During a leadership and ethics class as a young midshipman I had the opportunity to view a video of Jeremiah Denton, a naval aviator shot down in Viet Nam who had the unenviable distinction of being the US serviceman with the longest time spent in solitary confinement as a prisoner of war. The video had been made for propaganda purposes, with Denton asked to admit to “war crimes” – instead he answered, “I don’t know what is happening now in Vietnam, because the only news sources I have are Vietnamese. But whatever the position of my government is, I believe in it, I support it, and I will support it as long as I live.”
He did this while blinking the word “torture” in Morse code, in order to communicate the North Vietnamese standards of care. For his defiance, Denton spent four years in solitary confinement. Upon repatriation he spoke for his fellow POWs saying, “We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America.”
Such examples are hard to live up to, but that’s why we have heroes – to give us something to shoot for.
The California state house was not so welcoming, however: In 2004 a San Diego assemblyman, noting that the assembly had five times celebrated Cinco de Mayo on the house floor, asked for Admiral Denton to speak in celebration of Independence Day. This request was denied by the majority party. Turns out that the Admiral was not just a POW with conservative political leanings, but is unabashedly religious – a characteristic which helped him get through eight years of brutal captivity, but which did not endear him to the Sacramento establishment. The career of a retiring LA Times reporter was celebrated instead.
Different people have different kinds of heroes, I guess.
Admiral Denton turned 85 last week, and remains active on the advisory board of the Thomas More Law Center:
Admiral Denton commented on attaining 85 years, “I am happy to say that I just celebrated my 85th Birthday. While you won’t find me jumping out of an airplane like Bush, Sr. did on his 85th earlier this year, you would find me on the golf course with my sons and ready for the challenge. I am even happier to say that I was able to enjoy my Birthday in good health, with family, friends and the Blessings of God who has kept me around. The Good Lord must render some things I have to say as valuable…
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “Admiral Denton represents everything good about America — a heroic patriot, a devoted husband, father, and a faithful Christian. The Law Center is proud to have him as the Chairman of our Citizens Advisory Board. Honoring him on his birthday is a small tribute to a man that is literally a living legend.”
Living well can be the best revenge.
(Note: Time spent in solitary vice longest confinement edited for accuracy in the first paragraph.)
ADM. Denton will always be celebrated by those who hold dear the same virtues. Those fine people in Kaulifornia? Piss on ‘em.
Could you PLEASE be a mite discriminating about where you aim that thing when ‘doing’ my formerly fine State…I still live here and agree with your completely as to our Leftist-lature. Thank you.
True American hero. Heard him speak many years ago. No bitterness at lost opportunities or missed family time. Instead, as you point out, mightily proud to have served his country under such conditions. And in reading about your state house denying the request for him to speak, just exactly WHY do you live out there and support those lunatics with your tax dollars?
Lex and Byron … What a wonderful man! I am always awestruck at the daily heroism of those captured and held by the enemy. It is so satisfying to know that after his ordeal he continued to serve us civilians in so many ways. And that he’s still alive and healthy and enjoying his family at the age of 85.
A good life lived by a great man. And not over yet, thank the Lord.
Marianne
Sometimes life doesn’t keep kicking people like Adm. Denton in the butt. That he’s 85 and active and still has his faith is just wonderful.
There’s no defense of the California Statehouse for things like this. I’m a fifth generation Californian who can’t live there anymore. Just know that a lot of the people who live in the smaller communities and foothills don’t think this way. They’re just swamped by the voters in LA and the Bay area.
And Happy Birthday to Admiral Denton and his family. A hero indeed.
Our Kalifornia state house is full of absolute fools who have lost touch with those who have made the state great.
I wish we had 100 Admiral Denton’s in that chamber.
I don’t get the State of California. It baffles me that we are even part of the same country. I was telling someone the other day that I feel like I need to boycott buying anything made in California, as some do China and various other countries. I wonder if California will be like Michigan one day, where everyone is trying to get the hell out.
How can someone not WANT to honor the likes of Jeremiah Denton? I’m left shaking my head.
Bou, you’re right: How can anyone NOT celebrate the strength and class exhibited by Jeremiah Denton? I still tear up whenever I see his statement upon exiting the freedom flight from North Vietnam.
But this State is the forerunner for a lot of what you see in America and what our America might become. The elected officials here reflect their constituencies which are highly seasoned with people with poor educations, long held feelings of victimhood now changed to feelings of entitlement after years of being harangued by their leadership along these lines. Same thing has been happening in Washington, D.C., too. And the elected people pander to such feelings with their end goal being to stay in office. And it cannot change without changes in the education system, changes to the attitudes to the kind of education to be given to kids, changes to the policies that encourage illegals and do not enforce our laws. It has taken years for the leftist products of the 60’s / 70’s to get to positions of power in the schools and government, and it’s going to take a couple generations to turn things around, if ever.
