Posted on 08/08/2004 3:47:49 PM PDT by Bogey78O
The account of Kerry's citation here's what happened:
Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry was serving as an Officer-in-Charge of Inshore Patrol Craft 94, one of five boats conducting a Sealords operation in the Bay Hap River. While exiting the river, a mine detonated under another Inshore Patrol Craft and almost simultaneously, another mine detonated wounding Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry in the right arm. In addition, all units began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire from the river banks. When Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry discovered he had a man overboard, he returned upriver to assist. The man in the water was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry then directed his boat to return to and assist the other damaged boat to safety. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Yet according to the Boston Globe:
Naval documents said that Kerry ''received shrapnel wounds in left buttocks and contusions on right forearm when a mine detonated close to PCF 94 while engaged in operations on river. Condition and prognosis excellent. Result of hostile action."Rassmann, reached by telephone yesterday, said he has never had any question that Kerry deserved the Purple Heart. He said there were two separate events: One was earlier in the day, when he and Kerry blew up a rice cache, and the explosion caused some of the rice to hit Kerry, and perhaps some weapon fragments as well. The second involved a mine explosion as Kerry and Rassmann were on patrol. The explosion, Rassmann said, knocked him overboard and threw Kerry against the pilot house, injuring his arm.
Rassmann said that he has always believed that Kerry got the third Purple Heart solely for the injury to his arm as a result of the explosion in the water.
''If he got fragments in the buttocks due to the mine, that is new information to me," Rassmann said.
''I would say there is confusion. Maybe they did lump it together. It was my understanding he got it for the wound being thrown across the pilot house."
Either way, Rassmann said, Kerry deserved the third Purple Heart because such awards are given for injuries incurred in combat, and Kerry's arm injury qualified. He also stood by his recollection that he was under fire when rescued by Kerry.
So we essentially have the official medical report saying Kerry had a contusion. While the Bronze Star citation has Kerry suffering a laceration.
So the Purple Heart was issued for the shrapnel it seems he suffered at his own hands while the Bronze Star cites injuries he never had. Which means that a lot of the accounts given by Kerry just don't add up. It's looking more and more obvious that his record isn't as valiant as he wants it to be.
Note, however that Rassman actually gives credence to the Swift Vets version concenring the Purple Hearts. The media however is ignoring that.
Or am I wrong and bruises earn Purple Hearts?
Rassmann seems to have questions about the buttocks injury also. If he saying Kerry is a liar?
Rassmann seems to have questions about the buttocks injury also. If he saying Kerry is a liar?
according to a Navy casualty report released by the Kerry campaign, the third purple heart was received for "shrapnel wounds in left buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close aboard PCF-94," Kerry's boat. As a matter of strict grammar, the report doesn't state that both injuries were received as a result of the mine explosion, only the arm injury.
report is here:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Spot_Kerry.pdf
The official citation for Kerry's Bronze Star refers only to his arm injury, not to the shrapnel wound to his rear. It says he performed the rescue "from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain." The description of Kerry's arm "bleeding" isn't consistent with the description of a "contusion," or bruise.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/militaryrecords_1.pdf
We need truth Serum for Kerry and his Band of paid shills. Pronto!!
My dad was in the navy in WWII. He says that he got his feelings hurt once and now wants to apply for a retroactive Purple Heart.
That way they will have an excuse to say, "well it was a long time ago and the memories have all faded" or something like that, it's just what the rats want.
I say one of Kerry's supporters, I think it was Rasmussen on tv (FOX?) and he said that, the expression on his face at the time made me think he knew the jig was up....
Brings up an interesting point; If you get your feelings hurt three times in Basic Training, can you avoid combat for your entire term of duty???
The reason there is "cloudy" recollections about the "rice in the ass" bit - is simple..
If indeed rice did enter Kerry's ass - is was NOT the result of enemy action.. It was the result of Kerry, once again, being too close to ordanance he detonates.. A wound cause by your own fire or ordanance does NOT qualify for a Purple Heart... I heard one story, that reported that Kerry dropped a grenade into a sampan full of rice, and was too close when it went off.
One of his other "Purple Heart" wounds, was described as from his own ordanance which he fired at the shore and suffered from particles flying back at him..
AGAIN -- NOT eligible for a Purple Heart...
The TRUE stories will be interesting to hear...
