, or addicted to war.
National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, also was the chief negotiator for the United States during the four year negotiations. Mr. Kissinger, prior to becoming National Security Advisor, was a professor at Harvard University, who taught International Diplomacy and Relations. He had received his doctorate degree from Harvard in the same subject.
Later in his memoirs, Kissinger said Nixon's messages to President Thieu of South Viet-Nam were the most brutal in the history of diplomacy. Bui Diem, South Viet-Nam's ambassador to the United States from 1967 to 1972 and then Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy to the Paris Peace confirmed the same in his memoirs: "The final decision by Sai Gon to sign the Agreements came after a rather painful exchange of messages between Presidents Nixon and Thieu --- almost everyday during the week prior to signing --- with some of the messages couched in the toughest language that diplomatic practice has ever seen."
Nixon during January 16, 1973 had ordered General Alexander Haig to visit President Thieu in Sai Gon and inform him the United States would unilaterally sign a treaty with North Viet-Nam if Thieu did not sign the agreement. Haig carried a signed message from Nixon which bluntly stated: "I am firmly convinced that the alternative to signing the present agreement is a total cutoff of funds to assist your country... If you refuse to join us, the responsibility for the consequences rests on the Government of South Viet-Nam."
Thieu resisted Nixon's threats because the Agreement established the National Liberation Front as a legitimate political party and legitimate political representative of all territory it controlled. Also, North Vietnamese Army units were allowed to remain in southern Viet-Nam. But, Nixon did not care about Thieu or South Viet-Nam. He had endlessly promised a signed Peace Accord before the November 1972 presidential election and used such to politically emasculate Senator George McGovern, the Democratic Party candidate, who campaigned on an anti-war platform.
If Nixon did not deliver the promised Peace agreement, he faced rebellion in the U.S. Congress and attacks from both conservative and liberal political pundits. Moreover, his Peace pledge had produced one of the greatest victories in the history of presidential elections. If he did not deliver, he faced public outrage. And, Dick Nixon was not going to jeopardize his popularity for worthless South Viet-Nam.
So, Dick Nixon during January 20th sent one more message to Nguyen Van Thieu, which simply and bluntly stated: "If you cannot give me a positive answer by 1200 (hours) Washington time, January 21, 1973, I shall authorize Dr. Kissinger to initial the agreement even without the concurrence of your government." Plus, Nixon told General Haig to remind Thieu that if he did not sign, Nixon would order all aid terminated to South Viet-Nam within forty-eight hours after the Unites States signed such. Also, Nixon told Thieu he would hold a press conference and announce that Thieu was solely responsible for preventing peace in Viet-Nam.
The collapse of South Viet-Nam was implemented by President Richard Nixon not the U.S. Congress, or Jane Fonda, or anti-war demonstrators, or hippies, or liberal journalists, or draft-dodgers like Richard "Dick" Cheney. This is the real story about the Paris Peace Accords and relations between the United States and South Viet-Nam during January, 1973. All subsequent rhetoric and verbal attacks against the Congress and media are just rants from psuedo-patriots or ignorant men with bruised egos who do not want to confront the truth.
Special thanks Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Bui Diem.
The primary point of agreement was a cease-fire scheduled to commence five days later during the morning of January 28th. Also, the United States agreed to terminate all combat activities in north and south Viet-Nam. However, since the governments of Laos and Cambodia or their opponents did not participate in the negotiations or agreement, the two countries are not included. Subsequently, this will become a major problem for the United States.
Nixon touted the Peace Accord as a great accomplishment but in reality the agreement was less favorable to the United States than a similar agreement signed during October 1972. And although many pro-war warriors later blamed the U.S. Congress for abandoning South Viet-Nam, they were either ignorant, delusional, or addicted to war.
National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, also was the chief negotiator for the United States during the four year negotiations. Mr. Kissinger, prior to becoming National Security Advisor, was a professor at Harvard University, who taught International Diplomacy and Relations. He had received his doctorate degree from Harvard in the same subject.
Later in his memoirs, Kissinger said Nixon's messages to President Thieu of South Viet-Nam were the most brutal in the history of diplomacy. Bui Diem, South Viet-Nam's ambassador to the United States from 1967 to 1972 and then Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy to the Paris Peace confirmed the same in his memoirs: "The final decision by Sai Gon to sign the Agreements came after a rather painful exchange of messages between Presidents Nixon and Thieu --- almost everyday during the week prior to signing --- with some of the messages couched in the toughest language that diplomatic practice has ever seen."
Nixon during January 16, 1973 had ordered General Alexander Haig to visit President Thieu in Sai Gon and inform him the United States would unilaterally sign a treaty with North Viet-Nam if Thieu did not sign the agreement. Haig carried a signed message from Nixon which bluntly stated: "I am firmly convinced that the alternative to signing the present agreement is a total cutoff of funds to assist your country... If you refuse to join us, the responsibility for the consequences rests on the Government of South Viet-Nam."
Thieu resisted Nixon's threats because the Agreement established the National Liberation Front as a legitimate political party and legitimate political representative of all territory it controlled. Also, North Vietnamese Army units were allowed to remain in southern Viet-Nam. But, Nixon did not care about Thieu or South Viet-Nam. He had endlessly promised a signed Peace Accord before the November 1972 presidential election and used such to politically emasculate Senator George McGovern, the Democratic Party candidate, who campaigned on an anti-war platform.
If Nixon did not deliver the promised Peace agreement, he faced rebellion in the U.S. Congress and attacks from both conservative and liberal political pundits. Moreover, his Peace pledge had produced one of the greatest victories in the history of presidential elections. If he did not deliver, he faced public outrage. And, Dick Nixon was not going to jeopardize his popularity for worthless South Viet-Nam.
