The Boston Manifesto:

A Statement by a Group of Vietnam Veterans
Explaining their Outrage Over the Nomination of
Senator John F. Kerry to be President of the United States

Prepared by the Vietnam Veterans to Correct the Myths
October 18, 2004 © 2004 by VVCM

This document may be reproduced in full or in part and distributed on a not-for-profit basis without further permission so long as credit is given to the original source. You may post any of the files listed below on your website under the same conditions. Non-profit veterans organizations wishing to reproduce and sell copies for the purpose of raising funds should request permission from Steve Sherman , PO Box 926032, Houston, TX 77292-6032. Phone: 713-683-9076 Email: [email protected]

CLICK BELOW FOR .PDF Files:
(Formatted for 5.5"x 8.5" but may be printed/scaled to fit letter-sized page)
Boston Manifesto (Full Text)
Executive Summary
Images Section
Boston Manifesto (Text Body)

Important Links:
Admiral/Senator Jeremiah Denton on the Vietnam War (Video)
Epilogue to Unfit for Command (Free)
Stolen Honor (Video Excerpts and Order Form)

Note

For four days beginning on July 26, 2004, a group of Vietnam veterans, scholars, and experts—including recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, several former Special Forces officers and enlisted men, and veterans who have taught about the war at the high school, college, and graduate school levels —gathered at a small college in Boston to examine the “Myths of the Vietnam War.”* Their hope was to take advantage of the renewed interest in the war resulting from the expected nomination of Senator John F. Kerry as the Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States to promote a national dialogue about Vietnam, its myths, and legitimate lessons. After the conference formally adjourned, several of the participants expressed a strong sense of betrayal over the conduct of John Kerry after his return to the United States following brief service in Vietnam and voiced outrage over his nomination. Soon others joined the conversation, and a consensus was reached to set forth some of the reasons for this widespread outrage. The statement that follows is the result of that effort. It is a consensus effort, and not every veteran who was in the room necessarily agrees with every point made. We do agree that the election of John Forbes Kerry as President of the United States would be yet another betrayal of those who served honorably in Vietnam and remain proud of that service, which public opinion polls tell us includes more than 90 percent of all Vietnam veterans. For the purpose of preparing and releasing this document we have informally organized ourselves as the “Vietnam Veterans to Correct the Myths” (VVCM), an unincorporated voluntary association. No funds have been raised or expended in the name of VVCM, which does not endorse any specific candidate for public office All views expressed are those of the individuals involved. We release this Manifesto on the Internet to be considered on its own merits. Others may distribute it, endorse it, ignore it, or attempt to refute it at their pleasure. Should Mr. Kerry wish to debate our facts or conclusions, we will be most happy to accommodate him.

For further information, contact: Stephen Sherman,
Vietnam Veterans to Correct the Myths
PO Box 926032, Houston, TX 77292-6032
Phone: 713-683-9076 Email: [email protected]


* For the proceedings of this conference, see http://www.Viet-Myths.net.