I will wait to hear the After Action Reports of the other Swift Boat Captains that were present at the SAME BATTLES, and IN SIGHT OF KERRY -- and THEIR descriptions of the battle......or "non battles"..
Semper Fi
Yep, John Kerry, but he ain't talkin'. Sure makes one wonder why.
FWIW, I once worked with a Vietnam vet who had sustained serious lacerations to his arm (very visible still) and body. In five years he never mentioned anything about a purple heart. Unlike John Kerry, however he did not evade discussion of exactly how his injuries occurred.
Also, Del Sandusky is very cagy with his introduction of Kerry. Sandusky isn't as bold, but he picks his words such that you get the idea that Kerry was hit in the arm and bleeding from the arm.
Funny thing was, the day I printed off the transcript of Sandusky's introduction of Kerry and the Medical Officer's report, my car broke down. I get a tow and it turns out that the driver is a Vietnam vet with an AK-47 wound in his arm. I gave him the printouts and he poured over them. I'd love to see Sandusky and Kerry look that guy in the eye and see if they'd have the balls to try and lie again.
Since Rasmann put Kerry in for the Silver Star, we need to see Rasmann's 201 file to see if there was reciprocity from Kerry.
I know for a fact that this sort of sh!t happened with career officers back then.
I have been reading and hearing all these contradictory reports about how Kerry did or did not earn his medals and purple hearts.
Let's get this straight. I am NOT a Kerry supporter (egad!) But I am not buying into all of this stuff. I never liked the tactics used by moveon.org which bases stories on hearsay, flimsy evidence and outright lies. So I am not ready to buy into any of the theories flying around. This is dangerous stuff and could easily backfire.
Thing is this ... Kerry himself has been pointing to his Vietnam service and has made it a major campaign issue. So now that these charges are out there, contradicting what he has claimed, he needs to stop threatening the media and clear this up with proof of his version.
What Kerry needs to do now, is release ALL his military records (as he demanded of Bush). That should clear the matter up once-and-for-all.
So why hasn't he released them? hmmmmmmmmmmm?
What say ye? Anyone got a better version of events?
My version: SELF inflicted wounds to get third phoney PH. There were 4 other boats involved there. How about their version. Each and every one of the PH's and bronze and silver stars are BS. End of story.
The Rassmann that as Brit Hume described "parachuted" into Iowa last January is not the same Rassmann that I saw on the tube this past week.
Physically yes they are the same person, however the Rassmann interviewed last January told a story, with excitement and adoration of JFKerry. This week's Rassmann was not confident and complained about memories and timing.
I sure would like to know when JFKerry and Rassmann first encountered each other. Was Rassmann on JFKerry's boat when he, Rassmann went into the water?
Who did Rassmann submit the paperwork to for the Purple Heart? What exactly did Rassmann put to pen for that recommendation?
I thought that Rassmann said he was injured, where did he go after JFKerry pulled him from the water? What were Rassmann injuries. I thought that Rassmann claimed he never saw JFKerry after that incident.
Rassmann needs to explain exactly how much time he spent in JFKerry's presence and then how much time he spent with JFKerry's band of brothers.
He also stood by his recollection that he was under fire when rescued by Kerry...in their statement issued yesterday to several TV stations the vets included material from three Swift Boat captains who were on the scene and said there was no enemy fire - in fact they said that Kerry took off leaving them to protect the soldiers who had fallen into the water and returned a few minutes later, apparently when he realized there was no threat of enemy action......
I got news for ya: The election is over.
If the news media stop covering this story RIGHT NOW, the damage has been done. People don't think Bush is behind it, all they know is this ad is filled with decorated vets saying Kerry was lying. That is now in people's heads.
The convention and the debates and ads will reveal what won't start sinking in til September--Kerry didn't show up for senate hearings, has zero accomplishments, is annoying and elitist, wants to raise taxes; meanwhile, Bush has accomplishments (whether or not voters like them), comes off as very likeable (which CANNOT be underestimated), and loves tax cuts the way Michael Moore loves cheeseburgers.
Okay, let the hand-wringers and pesimists and the inevitable "don't be complacent!" posts begin. But it's over.
I had a similar experiencing working with a guy whom I knew had served but didn't like to talk about it. Turned out he'd gotten a purple heart for being shot while saving somebody and he dismissed it as totally undeserved on his part. Kerry is exactly the opposite, wanting grandeous acclaim for his own self-inflicted buttox injury.
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