[Editor's note:  The following interchange between the Vietnam P.O.W. Strike Force and George Bush Jr. would be amusing if it wasn't so serious and disgusting.]

NATIONAL VIETNAM P.O.W. STRIKE FORCE

2615 Waugh Drive, Suite 217

Houston, Texas 77006-2799

(713) 680-3181 VOICE (713) 680-3185 FAX

George W. Bush

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

State Capitol

Austin, TX 78711

FAX 512-463-1849

In response to your letter to me of 10/2/97.  I don't believe your father wants me to visit him again.  His previous explanation of events was unsatisfactory and I do not feel that further meetings would be productive or cordial.

Secondly, I do not need to consult your father or anyone else for "accuracy" on Vietnam POW/MIAs.  I belong to over 20 veteran organizations and have attended every major event and congressional hearing on this issue in the last decade.  My personal photo and data band on POW/MIAs is the largest outside the U.S. Government.  I am a decorated Vietnam combat veteran and a former analyst on Vietnam for the National Security Agency.  I am recognized by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as one of the five most notorious POW/MIA activists in America today.

Thirdly, it is incomprehensible to me that you would have the temerity and the audacity to write me a letter using the words honor and respect in connection with the war in Vietnam in view of the non-participation of you and all your brothers in that was and the shabby treatment and relegation to second-class citizens given Vietnam Veterans by the People of Texas in general and your office in particular.

DISRESPECT AND DISHONOR TOWARDS VIETNAM VETERANS AND POW/MIA FAMILIES BY PRESIDENT BUSH, GOVERNOR BUSH AND THE STATE OF TEXAS

(1) President Bush's record is historical fact: He did not account for even one live POW/MIA during his administration.  As CIA Director, he most certainly would have known of the underground prison at Nui Ten Teo in Vinh Phu Province where live American POWs are being held at this moment. This facility is like our "Iron Mountain" underground White House in W. VA.  No American POW Investigation team has even been allowed there.  As CIA Director, Bush could have ordered a raid on the camp without higher approval but chose not to.

(2) On Jan. 1st, 1994, our group led a protest at the "Mobil Cotton Bowl".  Mobil was the first large U.S. Corporation to come out of the closet and advocate normalization for Hanoi.  We were evicted from the State Fairgrounds by jack-booted thugs of the DPD.  There is a marble statue on the grounds with the names of the 144 POW/MIAs from Texas.  The mother of a POW/MIA in our group was told she would be arrested if she went to see here son's name instead of immediately leaving the fairgrounds.

(3) At President Bush's last speech in office at Texas A&M, a mother of a POW/MIA stood up and said, "What about my son?"  She was detained by jack-booted thugs of the Secret Service.

(4) September 19th was POW/MIA Recognition Day.  The black POW flag was ordered flown at the White House, all federal buildings and 42 State Capitols.  Governor Bush SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED the flag from being flown in Texas.  This caused State Senator Jerry Patterson (Texas A&M, USMC Fighter Pilot & Nam Vet) to become enraged and enter legislation mandating the flying of the flag.

And people wonder why Vietnam Veterans feel alienated!  When I cam home in uniform in 1969, I was spit on by hippies in California.  Men I served with who were last seen alive in the hands of the enemy were abandoned by the U.S. Government and betrayed by the America people.  Today we have draft-dodging cowards like Governor Bush and President Clinton living in elegant mansions and getting schlepped around in bullet-proof stretch limos at taxpayer expense while the men who did their fighting for them struggle to make ends meet, while our service and sacrifice to our country goes unrewarded and unappreciated and our missing brothers are forgotten.  In further correspondence with me, Governor, please refrain from using the words duty, honor, country and respect as those words are beyond your ability to comprehend.

Joe L. Jordon

USN Squadron VQ-1

DaNang 1967-68

* Original letter to the editor, Houston Chronicle available by FAX to interested parties.

[Note: Map of underground mountain POW prison in North Vietnam on page 8.]

***

Source:  CONTACT: THE PHOENIX PROJECT, October 21, 1997, Volume 18, Number 9, Pages 7-8.

http://www.phoenixarchives.com/contact/1997/1097/102197.pdf

Transcribed into HTML format by R. Montana.