FACT CHECK: Did Jane Fonda Betray American POWs in North Vietnam?

Capt Marty Hogan,

You said, "The notes passed and turned over- I have to believe they are true as many sources refer to it along with what she said about our fly boys."

NAM-POWs President Mike McGrath says:

There were never any POWs killed on account of Jane. (Did anyone ever provide a name of one of these tortured fellows?)

That story about the notes has a nice theatric touch, but no such thing ever happened. The only ones who met with Jane willingly, to my knowledge, were CDR Gene Wilber and LCOL Ed Miller. One NAM-POW was forced to go before the Fonda delegation. And I think that was only to sit at a table for a photo opportunity. I doubt he even got a chance to talk to her let alone slip her a note.

To my knowledge, the worst that happened to the rest of us was that we had to listen to the camp radio (Radio Hanoi and Hanoi Hannah) with the Fonda propaganda. It pissed us off, but I doubt you can call that "torture." So, if you get a chance to SHUT THIS STORY DOWN to the groups who are forwarding it, PLEASE DO SO. You can cut and paste this paragraph if you want to. Doubters can come to me if they need to.

Mike McGrath,
President of NAM-POWs
POW 30 June 67 to 4 March 73

http://www.military-money-matters.com/nam-pows.html

SFC (Join to see) - You make some good points. I would be the last to defend Johnson's war in Vietnam and the way it was prosecuted. Besides, others within the military have done a pretty good job of critiquing the war. I don't have to repeat their arguments, from strategy to tactics, here. But I think we have to separate what Fonda did - wittingly or unwittingly, due to naiveté, stupidity or whatever - with regards to its effect on the soldiers who were there, from the political and military handling of the war.
As someone else has stated, she was a propaganda pawn. Her trip and pictures was used as part of the overall propaganda offensive. The images left the impression (that's what propaganda is for) that she was an American that was aiding and abetting the forces that our troops were engaging. And this is how those images were used.
More than on the ground, the war was fought in the political and propaganda arena. I have no problem with reporters providing factual information regarding the nature of the conflict, especially if we are screwing up. But it is one thing to factually report what is going on and it is another to act in a way that directly or indirectly puts our troops in danger, even if its by letting oneself be used to encourage the forces being fought.
Politicians make the decisions that get us into conflicts. It's bad enough when those conflicts are somehow "justified". It's a pain when soldiers are used to implement or enforce stupid political postures. But the soldiers don't make that decision. And they shouldn't be made to pay the price of somebody's naiveté or stupidity or ignorance or desire for political revenge.

SFC (Join to see) - I do not and would never believe anything that came out of her mouth. As long as it's moving, I don't believe a word. She is an actress...a mediocre one at best, but she is acting when she explains this....as far as I am concerned. Maj Marty Hogan

Sgt Kelli Mays - You don't have to believe anything but the facts show that she never did the majority of what she's accused of. She did sit on that AA gun - she made a mistake. She didn't even realize what she had done til it was over. But the rest of it has been debunked by ACTUAL SOLDIERS who were there.

So you don't believe the POWs who said that those incidents never happened with her? Also this post is from a year ago. Why are you replying to such an old post?

You see Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen l, that is what I respect about you! You know yourself, and are not afraid to say so. Even though 2e tend to be on different sides of the spectrum at times, I ALWAYS respect your inputs as they are well thought out, informed, presented professionally, and fair.

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Question. I just read this article again. Has an USAF commander ever been referred to as a Commandant? or is just the Navy? Just curious.

Sgt Kelli Mays Not in the USAF