Navy Commanders to cast doubt on Kerry's war record

Newsmax.com ^ | Sunday, April 4 | B. G. Burkett

[RipSawyer]

Sunday, April 4, 2004 11:37 p.m. EDT B.G. Burkett: Navy Commanders to Cast Doubt on Kerry's War Record

Several Navy officers who supervised Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry when he commanded a swift boat in Vietnam are preparing to publicly question his war record - including the circumstances under which he was awarded three Purple Hearts - a noted Vietnam War historian revealed on Sunday.

Burkett, whose 1999 book, "Stolen Valor," is considered to be the definitive history of of falsified Vietnam War claims, told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg that Kerry's former commanders would allege that the top Democrat's Purple Hearts were awarded for "self-reported injuries that were virtually nonexistent."

"He never got a day of treatment, he never spent a day in a medical facility," Burkett said. "These were all self-reported wounds, which you're going to hear from some swift boat guys in the future as to the nature of those wounds."

Burkett said he had personally spoken to the Navy commanders who were preparing to go public about Kerry's decorations.

"You're going to get quite a showing [of those speaking out]," Burkett told Malzberg. "I don't know [the number] yet. They're trying to get it to be unanimous of every swift boat guy who ever served."

As to the timetable for the upcoming revelations, Burkett said that Kerry's superior officers "were still discussing that."

"You've got some major rallys being planned against John Kerry by Vietnam veterans on the mall, at the convention - this type of thing," he said. "And we're going to make America aware of John Kerry's military record."

[RipSawyer]

I expected someone else to have posted this already but I have not seen it. For those who have been wondering just what the real story is, this may be interesting.

[Former Proud Canadian]

You've got some major rallys being planned against John Kerry by Vietnam veterans on the mall, at the convention - this type of thing," he said. "And we're going to make America aware of John Kerry's military record."

I love it.

[JeeperFreeper]

These are probably true, both as to Kerry's "wounds" and the exposure of his fabrications The mainstream media won't get near the issues though.

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[I still care]

Why do I think that the liberal press won't find Kerry's service half as interesting to cover as the frenzy we saw with Bush - which was totally manufactured anyway?

[jwalsh07]

He never imagined that his record in the Nam would be questioned.

He underestimated the pain and anger his stereotyping of Vietnam Vets as baby killing, drug addled wacko's caused.

Roosters and roosts.

[cricket]

Sadly, I doubt that they will be interviewed by any major Media; and we can be certain no guest appearances on Larry King. . .

[Savage Beast]

Do you suppose Kerry ever finds the time to lounge around John Heinz's old study? Have a cigar or two? Maybe put his feet up on the desk?

Perhaps when Teresa's out of town.

[kellynla]

Viet Nam Veterans Against John Kerry
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com

[Cicero]

The mainstream media won't touch this with a ten-foot pole. But this is the one area where they have lost most of their power. They still dominate the news and influence most viewers on most subjects. They can still spin and lie. But they can no longer entirely bury anything. They can spin it but they can't bury it, as long as it's simple and straightforward and easy to understand.

This is simple and straightforward. Anyone can understand it. And it should be added that Kerry awarded himself three purple hearts in order to bug out of his full term of active duty in Vietnam.

Kerry will be killed on the simple things. That picture on the cover of Winter Soldier. This statement by his old war comrades. How can you cover up such a simple fact as all of Kerry's fellow vets saying that he awarded himself 3 Purple Hearts?

[Bommer]

You know what the DNC is going to say:

"Well....at least John Kerry had to go to Vietnam to fake his wounds! While GWB was hiding out in the Nation Guard to avoid....um...fake....um...shrapnel...that was.....HOW DARE YOU QUESTIONING A DECORATED VIETNAM WAR VETERAN????

[cricket]

. . .should have added however, that we can be grateful for whatever attention this gets. Vietnam Vets cannot be well served by Kerry; nor the rest of us.

Perhaps going public, will at least get the sticky truth of Kerry out there; what I cannot understand; is how we have gone this long, without someone screaming the truth to whomever will listen; already. . .

[not-alone]

Thanks for the post, I cringe every time I hear him called a war hero

[W04Man]

I wonder what Sen McCain will have to say about this? he he

http://W-04.com

[Spook86]

It's about time someone examined Kerry's combat record. I've often wondered how he managed to suffer wounds "serious" enough for multiple Purple Hearts, but never spent a day in a military treatment facility.

Mr. Kerry also needs to explain one of the engagements where he was cited for bravery. According to one account, Kerry put his boat ashore, jumped off, and killed a wounded Viet Cong soldier on the riverbank. I'm not a Navy guy, let alone an expert in small boat ops, but I've been told that putting your boat ashore in a firefight--other than to rescue American personnel--was strictly forbidden, and posed grave risks to the boat and its crew.

And here's one more item for Kerry's damage control squad. According to a caller to this afternoon's Sean Hannity program, several Kansas City-area Vietnam Vets (who attened that infamous meeting where the assassination of pro-war Senators was discussed), have been called by the Kerry campaign. As you'll recall, anti-war activist Kerry was also at that meeting; the calls from the campaign have urged the vets to call the local newspaper and claim their recollection of the meeting--and Kerry's presence--have grown fuzzy.

There's a lot of dirt under the Kerry rug. Good to see that someone like Burkett is trying to expose some of it....

[BonnieJ]

What I hate is the way even people like Dennis Miller and Sean Hannity so overtly play up to his "war-hero" status, even though they probably question it in private.

[alloysteel]

John Kerry served in Viet Nam?

So did a certain Lt. William Calley, in a place called My Lai....

Seems a young officer ran up on the hamlet in a beserk rage, blazing away at whatever was moving.

And another young officer beached his swift boat, leaped ashore and ran behind a shed wall, where he blazed away at a possibly badly wounded enemy combatant. And in a "free-fire" zone, he called for strafing fire on a riverfront hamlet....

Did either of these young officers suffer from some sort of combat fatigue?

One was convicted.

[RAY]

I hope the truth comes out about this guy, a publicity hound that had an agenda for public office and who intended form the start to use Vietnam to further his plan. He is a fraud!

[Michael.SF.]

It's about time someone examined Kerry's combat record.

Actually, I fear it is too early to do so. I think late October would be a better time. If Kerry looks like he cannot beat Bush it could encourage you know who to run. And she just might win.

[eureka!]

"The mainstream media won't touch this with a ten-foot pole. But this is the one area where they have lost most of their power"

Yep. Talk radio and the internet will give these men a voice. The lamestream presstitutes have lost their grip, thankfully...