Very impressive.
Working on my understatement skills here.
So Lex… when are you leaving that state anyway?
…And if, for some reason, tomorrow California needed Admiral Denton to rescue them…he’d be there for them so fast their heads would spin.
Lex, Living long and well is the best revenge…Admiral Jeremiah Denton’s life being a prime example…his story humbles this mere mortal…God bless him. Best
Everybody send him a belated birthday blast at: info@dentonfoundation.org
Idaho Joe,
We who live in Virginia have the same problem. North Virginia has been overrun by hoards of Marylanders and others of ill repute and they do not share the values of real Virginians.
Lex, your post just proves my theory that the only thing wrong with California is that it is full of Californians.
Best,
N
Nose — It isn’t the Californians that are the problem. Living there, I found them sane, reliable, pretty down to earth. The issue is, all of the lunatics, from across the country, that feel their lunacy will be accepted once they get to the left coast. No, no one understood you where ever you came from, they won’t understand you there.
The whole country tilts to the left, and everything with a screw loose, rolls to Cali. Like my ex brother in law.
As a Californian, I am ashamed of our state legislature, but proud to be one of the people who seek better for the state and will d*mn well NOT let the (many expletives deleted) force me to leave. I think it is a measure of a person’s high esteem and worthiness to be disrespected by such a miserable assembly of self-absorbed, arrogant (more expletives deleted) sorry excuses for public servants as comprise the California legislature. Yes, there are probably good people serving in the legislature, but they are cast into the same shadow of contempt by association. My pitchfork is ready, and I’m looking for some tar and feathers. God bless heroes like Admiral Denton, who remind us what strength of character really means.
That great Hal Holbrooke film, “When Hell was in session” should be required viewing for all persons hoping to serve in our State and Federal Government.
Denton also wrote a book by the same name, which should be required reading.
Indeed. The book is excellent and is on my short list of recommendations. I’m certain, despite not having seen the movie, that the movie doesn’t tell the half of it. Thank God for men like ADM Denton. Happy birthday, and ad multos annos.
Bou raises a good point. I can understand those who opposed the war in Vietnam (SOME of them, at least) but for the elected representatives of a state and a nation that ORDERED Denton to go–he sure didn’t write his own orders–to slap such a man in the face by actions they took is beyond contempt. There surely must be a special place in Hell reserved for people such as they.
Sorry Lex, but fellow Californian Everett Alvarez Jr was the first Navy “guest” of the North Vietnamese and Army pilot Jim Thompson was shot down even before Ev Alvarez.
Or so said Doug Hegdahl when I was enjoying the ambience at Warner Springs many moons ago.
I did see that Denton’s son was practicing law in Va Beach when I was at NAS. Hopefully the family is doing well.
A little of topic, but when in the NAV, on a boat going through over haul, I was flying to San Diego to do pms with the female unit of the time.
Next to me sat CDR Bucher and his son. I recognized him, thanked him for his service, and expressed my awe that he’d done so much for his crew in captivity. He said, “we’re shipmates, then and now.” I had tears in my eyes, knowing he meant that, and my having dolphins on my chest, I might get it. He was pointing at them when he sais that.
This incident regarding ADM Denton is indeed unfortunate if not reprehensible. But do not indict the whole state for this one instance.
California has treated our veterans quite well.
In fact as a California veteran, my children could (and one did) go to any state university, tuition free! CA also offers a non-resident college fee waiver for vets.
As a disabled veteran, CA offers me a set percentage available for state contracts as a business owner. Motor vehicle registration fees are waived. I can have disabled veteran license plates. Former POWs, Pearl Harbor survivors, Purple Heart recipients and Legion of valor recipients have free license plates. Cal Vets have preference in civil service exams. They are eligible for additional cemetery and burial expenses, in addition to the VA. Disabled vets get reduced annual fees for California fishing and hunting licenses. Vets receive employment assistance and unemployment insurance. The can receive CALVET farm and home loans at good discounts. California gave me a lifetime free pass to all California state parks. California offers business owners a business license and tax and fee waiver. Cal offers certain disabled veterans property tax exemptions.
I have found the state of California legislature has been extremely kind and generous in their treatment and assistance to our veterans – better than most other states. Bashing the state for an isolated incident ignores the larger picture.
Also, Adm. Denton was not quite the longest Vietnam POW:
7 years, 7 months ………Jeremiah Denton
8 years, 7 months ………Everett Alvarez
8 years, 355 days ………Floyd J. Thompson longest held POW in our history (…that has returned)
Yeah perhaps wrong to indict the whole state. But every legislator who voted not to invite the Admiral to speak should be ashamed of themselves, as well as any voter who, if equipped with the knowledge of such a voting record, ever pulled the lever by there name in any subsequent election.
