" 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."
From what I can tell, at this late hour, your timeline jibes with that listed in " John F Kerry, the Official Biography By The Boston Globe Reporters Who Know Him Best."
The quotes attributed to David Alston in the book are pretty boilerplate- no dates,no specifics, just generalized vouching.
Which may be the point.
I don't think the media or those vouching for Kerry thought anyone would bother to fact check.
In fact, Kranish does say at one point in the book-that Kerry's version of events, many times varies from his crew.
I'll find the exact reference tomorrow.
You would think that might have rung some bells in the head of an investigative journalist.
Alston spoke at the DNC and detailed his experience with Kerry in an impassioned speech.