RON WINSHIP -- Rebuttal

Thirty years ago, I had just returned to Orange County after being

drafted and serving my two years of active duty in the Army. Just at that

time, our country had become deeply embroiled in the My Lai controversy

-- and Lt. William L. Calley Jr.

Feeling very strongly about this, along with so many others in Orange

County, we vets organized and collected more than 25,000 signatures to

have Calley set free. We forwarded them directly to President Richard

Nixon via Rep. John Schmitz. Calley was finally freed, and it was a win

for the little guy, so to speak.

Schmitz, who Daily Pilot columnist Joseph N. Bell vilified, was no

Johnny One Note, however, as he viciously attacked higher taxes, bigger

government, social engineering in our schools, forced busing, gun

control, the reordering of priorities regarding the federal budget and

the Tweedledee or Tweedledum choices of political candidates. All the

while, he argued for the continued vigilance and protection of our 1st

and 4th Amendment rights.

Those who wish to cast an added pall upon Schmitz attempt to

marginalize him and simply characterize this Marine veteran as a Nazi

sympathizer, racist, flawed, unfaithful husband and social hypocrite with

a seriously dysfunctional family. His support by the John Birch Society

represented then a true “their party” movement, albeit without the

political correctness of the Reform Party. The rancor and emotion

generated by the remarks of Schmitz still shock liberals.

Schmitz was indeed colorful and a public policy wonk, with even his

friends fighting him hard and long regarding many of his stands on the

issues. Yet it was Schmitz’s very unfortunate habit to meaningfully take

a stand on virtually every issue. Worse yet, he let people know where he

stood on the issues that got him in trouble. Obviously, in this day and

age of polling to please everyone, it would be out of step with the

ability to get elected.

Schmitz was certainly not a moderate at anything. Schmitz categorized

himself as a Catholic with an attitude. His strong belief in the right to

life was exhibited too vividly by how he acted in real life. Had Schmitz

been the total hypocrite that the moderates and left enjoy mentioning,

his mistress would have had an abortion and perhaps the life and times of

John Schmitz could have turned out differently.

It is sad to categorize Schmitz as an unaccountable hypocrite, because

Schmitz did pay the price for his sins, at a time in history when

character did matter. In today’s high-tech environment, perhaps a

lucrative book deal, Web site or television talk show would be in the

offing.

So who was the real John Schmitz? He was someone who helped us when we

needed it. He was a personality with strong views and who made mistakes

but also made a difference. May he rest in peace knowing that his life is

being cussed and discussed -- and that he will be long remembered! I

think he would like that.

* RON WINSHIP is a Newport Beach resident.* EDITOR’S NOTE: The My Lai

controversy Winship refers to involved accusations that Lt. William

Calley ordered U.S. soldiers to kill more than 500 villagers on March 16,

1968, in the Vietnamese town of My Lai. He was convicted of murder by a

military court, court-martialed and sent to prison.