I thought Everett Alvarez was in longer?
Col. Thompson was sometimes known as the “forgotten POW.’ He was shot down in an O-1 Bird Dog near Quang Tri March 26, 1964. CDR Alvarez was shot down later, in August of that year.
Because there was little or no publicity about Col. Thompson upon his capture or upon his release compared to the deserved publicity of CDR Alvarez, and because the Viet Cong held Thompson all those years before finally being transferred to Hanoi shortly before his release, very little was known about him…. the forgotten POW.
He had a terrible time in captivity, and great personal troubles after his release. He died in Key West in 2002.
http://www.powmiaff.org/Thompson.html
filterman, Many thanks for the reminder about Col Thompson… alas riding as an observer/strap hanger on a Bird Dog can have its moments…a very sad story indeed. Best
VX,
Nunez has found hell on earth. His son is charged with murdering a college student in San Diego with 3 accomplices. It was several years ago but they are slowly moving it to trial.
And now for something really difficult and unique!
Flit is quite right about California’s generosity for veterans. I will snidely remark that I think most of the legislation was enacted sometime in the 60s when this was still a state governed by reason but I’m sure Flit will instantly offer a rejoinder that some of the legislation is of more recent vintage and may even have been enacted by the wingnuts that run the state to this day and should probably delete this whole paragraph because Flit’s right. darnit.
Still, 80,000 manufacturing jobs moved out of the state over the last couple of years due to the wingnuts in Scremento and for the first time ever, more US citizens moved out of CA then moved in to the tune of a hundred thousand or so. That 100k is the taxpaying base. Oddly, revenues in CA decline even as the taxes go up. There’s probably a Nobel Prize for anybody who can figure out why that happens.
About the time I start missing my home state, something like this happens to remind me why California is a good place to be FROM.
But I’d still kill for a Double Double with a side of fries and a vanilla shake.
A far cry from the Brit soldiers that came home from Iran with goodie bags…
Some of you folks need to think things through a little more carefully.
I was born in California during WW II and am as likely to abandon it as you are (or I am) to abandon the United States. It’s easy to get all wound up over what is wrong with our country (many of you do it daily), but for some reason most of you seem to be staying, and some of you even say that you are “fighting” to take it back from the loons. Is there some reason that I should not be doing the same for the state of my birth?
California was a fine state until the screwballs started moving here from elsewhere. We also have the problem of being too close to a third-world country full of people who want to take advantage (in every sense of the word) of what we have to offer.
Despite being a California veteran, I was unaware that California provides all the benefits to disabled veterans that fliterman lists, but now that I know about them, I feel a bit better about our former legislators — many of whom I no doubt voted for.
Just as the United States has some sane states, California has some sane counties and cities, and I have the good fortune to live in one of them.
You all can do as you please, but I am not abandoning California or the United States to the loons.
[Rant Ends]
UM,
We’re getting together this Friday at Zacolos in Old Town at 1530 if you’re interested. We’re a bunch of old MIUWTANTS with years of overseas service so just ask for Curtis, Jim or Ed. We’ll be out on the patio.
regards,
Curtis
Curtis,
Thank you for the invite, but I’m way too far up the coast to make it to San Diego on a Friday — even though as an alum of SDSU, San Diego is one of my favorite California coastal cities, is probably the most military-friendly place in our state, and I would really enjoy a visit.
Cheers and enjoy the day,
Mike
The people of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah thank the CA legislature for the constant gift of CA business home offices and and wealthy taxpayers.
GB,
If we could only figure a way to get each of those fine states to take a few of our state legislators along with those businesses, we’d be in better shape.
I suspect their voters are far too smart to fall for that — unlike too many of our voters.
The snub of Admiral Denton still leaves me at a loss, just as it did a couple of years ago when it happened…I’d like to say that couldn’t happen here in Jersey but I’m not completely sure. However, the people of NJ have been doing a great job of remembering and honoring our troops from each of the wars.
A couple of months back, the moving wall came to Cherry Hill, NJ for several days. The local post from Cherry Hill that sponsored it did a phenomenal job. One of the most moving aspects for me was when they performed the formal “Missing Man” formation for each of the services with the explanation of each of the items on the table. The men from the post were exceptional and would not take our thanks (my Uncle who was a Phantom B/N on a Stormy mission in 1971 was recognized as one of the local MIAs during the ceremony) because they felt it was their chance to give back and remember their brothers.
G-man – thanks for the link to send birthday wishes to the Admiral.
Fliterman – thanks for remembering the other POWs (especially for including the “returned” remark.
In my above rant I allowed myself to get a little off track and failed to address the issue of the insulting behavior of our (relatively) current state legislature toward Adm Denton. No surprise that it was a San Diego assemblyman who proposed the invitation, and no surprise it was rejected by the majority party.
