Where is Kerry on POW/MIA issue?
Guest View by Robin Goodman
Special to The Augusta Free Press
My father is still missing in action in Laos - Robert Duval Owen, MIA May 23, 1968.
I was present at the 1992 Senate Hearings concerning the POW/MIAs that Sen. John Kerry headed with Sen. John McCain.
Sen. Kerry went on national television and stated that any veteran who might still be in Southeast Asia was there on his own accord. I took great exception with his statement and had the opportunity to express this to him during his lunch break in the cafeteria of, I believe, the Russell building.
I approached him and said, "Excuse me, Sen. Kerry, but I believe I understood you to state that any veterans still alive in Southeast Asia are there because they want to be?" His reply was a proper napkin to his mouth and a nod. I said, "Well, I would have to disagree with your assumption. I don't believe that the live sighting reports, satellite photo imagery and the hundreds of refugee reports that have been flowing out of Laos since the early 1980s concerning 568 Air Force pilots and highly trained special-forces soldiers could possibly be the same group of men you think abandoned their country and families because they suddenly thought that hoeing rice would make for a better life."
My father joined the military when he was 14, lied about his age, was discovered at 16, put out, rejoined at 18 and was on his third tour of Vietnam and Laos when he was reported MIA just two years shy of possible retirement from the military.
It would also be interesting to note that during this hearing it was discovered that the Defense Intelligence Agency had reversed all the negatives of the live sighting locations, and for almost an entire day of testimony from refugees, no one seemed to be telling the truth because the photos didn't line up with their stories of locations.
However, during a long lunch break, Billy Hendon and others discovered what was wrong and had it all corrected. Of course, the DIA stated it was a terrible mistake.
Second, it is worth noting that the conclusion of the hearings did result in the knowledge and stated fact that America knowingly did leave men behind; however, no one now knows where they are, or how to bring them home, (if any are alive today). Just after this during Dessert Storm, we were able to show the world how we could place missiles through openings and windows on bunkers; but we can't identify satellite photo imagery of living Americans on the ground in Southeast Asia. Right!
Nothing terrifies me more, not even the idea of terrorists, as much as thinking that John Kerry might be this country's next president.
It makes my father's status as MIA meaningless because this country will go straight to hell fast if he succeeds in winning this office.
God help us all!
Robin Goodman resides in Wilmington, N.C.
The views expressed by op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect those of management of The Augusta Free Press.