Private Kuhl 1943 vs. Seaman Weaver 1967

Do political and military leaders strive for justice?

By TED ARENS

Guest columnist, Manistee News (MI) -- Wednesday, September 23, 2009 11:18 AM EDT

When I attend VFW, and American Legion meetings we say the Pledge of Allegiance. When I attend meetings at the Fin and Feather or attend meetings at the Boy Scouts with my grandsons we say the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge ends with the words "with Liberty and Justice for all."

Larry Weaver was a seaman who served on board a United States Navy ship.

The ship was attacked by a foreign power in 1967 resulting in the deaths of 34 Americans, and the wounding of 174 out of a crew of 294.

Larry Weaver, not expected to live after the attack, now has a stainless steel left shoulder, both knees totally replaced, nerve damage to the right side of his body, can only use his right thumb and index finger, has one square foot mesh holding his abdomen together, still has 60 pieces of shrapnel in his body, and has had 31 major surgeries since the attack.

While recuperating in a hospital, the 21 year old sailor was wheel chaired to a room, where the door was locked, and he was threatened by Admiral Isaac Kidd. He was told if he spoke about the attack he would be locked up for life, and the key would be thrown away. Just about everyone of the crew was threatened by Navy officers.

Larry Weaver's only crime was that he served his country honorably.

The Navy followed up with a quick one week investigation, a white washed story, and buried the attack from the public. Even the ship's name has been erased from the Navy's vessel registration website.

I started thinking about what incident in history compares with this act. The only thing I can remember is General Patton slapping private Kuhl.

Lt. General George S. Patton, commander of the Seventh U.S. Army, visited a military hospital in Sicily on Aug. 3, 1943. He traveled past the beds of wounded soldiers, asking them about their injuries. Coming to the bed of a soldier who lacked visible signs of injury, General Patton inquired about his health. The soldier, 18-year-old Pvt. Charles H. Kuhl, had been tentatively diagnosed as having a case of psychoneurosis. He told Patton that he couldn't mentally handle the battle lines. "It's my nerves," he said. "I can hear the shells come over but I can't hear them burst."

Enraged, Patton slapped Kuhl across the face and called him a coward. As Patton left the tent, he heard Kuhl crying and turned back, striking the soldier again. Months later radio broadcaster Drew Pearson revealed to U.S. audiences that Patton had slapped Kuhl. Many members of Congress and the press called for Patton's removal from command, and outrage over the alleged "cover-up" was widespread. General Eisenhour wrote a letter to Patton demanding that he apologize.

Why is there no outcry over Seaman Weaver in America? For sure the national press in 1943 divulged the story to the American people; in 1967 they helped cover it up. In 1943 General Eisenhower made Patton apologize to the soldier; in 1967 the Navy had Admiral Kidd threaten the young sailor as he was recuperating in the hospital.

This story is about powerful special interests and donations to Congress. It is about career protection, and the failure by Navy officers to help their comrades as they are attacked, and murdered.  It is about failure of the Navy officers to stand up to their civilian counterparts.  It is about the manipulation of the American public by the national press.

And finally, it is about you and me as Americans and a failure to demand justice. Justice for a young 21 year old broken bodied seaman who was serving his Country honorably, and then suffered the undeserved threats by a mature, seasoned Admiral.

Do our representatives believe in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or does it come with as an asterisk, to be manipulated by them as they please. Ask your representatives and those running for office where they stand on justice for Larry Weaver and an investigation into the conduct of the Navy. They will not respond, because they wish not to offend those special interest and the tens of millions they donate to their elections. And they do not wish to alienate you as voters.  What if Larry was your son or grandson?

Larry Weaver's words: http://gidusko.webs.com/temp/lw012605_kidd.mp3