I live in Connecticut and I actually know Joe Lieberman. I worked with him when he was Attorney General and I actually liked him at that time. But this is not a diary about Joe, rather it is all about Ned Lamont and how I saw Ned's compassion up close and personal.
You see, Joe Lieberman lost me a long time ago. We here at Kos know that had Gore prevailed in 2000, the Republican Governor of Connecticut would have appointed a Republican to the seat - with all its consequences. Further, I knew Joe was not representing me or my Democratic beliefs.
I volunteered for Ned Lamont right away - in March, picking up local voting lists and doing what I could, even getting sigs before the Dem convention so Ned could be on the ballot if he did not get enough support. I had never met Ned, but you see, I knew Joe, I worked with Joe, and I knew Ned Lamont was no Joe Lieberman.
So did I say that I am an old man and an officer of the local Veterans Committee? Well, as such, I invited Ned to Waterbury to meet our group and place a wreath on Memorial Day in memory of our Waterbury soldiers.
My best friend died in Viet Nam on November 22, 1968. I remember his death like it was yesterday. We grew up together and he lived not far from me, on MacArthur Drive, Waterbury, in one of the simple little houses. Sp4 David Alexander Cassidy was a frontline slackman (walking behind the pointman) serving in the the Big Red One (1st ID) and had more courage that a 19 year old should have. He is at Panel 38W, Row 33 of the WALL. Dave died near Bien Hoa, south of the Ben Cui Rubber Plantation.
Ned agreed to come to Waterbury on Memorial Day and to place a wreath in memory of our local soldiers and sailors. I also planned to place a wreath that day in memory of my good buddy Dave.
When the wreaths were delivered, I was standing in the cemetery with Ned and I saw the wreath with Dave's name on it and I lost it. Tears for Dave's senseless death in a war fought for nothing suddenly appeared. Then it all came back - that hot humid day north of Sai Gon that was the end of my best friend's life.
Ned was so good - he comforted me and together we made it thru the ceremony. Trust me, Ned Lamont is not just some candidate out for himself. Ned's compassion was outstanding that day in the cemetery as I fought back the tears that have been stored so long - ever since November 22, 1968.
To this day I have no idea why my good buddy Dave died that hot day north of Sai Gon. All I know is that I saw firsthand the compassion of Ned Lamont when he saw how war hurts - even years later. All my work for Ned Lamont is in memory of Sp4 Dave. I do not want anymore senseless deaths in wars fought for nothing.
I will close with some Vietnamese I learned in 'Nam, so many years ago: "To Quoc Gh'i O'n, anh Hai!" (Your country will never forget you, respected brother).
