CPAC 2005 to Honor Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

'Swifties' to Receive 'Courage Under Fire' Award

November 30, 2004; 7:30 am

ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth will be presented with the American Conservative Union's "Courage Under Fire Award" at the 32nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), ACU Chairman David A. Keene announced today.

The award will take place during CPAC's annual Ronald Reagan Banquet, February 18, 2005.

"For a second time, the Swift Boat veterans stepped up to serve their country honorably and courageously by telling the truth about John Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam," Keene said. "Despite vilification, character assassination, and the hostility of the elite media, these veterans dared to tell a side of the story that the American people otherwise would not have heard. John Kerry truly was unfit to serve as commander-in-chief and these veterans had the courage to say so publicly."

Previous recipients of ACU's Courage Under Fire Award include Under Secretary of State for Arms
Control and International Security John Bolton and Chief M.G. Buthelezi of South Africa. The award is not given annually, but only in those years in which someone has shown exceptional courage under fire.

"These Vietnam veterans did not have to stand up and expose themselves to the opprobrium of the liberal media," Keene noted. "They could have remained silent, comfortably out of the public eye and the line of fire. But they put the good of their country ahead of their own personal interests."

On behalf of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, John O'Neill said: "We are honored that the American Conservative Union has chosen our organization to receive this award. We did not go into this seeking recognition for ourselves. We did it for the good the country, for all those who served honorably in Vietnam and who John Kerry slandered, and for all those fallen heroes who did not come home."