John Forbes Kerry draped himself in the flag and, with his little salute in Boston, made his Vietnam service the main reason to trust him and vote for him for president. We owe respect and gratitude to all Vietnam-era veterans, including the politicians, like Sen. John Kerry, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Bob Kerrey, who lost part of one leg in Vietnam and won the Medal of Honor. But unlike almost all other Vietnam vets, including other politicians, Sen. Kerry brags about his service. He made it the centerpiece of his political campaign.

Apparently that was the last straw for some 250 other Swift Boat veterans of all political stripes, who thought America should have the facts. Did Sen. Kerry respond to their charges? Did he release his service records completely (as President Bush has)? No, he attacked the other veterans personally and promoted the false (and irrelevant) charge that the Republicans put them up to it.

Did the major media examine the charges against Sen. Kerry? Did the press call him to account for exaggerating his record and slandering all his fellow veterans? No. Its response was largely the same as Sen. Kerry’s, attack the swiftees and promote the bogus charges about their motives and support.

Read “Unfit for Command” (if you can get it), visit SwiftVets.com, and reach your own conclusions about Sen. Kerry’s character. You won’t get any meaningful response from him.

Bryan Dench, Poland