[river rat]

"...before his massacre story broke.

One man's "massacre" is another man's successful ambush, firefight, mission or escape.

The "successful" encounters, are where you walk away from a fight and the other folks run away or die...be they men, women or accompanying children.

Most times, it ain't pretty.

I've heard too many versions of the alledged massacre to know which is true -- but the version of one of his fellow team members sounds more than plausable that they knowingly executed unarmed civilians that threatened to expose their presence to a superior enemy force....

I wouldn't presume to judge.
I don't think many warriors would elect to die, rather than destroy those that could threaten or contribute to his death.

Semper Fi

[hoosiermama]

You may want to keep these facts about Kerry close at hand.

[jstolarczyk]

I believe Kerry later admitted that they fired into the village knowing women and children were present. I do not believe the ends justifies the means, an attack like that today would land a soldier, salior or Marine in Leavenworth. But I was not there, it was a dirty war and I may well have done the same, I do not like the man's politics but only he and his team know if they could have acted differently.