So, Dick Nixon during January 20th sent one more message to Nguyen Van Thieu, which simply and bluntly stated: "If you cannot give me a positive answer by 1200 (hours) Washington time, January 21, 1973, I shall authorize Dr. Kissinger to initial the agreement even without the concurrence of your government." Plus, Nixon told General Haig to remind Thieu that if he did not sign, Nixon would order all aid terminated to South Viet-Nam within forty-eight hours after the Unites States signed such. Also, Nixon told Thieu he would hold a press conference and announce that Thieu was solely responsible for preventing peace in Viet-Nam.
The collapse of South Viet-Nam was implemented by President Richard Nixon not the U.S. Congress, or Jane Fonda, or anti-war demonstrators, or hippies, or liberal journalists, or draft-dodgers like Richard "Dick" Cheney. This is the real story about the Paris Peace Accords and relations between the United States and South Viet-Nam during January, 1973. All subsequent rhetoric and verbal attacks against the Congress and media are just rants from psuedo-patriots or ignorant men with bruised egos who do not want to confront the truth.
Special thanks Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Bui Diem.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
DIAN PARKINSON ENTERTAINS TROOPS
Dian Parkinson entertained U.S. troops in Viet-Nam as part of the 1965 Bob Hope Christmas tour. However. Bob presented her as Dianna Lynn Batts, which was her real name, and as Miss USA even though she was fourth runner-up.
Miss Batts told the troops her measurements were 37-23-37 and that she was born at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina because he father was a U.S. Marine.
Miss Batts later became famous as one of the longest-appearing female assistants to Bob Barker on the television program Price Is Right. After departing the program she sued Bob Barker for sexual harassment and extortion.
She was last known to be living in south Florida. If you know where she is, please send the information to vnsecrets@gmail.com because we would like to interview her about the Bob Hope tour.
Miss Batts told the troops her measurements were 37-23-37 and that she was born at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina because he father was a U.S. Marine.
Miss Batts later became famous as one of the longest-appearing female assistants to Bob Barker on the television program Price Is Right. After departing the program she sued Bob Barker for sexual harassment and extortion.
She was last known to be living in south Florida. If you know where she is, please send the information to vnsecrets@gmail.com because we would like to interview her about the Bob Hope tour.
JOHN McCAIN SURVIVES CRASH
John S. McCain, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander was shot down over Ha Noi, Viet-Nam during October 26, 1967, while piloting an A-4E (#149959) fighter-bomber from the USS Oriskany. The starboard wing of his aircraft was hit by a Surface-to-Air SA-2 missile, which the Soviet Union supplied to the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam (DRV), better known as North Viet-Nam.
McCain ejected over central Ha Noi and landed in a small lake in the center of the city. He almost died by drowning because both his arms and one leg broke during ejection from the aircraft. Apparently, the U.S. Navy after more than three years of flying bombing missions against North Viet-Nam had not improved aircraft ejection seats.
McCain was captured and held prisoner for five and one-half years until being released during March 14, 1973, approximately, two weeks before the last American troops departed Viet-Nam.
McCain remained in the U.S. Navy after returning from North Viet-Nam but retired so he could campaign during 1982 as a Republican candidate in Arizona for the U.S. House of Representatives. Then during 1986 he won the U.S. Senate seat long held by Barry Goldwater, the former Republican presidential candidate against Lyndon Johnson during the 1964 election.
McCain ran for president during 2000 and lost the nomination to George Bush, Jr. after losing the Republican primary in South Carolina where the Bush organization distributed tens of thousands of letters and flyers alleging McCain was linked to Charlie Keating, the kingpin of the savings and loan scandal in Arizona. Also, the Bush organization spread rumors that McCain had a baby with a black woman although his daughter had been adopted from Mother Therea's orphanage in India.
And, the Bush election committee used psuedo-patriot Ted Sampley to attack McCain as a secret agent for North Viet-Nam, acting as a so-called "sleeper agent" per the Manchurian Candidate film character.
tip of the hat to Elect George Bush, Jr. Committee.
McCain ejected over central Ha Noi and landed in a small lake in the center of the city. He almost died by drowning because both his arms and one leg broke during ejection from the aircraft. Apparently, the U.S. Navy after more than three years of flying bombing missions against North Viet-Nam had not improved aircraft ejection seats.
McCain was captured and held prisoner for five and one-half years until being released during March 14, 1973, approximately, two weeks before the last American troops departed Viet-Nam.
McCain remained in the U.S. Navy after returning from North Viet-Nam but retired so he could campaign during 1982 as a Republican candidate in Arizona for the U.S. House of Representatives. Then during 1986 he won the U.S. Senate seat long held by Barry Goldwater, the former Republican presidential candidate against Lyndon Johnson during the 1964 election.
McCain ran for president during 2000 and lost the nomination to George Bush, Jr. after losing the Republican primary in South Carolina where the Bush organization distributed tens of thousands of letters and flyers alleging McCain was linked to Charlie Keating, the kingpin of the savings and loan scandal in Arizona. Also, the Bush organization spread rumors that McCain had a baby with a black woman although his daughter had been adopted from Mother Therea's orphanage in India.
And, the Bush election committee used psuedo-patriot Ted Sampley to attack McCain as a secret agent for North Viet-Nam, acting as a so-called "sleeper agent" per the Manchurian Candidate film character.
tip of the hat to Elect George Bush, Jr. Committee.
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