The Smoking Gun: Kerry Unofficially Killed 20 in Vietnam

The Smoking Gun ^ | 4/21/04

[areafiftyone]

APRIL 21--John Kerry was "unofficially credited" with killing 20 enemy fighters during his five months in Vietnam, according to military records just released by the Democratic presidential candidate's campaign. The body count reference is included in a glowing 1969 Navy report that noted Kerry, a 25-year-old junior grade lieutenant, exhibited "all of the traits desired of an officer in a combat environment." The Navy document, a copy of which you'll find below, was among hundreds of pages released today by the Kerry camp in response to requests from reporters and criticism from Republicans demanding full disclosure of the U.S. Senator's military record. (2 pages)

[Coop]

I'm more interested in knowing how many American military personnel Kerry helped kill after returning home.

[zencat]

Nine months and only twenty kills!?!

I could beat that before finishing my first cup of coffee.

[Sofa King]

I'm wondering how many of those "enemy fighters" were women and children.

After all, he admitted doing it...

[vpintheak]

Absolutely! He should be tried as a war criminal under his own admission right? I say we go for the death penalty.

[areafiftyone]

You are correct. They are right now scared about the spin on this. They are worried that people will think Kerry is a cold blooded murderer. But didn't he say he was?

[FReepaholic]

>>...in a glowing 1969 Navy report that noted Kerry, a 25-year-old junior grade lieutenant, exhibited "all of the traits desired of an officer in a combat environment." ...<<

No so glowing after all, it would seem. Check out this thread:

Kerry Sandbagged Into Releasing Bad Performance Report From Navy Service In Vietnam

[Punditstar]

I suspect the 20 kills is higly inflated. This guy's whole record is a complete fraud.

[Nip]

What sKerry released is a "Officer’s Efficiency Report" (OER).

Remember that Vietnam was a war of numbers - body counts, sorties
flown, bombs dropped, numbers --numbers --- numbers. Thank you
McNamara.

Having run a squadron (USAF) OER shop for a couple of years and
processed over 150 of those durn things each year I know that an OER
is NOT an accurate assessment of an officer’s performance.

The tip off, for me, was the phrase "unconfirmed" If you put a number in
an OER you were expected to document it. Besides, unless he was
serving as a gunner on his swift boat (his OER says commander) how
could he personally kill Mr. Charles? I suspect that the body count
quoted is for the entire crew or, his "share".

Let's see - 20 bodies in three months = 7 a month. Or, roughly a body
every four or five days. That's heavy combat?

[Happy2BMe]

"I'm more interested in knowing how many American military personnel Kerry helped kill after returning home."

Yep - so are the rest of us.

[areafiftyone]

Yea and I wonder if the media will read it and pick up on it.

[areafiftyone]

Why are they using the word Sandbagged? He sandbagged himself by constantly bringing up his Vietnam service from the beginning of his campaign. He was so freaking jealous of Bush's landing on that aircraft carrier that he did this to himself.

[ATrueConservativeMan]

It seems to me this is a really bad argument for Republicans to be engaging in. The Kerry camp is clearly doing a Briar (sp.?) rabbit schtick here. "Oh, do we really have to release Senator Kerry's military records? Are you sure you want to see them? Well, OK then..."

[Believe_In_The_Singularity]

With all due respect, and to everyone else's point, I had a different take on the quantity/time ratio.
I assume this "count" is from one single event. And an unconfirmed count is just that, unconfirmed.

It reminds me of the "Why do French tanks have 5 gears in reverse and 1 in forward?" joke. Maybe the enemy got behind Kerry's boat and they HAD to fight.

They are going to play it both ways. They will play up the "unconfirmed" aspect when he is called a baby killer, and they will play up the "...confirmed" aspect when his courage/patriotism are challenged.

I am just going to refer to him as "John 'Baby-Killer' Kerry" from now on. Won't my Rat friends love me?

Peace
BITS

[Post Toasties]

Probably most were backshot women and children.

[anonymous_user]

I actually did not kill these 20 people, before I killed them.

[Saundra Duffy]

Well shut my mouth! I wonder if the peace-niks are real proud of this killer. LOL!

[AgThorn]

not sure how this can be a 'smoking gun' ... i.e. this is writen in his report as a credit to his bravery. The fact that it's 'unofficial' makes it non-news though for Kerry.

[NCC-1701]

Just how long WAS John FUBAR Kerry in Vietnam? Has anyone plotted a timeline of events for his "tour of duty"? To my understanding, he was only in country for about 6 months, maybe less. If he was involved in with all that has been reported, he must have come in as on blood-thirsty SOB. Incredible!!!!!