Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Upcoming election and Vietnam

Dear Editor,

Note on this date, Aug. 10, I attended our 65th High School reunion. Thank you, Larry K. and Jack R. for your kind words and encouragement to continue writing. Rest assured I will not be intimidated. I believe in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Amendments to our Constitution, my critics do not. I was an Air soldier some 50 years ago and still believe in the Oath I took in May of 1963 to become a commissioned officer in the United States Airforce. As a bomber pilot noted, -"If I'm taking FLAK I know I'm over the target".

Note to Bill Keller, Good Job - Well Done!!!

To our many readers; Greeting and Salutations - Thus:

From the very first view of the V.P. candidate I did not feel I could trust Gov. Tim Walz to be an upright American. The more I learn of his background; I was correct. He is a Socialist/Marxist, and a betrayer of his ANG unit and the oath he took. Also, I have learned that due to his actions attempting to curb COVID-19 infection he killed more seniors than Gov. Cuomo of New York. Way to go Tampon TIM! Following the so-called EXPERTS was not the right thing to do. All should have allowed Clinical Physicians to practice the medicine they knew though successes that did not do further HARM and likely would have saved many lives.

In regards to my good friends latest letter (Bill Keller); I did a TDY deployment to the SEA Theater starting in October of 1968. I volunteered for a Young Tiger tour as a kC-135 Stratotankes copilot Based at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. There we refueled F-105's, F-111,s and B-52,s. My scheduled date of separation was the following 8th of December. Sharon was not happy with my volunteering for this mission as it was so close to my active duty separation, but I felt my comrades were in trouble and were sacrificing daily to achieve victory in Vietnam that later proved to be impossible. Anyway I was spared a crash that could have taken my life; another crew took the hit. I came home whole they did not but came home in four coffins. At one point in that war we were losing (KIA) 100 good soldiers a day. I am grateful for each day I live in the greatest Country on this Earth. It is obvious that the left/Marxist takeover of the Democrat party wishes to destroy what I have enjoyed for the past 83 years of life

Recently at a Quiet Birdman Hangar meeting we watched a Youtube video by Capt. Barry Barnhill, F-105 Thud pilot "Going down Town" our losses were terrible. My own experience at that time was - something isn't right, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. As Capt. Barnhill pointed out some twenty years after his Combat tour, he discovered as did the rest of us the stupid handling of intelligence by Pres Lyndon Johnson, Sec. Def. Robert McNamara, Sec. State Dean Rusk (Democrats) --- they telegraphed the strike targets of the F-105's to the Swedish Embassy to be passed on to the North Vietnamese one day before the scheduled strike; giving up our most vital intelligence asset -- surprise. They knew we were coming; they just had to move the AAA guns and SAMS to the proper target. Egads - treason! One other factor that is unexplainable; it took the North Vietnamese and their Russian allies four months to set up the first SAM Missile sites. We did not strike until they were operational and able to shoot at our aircraft. What sense did that make??

Just this week, in the opinion pages of the Cedar Rapids Gazette negative upon negative articles slandering Donald Trump/J.D. Vance ticket. These articles are so obviously slanted they cannot be believed. The following is so obvious - You look but you don't see; you hear but you don't understand. The Democrat party is taking this country down a deep s***hole. I cannot permit that.

Joe Biden was chosen President. Nominee without a primary he chose Kamala Harriis as his V.P no primary vote for her as well - she dropped out before the Iowa Caucus making her a - DEI choice. No real background or leadership potential for the V.P. job. Now without a delegate vote she is the nominee for Pres. And her choice for V.P. is a Socialist/ Marxist, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Good Grief!! I urge all voters to look deeply into the Dem. Candidates background. It is not pretty and the MSM is covering for them.

It is obvious who Americans should vote for their President --- Trump was not my first choice, but now he is the ONLY choice. Vote Trump/Vance. Make America great again! The four years under the Trump administration were so much more beneficial to the average working stiff American than now! Living on a fixed income, I cannot tell you how much better I was off financially and otherwise I was than I am now. Double good grief.

To the Democrat critics that are sure to respond --- You look but you don't see, you hear but you don't understand. Rethink your positions as All Americans should. It is "We the People" not the top down Biden/Harris Administration ---- It is "We are endowed by our Creator with Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Life begins at conception, sex XX, XY is determined as well. Life begins in Mom and should end in Natural Death - Period. One can argue for exceptions - go to it.

Regards and blessings,

John Stiegelmeyer