Don Bendell
I was so depressed after being medevaced from Vietnam to Fort Bragg , North Carolina in 1969. A young gung-ho Special Forces (Green Beret) Captain, I ended up stuck behind a desk, a Chairborne Ranger, with the 3rd Special Forces Group, and they would not let me return to Vietnam, because of a medical profile. To make matters worse, the unit was also depressed at the time. The barracks were in disrepair, nobody could get the normally professional non-commissioned officers who lived there to clean them, and espirit de corps in the Third Herd had gone AWOL.
Then one day, we got a new commander, Colonel Barbwire Bob Kingston, who would later become a four-star general and a lifelong friend, passing away in 2007. He immediately held two barracks inspections two days in a row at 6AM. When the barracks didn’t pass the second day, he made all the NCOs move out onto the lawn into pup tents. By the next morning when the sun came up, men were still brushing away the last specks of dust, the entire barracks had been repainted wall-to-wall, and scrubbed up and down. Now passing inspection, the men were allowed to move back inside. Within weeks, the entire 3rd Special Forces Group was a fire-breathing, hard-charging unit of men who remembered the pride in their incredible legacy. There never was a question that General Kingston was the boss wherever he served, but even if he spoke to the wife of a private he always stood at attention showing her total respect and dignity, such was his command presence.
Now, four decades later, after much concern, anxiety, and even depression in the current Presidential race, I have; once again, seen another Barbwire Bob Kingston walk through the door. His name is John McCain.
I watched the interviews at Saddleback Church and saw John McCain address his remarks not to the moderator like his opponent did but to the crowd and to America . I saw a leader who was willing to make things right for all Americans, not just his own political party. I also saw humor, honesty, decisiveness, and a real concern for the things that matter most to me. I witnessed the leader this country sorely needs, a Barbwire Bob Kingston who takes charge, a Ronald Reagan who will make us believe in America and remember we are the greatest nation on earth. I saw the real change this nation must have right now; more patriotism, not less.
John McCain will get the barracks painted, cleaned, and standing tall. He will motivate us to take pride again, wanting to serve something greater than ourselves, willing to slay any dragons that attack us in the future, and once again, become Team America . John McCain has reminded me that the last four letters in American are: “I can,” not “I can’t.” If he is willing to go against the grain and reach across that aisle to put our nation ahead of his political party, I am willing to extend myself to do all I can to get people to see that John McCain is the only choice for President. We have never been a nation of pure-breds. Real Americans have always been Mavericks. The original maverick is named John McCain, a man who will lead us by example with a quiet strength, a warm smile, and class. He will show dignity and respect to the least among us, but everybody in the world will know we have a true leader, a man who will reach out to be a great friend, or if they choose, their worst enemy. John McCain, the real change that we can all believe in.
Don Bendell
DETACHMENT-DELTA: Don’s newest novel. Worldwide release winter 2008.
Visit our newly-re-structured website. Learn how to get your first book published!: http://www.donbendell.com
“Life is tough and for stupid people its even tougher.” John Wayne
Don Bendell, 61, is an author of 26 books including a number of military thrillers with over 1,500,000 copies in print worldwide and is a popular editorialist who has appeared on FOX NEWS LIVE, many national radio shows, and his editorials have been published all over the world. A 1995 inductee into the International Karate Hall of Fame, he and his wife also own karate schools in southern Colorado . A 60% disabled vet, Don served as an officer in 4 Special Forces Groups, including a 1968-1969 tour on an A-team in Vietnam as well as in the Top Secret Phoenix Program and has offspring serving in Special Forces now. He lives in Florence , Colorado . Write him at don@donbendell.com .
#1 by Brian on August 24th, 2008
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With all due respect,we can’t afford another 4 years of a Bush presidency.
McCain might have been a good President 20 years ago but that time has come and gone.Somebody said the old McCain of years ago wouldn’t vote for the McCain we see today. I think between Obama and Biden we’ve got a real shot of getting back on track and having the country we used to have.
#2 by Bill on August 24th, 2008
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We have had over 8 million jobs created the last 7 years in this country. The stock market is still over 11,000 and not long ago set a record high. 95 out of every 100 people that want to work have a job… What part of the past do you want America to return to? The 1950’s…when African-Americans had to sit in the back of the bus? Maybe the 60’s, when the pinko hippie culture invaded. Or the 70’s and 80’s when crack heads took over our streets??? We have the enemy on the run, and they can’t stop running long enough to plan another 9/11 and YOU are unhappy about it… You are either with us…or you are against us…and you have chosen to stand with the enemy and against America.
#3 by Brian on August 24th, 2008
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wow-I guess I’ve been told.
I guess I was talking about the America that didn’t spy on it’s own people
without cause,the one that didn’t have a Gitmo or waterboard people or ship them off to countries that would torture them for us so we could keep our
hands clean,the country that lots of countries looked up to and envied.It’s great to be loyal to President Bush but it’s no accident that a good percentage of the country think he’s the worst president we’ve ever had-I used to think we’d never have anybody worse than Nixon but Bush proved me wrong.I don’t expect to change your mind-if after all that’s been come out about Bush over the last few years hasn’t convinced you nothing will.
I will say if McCain wins we’ll still be ok-I’d just prefer Obama.
#4 by Bill on August 24th, 2008
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If you think this country is so evil, why do you want to continue to live here? The America you describe is straight from the Communist News Network (CNN). Do you ever think for yourself…or always spew the same Anti-American hatred that you hear on the Liberal News Stations?
You mention Nixon? Nixon is a little far back in history…but I accept the challenge. Nixon did just what the hippie scum wanted, and they still were not happy with him. People like you wouldn’t let him fight the war so he brought the troops home. And you still bad mouth him. The blood of the 2 million who were murdered the first 24 hrs. after we pulled out is on the hands of people like you.
Since you want to talk about history…does it bother you that you line yourself up with a party that started the Ku Klux Klan? In 1868 Democrat Klansmen killed 1,300 people just because they dared to vote Republican. Something I’m sure you support and smile when you think about it. The Democratic Party that pushed all the Jim Crow Laws off on the rest of the country? The party that opened the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park in Tennessee (the Dem who started the KKK) and even had Al Gore dedicate the Park. The Democratic Party that stood in the doorway in Alabama and not let African-Americans go to College. The Democratic Party who today still supports Robert Byrd, as he says he is no longer a member of the Klan…but freely admits he still recruits new members for them.
We don’t need a President like Barack “Hussein” Obama or a Vice-President like Osama Joe Biden. Obama rubbed many people the wrong way when he spoke in Berlin and said how sorry he was for all the “terrible things” America has done over the past.
Why are you and Osama Joe Biden concerned with how terrorists are treated…why don’t you start thinking about the Americans who are having their heads cut off or people being murdered like in the Twin Towers.
#5 by Jason on August 24th, 2008
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Okay where is your proof that the government spys on its own people without cause? Just because some paranoid people assume it to be true does not make it so. They would only intercept your phone call if you were calling known or suspected terrorists. Why would anyone not want this. Its because you are paranoid. Do you honestly think that “YOU” are so important that Big Brother wants to listen in on your conversations about popular music trends or how “bad ass” the new Batman movie is? If you aren’t doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about!
We will see how history treats the Bush presidency. Remember Lincoln was very unpopular during his time.
What is wrong with water boarding? The cut the heads off of our men and women and you think that simulating drowning is torture! Our solders have to follow rules of engagement on the battlefield and they enemy doesn’t. The enemy does not fight under a common flag but some think that they should have Geneva convention protection. Do you think that is okay?