About Kerry's Purple Hearts And Reassignment

Boston Globe ^ | 6/16/2003 | Michael Kranish

[Hon]

[I thought it would be of interest to highlight some passages from an article in the series "A Candidate In The Making" from the Boston Globe. Given Kerry's charges about Bush's National Guard duty, I think it is appropriate that Kerry's own record should be given some similar scrutiny.]

Heroism, and growing concern about war

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 6/16/2003

Kerry served two tours. For a relatively uneventful six months, from December 1967 to June 1968, he served in the electrical department aboard the USS Gridley, a guided-missile frigate that supported aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin and was far removed from combat.

Kerry initially hoped to continue his service at a relatively safe distance from most fighting, securing an assignment as "swift boat" skipper. While the 50-foot swift boats cruised the Vietnamese coast a little closer to the action than the Gridley had come, they were still considered relatively safe.

"I didn't really want to get involved in the war," Kerry said in a little-noticed contribution to a book of Vietnam reminiscences published in 1986. "When I signed up for the swift boats, they had very little to do with the war. They were engaged in coastal patrolling and that's what I thought I was going to be doing."

But two weeks after he arrived in Vietnam, the swift boat mission changed -- and Kerry went from having one of the safest assignments in the escalating conflict to one of the most dangerous.

Kerry experienced his first intense combat action on Dec. 2, 1968, when he "semi-volunteered for, was semi-drafted" for a risky covert mission in which he essentially was supposed to "flush out" the enemy, using a little Boston Whaler named "Batman." A larger backup craft was called "Robin."

Unfortunately, Robin had engine trouble, and Batman's exit was delayed until the boats could depart in unison. The Batman crew encountered some Viet Cong, engaged in a firefight, and Kerry was slightly wounded on his arm, earning his first Purple Heart on his first day of serious action.

"It was not a very serious wound at all," recalled William Schachte, who oversaw the mission and went on to become a rear admiral.

In any case, Kerry said he was appalled that the Navy's ''free fire zone'' policy put civilians at such high risk. So, on Jan. 22, 1969, Kerry and several dozen fellow skippers and officers traveled to Saigon to complain about the policy in an extraordinary meeting with Zumwalt and the overall commander of the war, General Creighton W. Abrams Jr. ''We were fighting the [free fire] policy very, very hard, to the point that many of the members were refusing to carry out orders on some of their missions, to the point where crews were starting to mutiny, [to] say, `I would not go back in the rivers again,''' Kerry recalled during a 1971 television appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.

But Kerry went back in the rivers. Indeed, it was after this meeting that he began his most deadly round of combat. Within days of the Saigon meeting, he joined a five-man crew on swift boat No. 94 on a series of missions in which he won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and two of his three Purple Hearts. Starting in late January 1969, this crew completed 18 missions over an intense and dangerous 48 days, almost all of them in the dense jungles of the Mekong Delta.

The most intense action came during an extraordinary eight days of more than 10 firefights, remembered by Kerry's crew as the "days of hell."

On Feb. 20, 1969, Kerry earned his second Purple Heart after sustaining a shrapnel wound in his left thigh.

A couple of weeks later, on March 13, 1969, a mine detonated near Kerry's boat, wounding Kerry in the right arm, according to the citation written by Zumwalt.

Kerry had been wounded three times and received three Purple Hearts. Asked about the severity of the wounds, Kerry said that one of them cost him about two days of service, and that the other two did not interrupt his duty. "Walking wounded," as Kerry put it. A shrapnel wound in his left arm gave Kerry pain for years. Kerry declined a request from the Globe to sign a waiver authorizing the release of military documents that are covered under the Privacy Act and that might shed more light on the extent of the treatment Kerry needed as a result of the wounds.

"There were an awful lot of Purple Hearts -- from shrapnel, some of those might have been M-40 grenades," said Elliott, Kerry's commanding officer. "The Purple Hearts were coming down in boxes. Kerry, he had three Purple Hearts. None of them took him off duty. Not to belittle it, that was more the rule than the exception."

But Kerry thought he had seen and done enough. The rules, he said, allowed a thrice-wounded soldier to return to the United States immediately. So Kerry went to talk to Commodore Charles F. Horne, an administrative official and commander of the coastal squadron in which Kerry served. Horne filled out a document on March 17, 1969, that said Kerry "has been thrice wounded in action while on duty incountry Vietnam. Reassignment is requested ... as a personal aide in Boston, New York, or Wash., D.C. area."

Horne, in a telephone interview, said the transfer request was allowed under then-existing naval instructions and was "above board and proper." Transfer was not automatic and was subject to approval by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, he said.

"I never once in any way thought my decision was wrong," Horne said. "To get three Purple Hearts and not be killed is awesome."

Kerry, asked whether he is certain a rule enabled him to leave Vietnam after three Purple Hearts, responded: "Yep. Three and you're out."

