>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <001a01bf2f48$0a4a5e60$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Happy Veteran's Day, General McCaffrey >Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 01:01:44 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >This is a portion of a speech General Drug Czar McCaffrey gave on Veteran's >Day, November 12, 1997, at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington: > > >"A ceremony at this site brings to mind the images of the nearly three and a >half million men and thousands of women who served in the Vietnam theater. >It also brings into sharp focus the faces of mothers, fathers, young wives, >and children who braved the uncertainty of that conflict, waiting with >anticipation for the return of loved ones. > >"Our country did not treat any of you with the respect, support, and >compassion you deserved. It was a shameful blot on our history to send our >country's young men and women off to this terrible conflict and then use our >soldiers as objects of blame for the divisive political struggle that ripped >the nation apart for a decade. > >"More than 58,000 died and over 303,000 were wounded. The bloodshed was >terrible, and the suffering has not ended. At least 80,000 of our ranks >still suffer from severe service-connected disabilities; around 6 percent of >our Vietnam War comrades suffer from drug abuse or dependence; 11 percent >suffer from current alcohol abuse; many are homeless; and others still >suffer from war-related psychological and physical problems. > >"This continuing heavy human toll demands that we Americans vigorously >support the finest possible health care in our Veterans' Administration >facilities and sustain strong outreach programs to assist Veterans suffering >from drug and alcohol dependency and physical and emotional wounds. Our >nation needs to make the sacrifice for those who sacrificed so much in >Vietnam." > > >I wonder is McCaffrey knows--or cares--that his deception about medical >marijuana is the direct result of B.E. Smith's federal incarceration. B.E. >served two tours of duty in Vietnam as "point man" for his platoon--the most >dangerous position, as it draws "first fire" from the enemy and permits the >other platoon members to take cover and prepare for battle. He courageously >volunteered for his two tours of duty and for the heroic defense of his >platoon. > >B.E. was "point man" for California medical marijuana patients by >volunteering to be the first federal medical marijuana patient tried and >sentenced by the federal government since the passage of Proposition 215. >(He turned down a plea agreement that would have netted him no prison time >so that people would see what the federal government was doing to both sick >people and the voters of California.) > >B.E. is in federal prison now because he used medical marijuana to treat his >Vietnam-induced post-traumatic stress disorder--one of McCaffrey's "others >[who] still suffer from war-related psychological and physical problems." > >Happy Veteran's Day, general. > >Peter McWilliams > >P.S. Here's a letter from B.E. Smith's wife: > >For all those who wrote before and never got an answer, please forgive him, >and write again. His address is: BE Smith-11691-097, PO Box 6000, >Sheridan, Oregon, 97378. He hasn't called me yet, and has to have any >number he wants to call approved ahead of time. For all of you who get this >email, can you please forward his new address so people can write him. It >encourages his heart, and helps keep him going. His birthday was November >6, and he couldn't even call home, so lets really pick him up with cards and >letters now. He won't be able to call me as much, as this place is very >big, with only a few phones, and they rotate in using them. Also, even in >visiting they have to be pre-approved, so I don't know when I'll be able to >see him. While he has more freedom in some areas, he has less in others, >but thank God he isn't in 23 hour lock down any more! So we have much to be >thankful for. Peter McW., thanks for forwarding BE's Dublin address, he got >some precious letters, and we are so grateful, and BE was able to get me the >address of the five letters he got before he was shipped out of Dublin, so >that was neat, as he can't take a thing with him when he is transferred, and >now I can write these precious people. And Peter, your letter was >beautiful! Jeri R. thanks for your beautiful letter also, it showed a great >depth of beauty and sensitivity, as did Peter's. So, if you all help me get >BE's address out, we can flood him with love and encouragement, and wish him >Happy Birthday, and Happy Thanksgiving too! And then Merry Christmas! >Lovelle, help me get BE's address to your family, and I love and appreciate >you and Larry. God bless all of you, and remember Peter, I would like to >print some of your letter, let me know. > >Love, Mary Gale Smith > >Please be sure to put your first and last name and full return address, or >B.E. will not get it. > >Note from Peter: I'm sure Mary Gale Smith would like to hear from you, too. >She's a good Christian woman who doesn't understand why her man does the >crazy things he does, but she loves him just the same. Her e-mail is: >besmith@snowcrest.net > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: