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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2004 Jackson County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Bill Layton shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry. Layton and other veterans greeted the Democratic presidential candidate at the Medford airport Thursday afternoon. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Local vets honor Kerry’s record Veterans of World War II and Vietnam greet the Democratic candidate at the Medford airport By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune A dozen local veterans greeted Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry at the Medford airport Thursday afternoon and voiced support for a man they call a hero. Navy veteran Lori Larson of Central Point was the first to shake Kerry’s hand as he stepped off the red, white and blue jet "Freedom Bird" and onto the hot tarmac. Larson has a son serving in Baghdad with the National Guard and said speaking out against administration policies should not be misconstrued as speaking out against the troops. "Even though we’re against what Bush has done, we are definitely behind our troops," said Larson. The local veterans’ service records in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines ran from World War II to Vietnam. All were united in their disgust at what they called "attack ads" questioning Kerry’s service and his courage. Advertisement "This is the lowest that politics has sunk in this country," said Vietnam Army veteran Jack Duggan of Jacksonville. "(Bush) calls himself a war president, but he attacks one of our heroes while we’re at war." Army veteran Dan Davis of Jacksonville said minimizing Kerry’s heroism by saying he received medals for "Band-Aid injuries" is a cheap shot. "It’s terrible to degrade someone for what they did in service to their country," said Davis. "(Kerry) volunteered to go on swift boats. We respected those guys. It was their job to draw fire. You can’t disparage anyone who did that." Davis earned a Bronze star for his service in Vietnam. Jeff Beaupain, a veteran Army medic who said he was a lifelong Republican but recently changed parties, has two service-age sons. "Kerry is a hero. Bush is not," he said. Kerry’s Vietnam anti-war activism was not a matter of concern to most of the veterans. "He had earned the right to protest," said Beaupain. "He paid in blood." Former Marine Cpl. Mike Rice said the current administration was too quick to send troops into harm’s way. "Our commander in chief should send in troops only as a last resort. Not as a first resort," said Rice. "Kerry will do a much better job commanding our war on terrorism." Chris Burrow served on the guided missile destroyer USS Sellers. Burrow recently completed 48 weeks of chemotherapy at the former Veterans Affairs domiciliary in White City. Burrow said cuts to the Dom have impacted not only himself, but countless other local veterans. "The budget at the Dom has been cut by a third since Bush has been in office. I couldn’t work while I was getting my chemo. And I was refused benefits," said Burrow. "Now I live on $800 a month with my daughter in a (trailer)." Duggan said Kerry’s speech at the Jackson County Expo gave him a lift. "What he said about veterans convinced me we have a candidate who respects veterans," said Duggan. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities