We have a few actual war heroes in the Senate such as McCain (resisting torture, refusing early release) and Inouye (Medal of Honor and the reason he has only one arm). But Kerry isn’t among them.
Not to knock anyone’s military service, but Kerry just served his time and did his duty. It’s him trying to exaggerate his service to proclaim himself a hero that brought out the Swift Boat vets.
More than that, he went to Vietnam and when he returned, he slandered those who he fought beside purely for his own political gain. He committed treason by meeting with the enemy and led the Fifth Column which handed this country it's first defeat.