For the past several weeks, Kerry's staff said it has been unable to come up with a Navy document to explain that assertion. On Friday, however, the National Archives provided the Globe with a Navy "instruction" document that formed the basis for Kerry's request. The instruction, titled 1300.39, says that a Naval officer who requires hospitalization on two separate occasions, or who receives three wounds "regardless of the nature of the wounds," can ask a superior officer to request a reassignment. The instruction makes clear the reassignment is not automatic. It says that the reassignment "will be determined after consideration of his physical classification for duty and on an individual basis." Because Kerry's wounds were not considered serious, his reassignment appears to have been made on an individual basis.

Moreover, the instruction makes clear that Kerry could have asked that any reassignment be waived.

The bottom line is that Kerry could have remained but he chose to seek an early transfer. He met with Horne, who agreed to forward the request, which Horne said probably ensured final approval. The Navy could not say how many other officers or sailors got a similar early release from combat, but it was unusual for anyone to have three Purple Hearts.

[truth_seeker]

"He keeps calling it Nixon's War in speeches and debates. He served during LBJ's term in a war started under the Kennedy Administration."

In fact, Nixon's term began 20 Jan 1969.

Since Kerry served both before and after that date, he served in Johnson's and Nixon's War, both started by one JFK (who is regal because he died so young and pretty).

History further reflects that we had involvement in Vietnam under Eisenhower. It was a matter of bipartisan policy for the era, to oppose commy expansion.

[GailA]

The George mag article is posted, book mark it.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1070518/posts?page=3

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.org/


he quit the Navy early and

On February 28, 1969:

When Kerry's Patrol Craft Fast 94 received a B-40 rocket shot from shore, he hot dogged his craft beaching it in the center of the enemy position. To his surprise, an enemy soldier sprang up from a hole not ten feet from Patrol Craft 94 and fled.
The boat's machine gunner hit and wounded the fleeing Viet Cong as he darted behind a hootch. The twin .50s gunner fired at the Viet Cong. He said he "laid 50 rounds" into the hootch before Kerry leaped from the boat and dashed in to administer a "coup de grace" to the wounded Viet Cong. Kerry returned with the B-40 rocket and launcher.
Kerry was given a Silver Star for his actions.

Kerry commanded his first swift boat, No. 44, from December 1968 through January 1969. He received no medals while serving on this craft.
While in command of Swift Boat 44, Kerry and crew operated without prudence in a Free Fire Zone, carelessly firing at targets of opportunity racking up a number of enemy kills and some civilians. His body count included-- a woman, her baby, a 12 year-old boy, an elderly man and several South Vietnamese soldiers.

"It is one of those terrible things, and I'll never forget, ever, the sight of that child," Kerry later said about the dead baby. "But there was nothing that anybody could have done about it. It was the only instance of that happening."

Kerry said he was appalled that the Navy's ''free fire zone'' policy in Vietnam put civilians at such high risk.

looks like hanoi john is a baby killer, he committed the same atrocities he said our troops did!

[Robert A Cook PE]

No - You're EXACTLY wrong:

After 6 months (A SHORT cycle!) in an air-conditioned ship ship off-shore, Kerry specifically requested "light duty" (off shore in Swift boats) when it looked like that was going to be simple, non-contact duty "off-shore" - BUT a way to get "command time" (and a second tour!) to enhance his future promotions.

Once there, he began bitching and protesting about "how to fight" policies and rules of engagement - not only up the local Navy command ranks, but to the CNO (Zumwalt) and Commander of the whole Vietnam forces. As part of that, how many of these "threatened mutinies" were sponsored BY Kerry's action, and not "prevented by" Kerry's actions?

He got three minor wounds, and used that as an administrative way to leave. Abandoning his shipmates and hsi mission. But getting back home.

Yeah. Right. Some heroic action. "Buckets of Purple Hearts" heroic in your eye only.

[Hon]

"And, the three PHs and you're home thing was commonly known even among those of us who were of age at"

Except if you will read the article it is NOT automatic by a long shot.

And at best you get reassignment, not sent home.

[Eva]

I think that Kerry is just embarassed that he received two of his purple hearts after requesting that a medic put a bandaid on his boo boo and kiss it all better, so that he could claim a purple heart.

[OneTimeLurker]

What makes you think this is an obscure technicality? I remember in Platoon when Charlie Sheen was injured the second time (required hospitalization twice) he was on his way home. I doubt they would dig up an "obscure technicality" to send him home.

How many people do you think, knowing that they could go back states side after being wounded 3 times wouldn't opt for it? I am sure everybody knew it was possible. You suppose people would say to themselves "schwew lucky break, let's see if I can escape death a 4th time."

He served honorably and was decorated. Not like he worked for Army Times, was a sometimes National Guard Pilot or "had other priorities during Vietnam."

There is more than enough to question Kerry's record on. His service is not one of them IMO

[Mo1]

He keeps calling it Nixon's War in speeches and debates. He served during LBJ's term in a war started under the Kennedy Administration.

