Can Vietnam Veterans forgive a friend for not being a "brother"

Blumenthal worked for many years on behalf of veterans. No one disagrees with this. If anyone wanted to look up his military history it's on his website. Still when it comes to making claims about being a combat veteran, words matter. Can combat Vietnam Veterans forgive him?

Colleague Says Blumenthal Claims Grew in Time
By MICHAEL BARBARO and DAVID M. HALBFINGER
Published: May 18, 2010
Former Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut found it puzzling: over time, his friend Attorney General Richard Blumenthal kept revising how he talked about his military service during the Vietnam War. At first, in the 1980s, he was humble. He played it down, Mr. Shays recalled, characterizing it as humdrum desk work.

Over the last few years, however, more sweeping claims crept into Mr. Blumenthal’s descriptions, he said: that Mr. Blumenthal had served in Vietnam and had felt the sting of an ungrateful nation as he returned.

“He just kept adding to the story, the more he told it,” Mr. Shays said.

Mr. Shays said he became alarmed enough by the discrepancies that he at times considered mentioning the issue to Mr. Blumenthal, who on Tuesday said he took “full responsibility” for the occasions when he “misspoke” about his military history.
read more here
Colleague Says Blumenthal Claims Grew in Time

UPDATE

Litchfield County veterans react to Blumenthal's comments on Vietnam service
Published: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
By DAVID HUTTER
Register Citizen Staff

In response to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s misstatements on his service in Vietnam, some veterans criticized him yet also noted he has advocated for them.


“When you pretend to be something you are not, we call that stolen valor,” John Bonville, who served in Vietnam in 1971 to 1972, said. “I do not like that. Vietnam veterans took it on the chin for a long time. I could not even wear my uniform when I came home.”



Vietnam veteran carry their experience with them for the rest of their lives, Bonville said. As Americans soldiers fought in the Asian nation in the 1960s and early 1970s, many American civilians opposed the war. While today Americans generally do not lash out as these veterans, this was not the case for a long time.

At the same time, Bonville called Blumenthal a strong supporter for veterans. In this vein, he hoped that Blumenthal’s misleading statements “not tarnish all the wonderful things he does for us,” he said.

Steve Ardussi served in Vietnam for one year. Today, he is the chairman of the Litchfield Veterans Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Litchfield Republican Town Committee.

read more here

Litchfield County veterans react to Blumenthal