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Evidence Shows Crewmate Rev. Alston Never Served Under Sen. Kerry
August 10, 2004 | The Bandit

Posted on 08/10/2004 10:21:42 PM PDT by The Bandit

For years now we have been lead to believe that both Sen. Kerry and the Rev. David Alston had served together on the PCF-94 in Vietnam, and therefore, making David Alston an eyewitness to Kerry's actions and heroism. The fact that Sen. Kerry has used a famous photo of himself together with David Alston and other crewmates while serving on swift boats in Vietnam, left little reason to believe anything differently. As with most anything having to do with Sen. Kerry -- nothing is ever as it first appears to be.

There can be little doubt that Sen. Kerry and David Alston wanted to deceive people into believing the two served together on the PCF-94 swift boat by the following statements:

David Alston  said of Kerry, "We were in a lot of firefights," Alston said. "You learn a lot about people. After a firefight, John would come up to me and he would put his hand on me and he'd say, 'David, are you all right?'"  And Kerry added: "I didn't know then that I had a man of God on my boat. That's probably why I'm here today." (Orlando Sentinel, 1/31/04)

"I stand here before you only because almighty God saw our boat safely through those rivers of death and destruction, by giving us a brave, wise, and decisive leader named John Kerry." (David Alston in a speech before the Democratic Convention, and the world.)

Rev. David Alston says, "When the bullets started to hit the side of the ship, we found out that John Kerry [could] lead. (Kerry for President Campaign Ad that aired early February '04)

Only problem with the above statements is that the are flat out false because David Alston was never a crew member under Sen. Kerry nor could he had ever participated in combat operations with Sen. Kerry because they were from two different boats. From December to January 29, 1969 Sen. Kerry commanded the PCF-44 while David Alston was the Gunner onboard the PCF-94 under Lt.(jg) Peck. On January 29, 1969 both Peck and Alston were wounded and hospitalized. We know Alston was wounded on that date because his causality report was made available briefly by the Kerry Campaign before they removed it. Here is what it said:

AWFA: GMG2 DAVID MARION Alston, USN, 99T 57 46
BRAVO: ACTIVE DUTY, ATTACHED TO COASTAL DIVISION ELEVEN AT AN THOI, RVN
CHARLIE: INJURY, HOSTILE FIRE
DELTA: 29, JAN 69, 1030H, SONG CUA LON - SONG BO DE, WHILE SERVING AS FORWARD GUNNER ABOARD PCF 94, ENGAGED IN CORDON AND SEARCH OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE RIVER, GMG2 Alston RECEIVED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS TO HIS HEAD WHEN PCF CAME UNDER INTENSE HOSTILE ROCKET AND A/W FIRE.
ECHO: CONDITION GOOD, PROGNOSIS GOOD. PRESENCE OF NOK IS NOT MEDICALLY WARRANTED AS REPORTED BY CORPSMAN.
FOXTROT: MRS. IDA MCQUILLAR Alston, MOTHER
GOLF: NOK NOT OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED. REQ NOK NOT REPEAT NOT BE NOTIFIED.
HOTEL: SERVICEMAN TREATED BY CORPSMAN AND MEDEVACED TO 29TH EVAC HOSP. BINH THUY.
2. PATIENT ABL TO COMMUNICATE WITH NOK.
3. NO FURTHER INFO WILL FOLLOW.

This confirms the date of David Alston's wounds, but it does not tell how seriously wounded David Alston was. There is no military medical records available for David Alston, and you cannot go by the causality reports description of good and prognosis is good because they will always say that even if you had both legs shattered -- and then there is the fact no medical doctor had yet evaluated him. But we can today see the severity of the wound Alston suffered as shown below from as Rev. Alston stood before recent Democratic Convention delegates.

alston.jpg (19740 bytes)

As one can see, it was a sever wound indeed, and Alston most likely lost tissue and scalp from this injury. This is important evidence for dating another picture of him with Sen. Kerry below.

 

ker_crew.jpg (49728 bytes)

Now let's take a closer look at Alston.

alston_closeup.jpg (24270 bytes)

 

No signs of a serious head wound, or the treatment of such a wound, which would had required visible head shaving that still  would have been visible weeks later if this picture was taken in early March as sometimes suggested by writers. Thus, we can be confident that the picture in question was taken prior to January 29, 1969 when Sen. Kerry was still skipper of the PCF-44 and Alston was the gunner on the PCF-94. How did Sen. Kerry get in this picture then? We know Coastal Division 11 and 13 were participating in joint operations in January of 1969 from the Command History of Division 11 released by the Navy, and no doubt that the crews from each division shared the same faculties and socialize among themselves.

Now that we know when and how Alston was wounded, we can see how Alston could not have been part of Sen. Kerry's crew on the PCF-94 because he had been replaced, just as the wounded Lt. Peck had been replaced by Kerry after the January 29th incident that lead to both Alston and Peck being hospitalized. Was David Alston able to return to the PCF-94 during anytime between February 1 and March 13, Kerry's last combat mission? No evidence that he did or even the suggestion he physically could have with the injury he had suffered,  because we know that on February 28, 1969, Fred Short was onboard and described as an replacement for a wounded David Alston. We Know David Alston was not onboard for Kerry's last combat mission on March 13, either. Therefore, we can confidently say David Alston was never part of Kerry's PCF-94 crew from February 1 through March 13, 1969 because he was still recovering from his head wounds.

Now we need to answer whether David Alston could had been able to participate in combat missions with Kerry from a different swift boat? Looking at the daily combat missions for Coastal Division 11 we do not find both the PCF-44 (Kerry's boat) and the PCF-94 (Alston's boat) involved in any joint missions together. This conclusion is further supported by the fact David Alston or any other Kerry supporter has ever ventured to describe specific missions that Alston and Kerry could have participated in. All discussion of Alston and Kerry together is vague, generalized and non-specific.

Everything we were told by David Alston, Sen. Kerry and his people are clearly false about in regards to Kerry's relationship with David Alston. This is not a mere little slip of the tongue, but an orchestrated scheme over the last few years to outright deceive people about Sen. Kerry's military service. Why did the Rev. David Alston put himself into this position of deception and lies?

"I owe John Kerry my life,"  the Rev. David Alston was quoted as saying, "But John Kerry owes his life to me, too." This just might be true, but not in the sense that Kerry saved Alston's life during Vietnam, but for what he may have done for Alston after Vietnam and what Alston is doing for Kerry now for his run for the White House.

After both Kerry and Alston departed Vietnam, the two stayed in contact and Kerry had invited Alston to his first wedding, to Julia Thorne in 1970, and sent Christmas cards to Alston's parents' house. Kerry aides contacted Alston in 1996, after a story in a Boston paper "accusing him of being a killer," Alston told the Charlotte Observer.

"That was just false, and I was happy to tell people that," Alston said. "In Vietnam, killing an enemy soldier meant saving men's lives. It was something that had to be done." The incident in question here was on February 28, 1969, for which Alston was not part in because he was recovering from a head wound.

David Alston's mother-in-law, Beulah Lowery, has said: "He didn't like to talk about it [Vietnam], so we didn't press him," Lowery said. "But David always appreciated what he (Kerry) did for them. He talked real nice about him." Was Sen. Kerry so good to the Rev. Alston that Alston would do anything for him, like mislead voters on his behalf? Only David Alston can answer this question.

Another troubling question arises from this disclosure -- why haven't the rest of Sen. Kerry's supporting "Band of Brothers" stepped forward and correct the record of the Kerry/Alston relationship, something they know firsthand cannot be possible? Perhaps we will be find Kerry has been very good to them as well.



TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: alston; crewmembers; davidalston; deception; fraud; kerry; lies; swiftboats; vietnam
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To: SC DOC
Well doc, the wound was severe enough to have kept him away from duty for at least a month. Is skin grafting ruled out here to replace missing scalp?
101 posted on 08/11/2004 3:27:34 AM PDT by The Bandit
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To: weegee

Wegee, you are absolutely correct and that is how the DNC operates. "Kerry", the lie that keeps on lying. Alston is a fool/lackey of the demo-commies and a big fat liar to boot. Maybe he got the wound infected from ingesting too much communist propagana. Bush/Cheney 2004


102 posted on 08/11/2004 3:27:53 AM PDT by No Surrender No Retreat (These Colors Never Run( 7.62))
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To: woofie

I question him, and could careless what the P.C. thinks. I don't beieve his story about Kerry. Money and the thought of a little power will cause a fool to say anything. In my eyes his is a veteran and if wrong needs correcting. Color/race/religion mean nothing in the quest for truth. Woofie, like you said some people think that because of a person race one should not be questioned or held accountable for speech/actions. A liar is a liar and if the truths offends So What!! Bush/Cheney2004


103 posted on 08/11/2004 3:45:23 AM PDT by No Surrender No Retreat (These Colors Never Run( 7.62))
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To: The Bandit
just as the wounded Lt. Peck had been replaced by Kerry after the January 29th incident

Somehow I doubt that a Lt was replaced by anyone less than the unit commander....a Commander or LtCommander.

I've figured that it took about 3 years active duty to go to 03 (Lt) from 01 (JG). (To CPT from 2LT in army terms)

Does anyone know Kerry's various rank at any given year of his military service?

104 posted on 08/11/2004 3:51:31 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army and Supporting Bush/Cheney 2004!)
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To: The Bandit

But flying cold war era National Guard air-defense with the constant potential to be deployed for short periods in Vietnam is evidently not comparable to this in terms of heroism.


105 posted on 08/11/2004 3:56:49 AM PDT by risk
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To: The Bandit

Have you emailed the Swifties and confirmed this? If they can confirm it then you have something big to nail JF'nK with.


