Praise for Palin

Dear Editor,
I am a Democrat; yet as a Vietnam Veteran I am proud to call to your attention that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin earlier this year demonstrated her appreciation and her caring for all who served over there in the 1960s.
She did this officially, as Governor, by proclaiming on 10 January 2008 that February 2008 was to be Tet Remembrance Month in Alaska. In so doing she was the only State Governor to mark the 40th anniversary of an important battle of the Vietnam War and to publicly thank veterans of that fighting for their service.
To explain, Tet was an effort by the Communists to mount a surprise attack country wide to overthrown the legitimate government of the Republic of Vietnam. It failed because of the courage of Americans, South Vietnamese and Allied Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who met the enemy at sea and in the air and in the jungles and swamps.
Vietnam vets are not used to any politician paying attention to us. It is very refreshing to see a leader who is willing to stand up and be counted as a supporter of the troops who were sent to fight — and who then won America’s most unpopular war.
A friend in Anchorage sent me a copy of the official proclamation. I wrote and thanked her for what she did, and was very surprised to receive a warm and personal note, signed Sarah, which thanked me for my service.
Sarah Palin demonstrated that she understands what Vietnam was all about, and why it was an important war for America. That is a very rare quality in a politician. I personally think she will be a very good Vice President, believe she is qualified, and I want to thank her for having the grit to run.
Respectfully,
Rick Fulton
Pittsburg