I recall the headlines when fellow Californian Everett Alvarez, Jr. (from Alameda if my memory serves) was shot down and captured and how glad I was when he was released. It felt like I knew him and that a friend was finally coming home.
Most people that we elected to state and federal legislatures from this state apparently did not share that feeling, nor did they share a respect for the military.
At the federal level, the California congressional delegation was so anti-military that it offered no support to defend any of the military installations in the state during the early BRAC sessions and did not care that Fort Ord, Mather/McClellan AFBs, and various Long Beach Navy operations landed on the chopping block. The financial impact on Monterey, Sacramento, and Long Beach was devastating — and they were shocked. I can no longer recall the numbers, but those of us who owned real estate in those areas (particularly Sacramento and Long Beach) had an early opportunity to enjoy the real estate bubble bursting as well-paying jobs disappeared by the thousands.
California had an early jump on legislative incompetence, and the majority of our voters are working hard to maintain it.
But many of us — especially those with military service — remember our POWs and MIAs and have no intention of forgetting them. It will be a long, up-hill slog, but we will do all we can to get things back on track.
UM,
Ron Dellums was almost my critter in Congress when I lived in Emeryville and he was Chair of the House Armed Services Committee when the BRAC rolled through the Bay Area. Hunter’s Point had already been closed; God knows how, but the BRAC recommended closing Treasure Island, Alameda Naval Air Station, Oak Knoll Navy Hospital, Vallejo and the Submarine Base, the Weapon Station and Moffet Navy Air Field. I think they also got something horrible done to Travis AFB and of course Fort Ord. Dellums the pacifist watched this clean sweep of every military base in the region and did nothing as did Willie Brown, Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi. Right now I think all that is left is NPGS and DLI in Monterrey and that tiny offshoot of Vandenberg above Half Moon Bay which is part of the Pacific Missile Range.
Curtis,
It is beyond belief that I forgot about Dellums and the damage he did (and continues to do) to the Bay Area — Oakland in particular these days. My mind must be fading faster than I thought.
Why a guy who came from a family of labor organizers would become a Marine has always puzzled me. Why he became a self-described Socialist does not. I suppose the Socialists embrace the sorry excuse for a legislator, and I trust the Marines have struck his name from their roles. And he is now the mayor of Oakland — what were they thinking?
I recall many trips to Oak Knoll Navy Hospital as a child. One of my uncles had a long Navy career (pre-WW I to post-WW II), and for reasons I can no longer recall, he spent a few stints at Oak Knoll around the time of the Korean War (probably heart attacks or strokes in post retirement). We kids were sent to the hospital’s theater while the adults did whatever adults did, and I have very fixed memories of all the sailors in blue PJs and bath robes with arms/legs in casts or missing arms/legs. I always presumed they were sailors because it was a Navy hospital, but I suppose now that I think about it they could have been from any service.
How much better off the entire Bay Area would have been had the military facilities you listed remained. Good paying jobs filled with well-educated and well-trained people. Instead, the political opportunists you mention hastened the base closures, and look what’s left. They, however, have done well for themselves. Their constituents? Not so well.
To be fair to Feinstein, I have mixed feelings about her and have probably voted for her about half the time (depending how incompetent her Republican opponent strikes me). On the other hand, I never have and never will vote for Boxer. Wasn’t Feinstein San Francisco’s mayor back around the BRAC time? Seemed that on balance she did a pretty good job of that — at least as much as anyone could with that city.
On a happier note, I trust that you and your pals had a pleasant afternoon/evening at Zacolos yesterday.
UM,
I think your right about Feinstein being mayor at the time but I remember she led the drive to forbid the navy to homeport a battleship in the Bay Area. I’m pretty sure Willie Brown was no improvement after she was elected to the Senate. I came back from a one year tour overseas and found that the entire military industrial complex in the Bay Area was closing and all the jobs were going away and oddly, NOBODY cared. It was weird. I saw APL move its base of operations from San Francisco to cross the bay because they were tired of doing business with Baghdad by the Bay. OTOH, they finally got rid of Candlestick Park after building a great downtown stadium. A few years later I went back with 3rd Fleet to make arrangements for Fleet Battle Experiment E and found agreement everywhere we went which, after the demonstration landings in Monterrey outraged the Bay Area radicals and led to the withdrawal of all city and local agreed support. I’ll never forget the Marine Colonel who led the organizing for FBE E being interviewed by the Chronicle or some such and saying, and this is paraphrased, he was Marine, all Marines are riflemen and are trained to kill and that there sure were a lot of people in San Francisco that he wanted to kill.
I wonder what ever happened to them…..
We had a great time!
[...] Heroes Among Us – This kind of thing is one of the main reasons I so often rip on both politicians and journalists: they celebrate all the wrong things. [...]