He says it because it makes a good sound bite

[Pylot]

Viet Nam was run by chicken Johnson who was terrified of the Chinese.

That Kerry or anyone else was torn by the hypocrisy of Viet Nam is no surprise.

The man was obviously torn between killing innocent civilians (which happens every time you shoot at combatants in a shoreside village). He took the fairly extraordinary step of complaining formally to the command chain.

He got wounded. Any shrapnel in your leg could just have easily been in your brain.

Kerry's problem is he wants to be known as noble and lion like when in fact he was simply torn and dejected by the experience.

There is no shame in his experience of the conflict. Only in the way he wants to portray it, in a less than honest way today.

[plain talk]

Tear this guy up on anything he did after he got back, that's all fair game. Going after this, in this way, looks just like what it is...childish

You're right. But I'm not sure anyone is tearing him up over this. Kerry brought this up. He's the one bragging about his record and directly challenged Bush's service. They can't have it both ways. I'm frankly sick of Republicans being expected to lay back and enjoy it.

[HenryLeeII]

Kerry medal ping! You were looking for info this morning, so this may be helpful to you...

[Hon]

Well, I'm not so certain. After all Lyndon Johnson received a Silver Star. Do you think his war record was beyond questioning?

And, of course, Johnson didn't run for President based almost solely on his Silver Star. He also didn't question other candidates (or President's) military service.

[LiteKeeper]

Kinda puts my 19 months on the ground in Viet Nam as an Army officer in perspective. But then, I only got one Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars for Valor, and five Air Medals...and I requested the six month extension. Silly me...should have known better.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mentioned that I volunteered for Viet Nam, believing that it was my place of duty as a career officer.

[BobinIL]

An interesting story, I was working as a contractor in an older fellows office and noticed he had several medals in a frame on the wall of his office. Among the medals was a silver star, I told him that I was honored to meet a silver star recipient. He then proceeded to tell me of how he won it. He said he got in a tug of war with a viet cong pulling on the trip wire to a claymore mine. he said it seemed like he was tugging on that wire for an hour but it was only a few minutes. he finally jerked the wire out of the VC's hands thus saving his own life along with several of his buddies.

[wtc911]

I never said it was automatic, I said it was commonly known. The salient point here is that you don't get the PH for loading trucks two thousand miles away as was the case with the BS in the Granada deal. There's only one way to get it, and there's only one way to get it three times.

No matter how you twist it for political reasons, he was there, he was in combat, he got hit three times. Even a scumbag can do the right thing on occasion. Find something real to go after him with, not this. It smacks of desperation politics. I'm sure you can do better.

[jz638]

Also, it looks like the wounds were quite superficial, given that his commander said he lost ZERO duty days.

I'm reminded of that scene in "Band of Brothers" where one injured soldier was celebrating his third purple heart, dancing around his hospital bed while the guy next to him is barely moving due to a much more severe injury and only one purple heart.

War is war, you do what you have to to get back home to momma. I don't appreciate however how Kerry believes his war experience and subsequent anti-war experience make him bulletproof against criticism.

Hopefully someone will force him to explain how he rediscovered his pride in wearing those medals he "returned".

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Kerry's use of Viet Nam is so twisted. Of all the people who could have run on their service, he has absolutely no rationale for running on that War. I think Viet Nam could end up being a negative for him.

Kerry is overplaying this to the hilt.

It's his versioin of the Howard Dean screech.

[corlorde]

Big deal.

Kerry went to Vietnam when others were to afraid. I'd rather focus on how we are going to help Bush get re-electd. I'm no fan of Kerry, but to attack his medals is wrong imop. Was Kerry a ticket puncher? Maybe, but only Kerry knows the real deal, just like Bush and his service record, and they have to live with their actions or inactions, what they did or didn't do. I don't think Bush's missing time in the National Guard has affected his ability to lead us during a time of war either.

I have an MSN that I believe I earned and I wouldn't want anybody questioning my military record.

I mean, we have supply clerks who may not be kicking in doors and shooting people in the face but does that make their service any less of value?

We should rise above the liberal slandering BS and focus on our part/country.

[Hon]

Summary:

Kerry received minor wounds (no hospitalization) on Dec 2, 1968, Feb 20, 1969, and March 13, 1969.

He submitted a request to leave country on March 17. He returned to the US in April 1969.

He arrived in-country December 1968 and left at the beginning of April 1969.

[Hon]

"I don't think Bush's missing time in the National Guard has affected his ability to lead us during a time of war either."

Nice to see you're buying the Dem's slander without question.

[HenryLeeII]

I like your no-BS style. I won't question Kerry's decision to ask for a reassignment; never having been in combat I don't feel like I have that right. As far as his voting record and his congressional testimony accusing US soldiers of war crimes when many of them were still being tortured in POW camps, that's where I reserve the right to despise him and try to persuade others to vote against him come November. But again, as you said, "The bottom line [of this article] is that he got three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star and a Bronze Star."