106 posted on 08/11/2004 3:57:23 AM PDT by wasp69 ("I drank what?" - Socrates (469-399 BC)
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To: The Bandit

If Alston were an E-5 and served on Kerry's boat for 41 days he would have possibly received an Efficiency Evaluation Report. Alston, if an NCO would need his rated and un-rated time documented for his evaluation report.
Bush/Cheney 2004


107 posted on 08/11/2004 3:59:41 AM PDT by No Surrender No Retreat (These Colors Never Run( 7.62))
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To: The Bandit

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.


108 posted on 08/11/2004 4:00:40 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: The Bandit

Kerry's people have been making a big deal out of the fact that most of the Swiftboat veterans for truth didn't serve on the same boat as Kerry, thus would have no idea what Kerry did or did not do. The Vets claim they were on boats operating WITH Kerry's boat, therefore were frequent witnesses. Well, if not serving on the same boat makes you an unreliable witness, then Alston cannot be a good witness to Kerry's actions either.


109 posted on 08/11/2004 4:01:21 AM PDT by Casloy
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To: An.American.Expatriate

I think the sun is directly in front of the men and overhead, casting a shadow in the direction the head is leaning. Thus an under the chin shadow on one man, and side shadows on the men whose heads are turned and slightly tilted in opposite directions.
However, even with that explanation, it does look a little fishy... if my camera wasn't broken right now I would try to recreate such a scene around noon. Maybe someone else could give it a try.


110 posted on 08/11/2004 4:08:15 AM PDT by ValerieUSA
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To: xzins
Somehow I doubt that a Lt was replaced by anyone less than the unit commander....a Commander or LtCommander.

I've figured that it took about 3 years active duty to go to 03 (Lt) from 01 (JG). (To CPT from 2LT in army terms)

Does anyone know Kerry's various rank at any given year of his military service?

You're close but you missed one rank. An Ensign is O1.

A Swift boat OIC was either a Lt. j.g (O2) or Lt. (O3). Kerry would have made O2 sometime before he arrived there for his Swift boat duty.

111 posted on 08/11/2004 4:33:36 AM PDT by Bob
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To: ValerieUSA

The shadow for the center man in t-shirt is the same as Kerry. Following the hypothesis of a doctored photo, the man on left would have been inserted, not Kerry.


112 posted on 08/11/2004 4:38:47 AM PDT by rusty millet
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To: The Bandit

Why aren't other Swifties saying Alston wasn't there?

Think story about Kerry/Alston to be phony, but like so many other Kerry lies, but need some specific proof before we run with it. Would be very embarassing if claim of phony Alston was made, then it was proved to be not true.


113 posted on 08/11/2004 4:58:37 AM PDT by MindBender26 (Kill all Islamic terrorists now. Then they cannot kill our sons and daughters tomorrow)
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To: The Bandit

Good one bump.


114 posted on 08/11/2004 5:13:45 AM PDT by jslade (People who are easily offended, OFFEND ME!)
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To: The Bandit

So Alston served with Kerry before he didn't serve with Kerry?


115 posted on 08/11/2004 5:26:53 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("If you control the information given to society, you control society. ")
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To: MindBender26; The Bandit
Why aren't other Swifties saying Alston wasn't there?

I really wish people would get off this VN crap!! Stop letting Kerry dictate the debate, if you keep bringing this VN stuff up then it detracts from his DO-NOTHING senate career.

Why do you think Kerry keeps inviting people to know he was in VN???????? Get a clue!!!

FWIW, this is a bogus issue whether or not Kerry is lying about it.

116 posted on 08/11/2004 5:41:33 AM PDT by sirchtruth (Do you just think I fell off a turnip truck?)
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To: The Bandit
It is common knowledge that Kerry recreated a record of his service for future political reasons.

Notice how the men and standing close to each other and Kerry is off to the side as if not part of the group.

I heard the Rev. speak and say that he supports Kerry because he, Kerry, put his hand on his shoulder and asked if he was alright.

Poor guy, selling his soul so cheaply.

I have profound sympathy for those willing to be exploited for political gain.

117 posted on 08/11/2004 5:44:00 AM PDT by OldFriend (WAR IS THE REMEDY OUR ENEMIES HAVE CHOSEN)
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To: The Bandit

Notice too that the man on the far left does not have his dogtags on.


118 posted on 08/11/2004 5:45:37 AM PDT by OldFriend (WAR IS THE REMEDY OUR ENEMIES HAVE CHOSEN)
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To: OldFriend
Well, Kerry's flack this morning on FNC just retracted the Cambodia lie...er, story. I think critical mass has just been reached.
119 posted on 08/11/2004 5:46:36 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: Bob
an ensign is 01

Sorry. It's the Army in me.

I always louse up the Navy ranks. And don't even go to the enlisted. They've got more letters and numbers than a code sheet.

:>)

120 posted on 08/11/2004 5:50:41 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army and Supporting Bush/Cheney 2004!)
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