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Vietnam Veterans Call for
Boycott of Fonda Book
WWW.FIREBASE.NET (http://www.firebase.net/)
By Staff Writer: Rick Townsend
firebaseadrian@tc3net.com (mailto:firebaseadrian@tc3net.com)
04/06/05
Vietnam combat wounded Jere Beery of Jefferson, Ohio is infuriated by a
new book written by 1970s anti-war activist Jane Fonda. Beery, a long
time critic of Fonda is calling for a nationwide boycott of the book and
book stores that sell it. "I find her audacity and contempt deplorable",
Beery stated in a recent interview for the Firebase Network.
Fonda's new book "My Life So Far" is published by Random House and will
be available in book stores soon for just under $30. In the book Fonda
talks about her anti-war activism and her controversial trip to North
Vietnam in 1974. On an April 4, 2005, CBS/60 Minutes interview with
Lesley Stahl, when asked why she would write about such matters, Fonda
responded; "Because I knew that if I didn't really fess up about how far
I went in the betrayal of my heart, that it would not make the journey
that I've been on, to where I am now, as important and as poignant."
According to Jere Beery, Fonda's book is merely a way to clear
her conscience and make money off the pain of others at the same time.
Jere Beery, a nationally recognized veteran's rights activist is not
alone in his anger. Many Vietnam veterans feel Fonda's actions during
the Vietnam War were treasonous and unforgivable. Vietnam wounded veteran
Dale VanLuven of Hermitage, Tennessee agrees with Beery. "If there was
ever a reason to burn a book, this is it," Vanluven stated. "The thought
of Hanoi Jane making money off confessing her sins is incomprehensible to
me", VanLuven added. Dale VanLuven was wounded in combat in Vietnam when
his bulldozer hit a landmine.
Many veterans across the country agree with Beery and VanLuven on this
subject and have vowed to take the boycott idea very seriously. Retired
Navy veteran Don Holland of Orlando feels very strongly about this matter
as well. "Jane Fonda may have the right to say anything she wants. But, I
also have the right to say what I want as well. Jane Fonda is a Traitor
that provided aid and comfort to the enemy during time of war. No book
deal is going to save her from the fires of Hell for that," Holland
stated.
Beery, VanLuven and Holland are calling for support for a nationwide
boycott of Fonda's book. "We are asking for assistance from the
grassroots veteran's community in preventing Jane Fonda from profiting off
the misery of our Vietnam veterans, and especially our former POWs,"
Beery requested.
[NOTE] Jere Beery was severely wounded in Vietnam in 1968 when his 31
foot river patrol boat took two direct RPG hits. Beery was one of the crew
members aboard a PBR under the command of Lt. Richard Godbehere on March
1st. The true story of Beery's survival is well documented, to include a
chapter in the 1982 book "Brown Water, Black Berets", written by
Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler of the U.S. Naval Academy, History
Department, Annapolis Maryland.
The Godbehere Patrol story has become legendary among many Vietnam
veterans.
Beery has written a screenplay about his Vietnam service titled, "Smoke on
the Water", and is currently accepting inquires into his
work-in-progress. "Unlike Jane Fonda, I'm not a profiteer. I'm a
historian merely trying to preserve the service sacrifice of the men I
served with," Beery stated.
jerebeery@aol.com (mailto:jerebeery@aol.com)
"SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BY PROTECTING THEIR BENEFITS""
_WWW.JEREBEERY.COM_ (http://www.jerebeery.com/)
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