[Hon]

Why won't Kerry allow his medical records from that period to be examined?

How many other people were reassigned using this seemingly very obscure technicality?

[jmstein7]

This is the big secret; this is one of Kerry's big problems.

What is he hiding?

[Republican Red]

I'm still trying to figure out how he served in "Nixon's War" during the time frame of December 1967 to June 1968????

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.

[wtc911]

The bottom line to this piece of Kerry's history is not that he requested an early transfer. The bottom line is that he got three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star and a Bronze Star.

Any attempt to twist this into a negative shames only those doing the twisting.

[Rummyfan]

Interesting. Bump for later read.

[Ancesthntr]

Bush and the Republicans need to fight Kerry with the truth...which, in Kerry's case, hurts a LOT. Here are the FACTS:

On Kerry's war record:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com/

On Kerry's record on defense matters (REALLY lousy):

http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20040127-084854-4468r

[faithincowboys]

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.

[mystery-ak]

Kerry was really up on the Navy's rules and regulations...he must have carried a copy with him constantly.

[js1138]

How many other people were reassigned using this seemingly very obscure technicality?

It will be interesting to see how Kerry's premature withdrawal plays in Peoria.

[Malesherbes]

The guy is just lucky, both in love and war. I hope his luck runs out in Novermber of this year.

[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

[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.

[HenryLeeII]

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

[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.

[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.

[olliemb]

I am not for Kerry but did I not just read he was wounded three times. Whether I agree with his politics or not, he did enough. Time to come home.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

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 Heart.

I believe that - absolutely. You know why? Because writing up guys for metals, and awarding them for minor stuff is a pain-in-the-a**, even if its genuinely necessary. Kerry was a Navy Lieutenant. I was a Navy Lieutenant. Do you know how Navy Lieutenants get medals? You write YOURSELF up, and submit it to your boss. If your boss likes you, and you have some justification, you get the prize for your "love me" wall at home.

Kerry got three Purple Hearts. Deserved? Well, if we was wounded in combat, I don't care if it was for getting a pinched finger reloading a clip, he deserved the medal.

Now, back the reason why so few had two or three Purple Heart medals. After seeing buddies get their back sides blown off, or getting outright killed, it'd be tough for most combat veterans to write up a minor shrapnel wound for a Purple Heart. Oh, you might do it the first time, especially if your drawers were still stained from freaking out during the last firefight. Hey..you deserved it. Your men deserved it. "One set of Purple Hearts to go, guys.. all 'round." After the second or third time. No way. You're not going to go to the trouble of writing up every time you got cut up on a mission for another Purple Heart. As the C.O. of the unit, you'd be embarassed if your men found out!

Unless, of course, you were in Vietnam to punch your ticket and get out. Unless, you were building a political career, in or out of the Navy. If you were a "perfumed Prince", you'd make the most out of every situation, and hopefully come back all in one piece with a chest full of pretty medals. Then..maybe, you'd go to the trouble, if you had the time.

Now, as Kerry's C.O., I'd forward every medal he wrote up, recommending approve. But I wouldn't let him off his tour early, not if he was walking, if he got the medals. You get one or the other. Now, one factor that might change that would be if he was a general pain in the butt, a political liability, the sort of guy who was a loose cannon, going off to Saigon and complaining to Generals and and Admirals and such. A lot of C.O.'s would use his transfer request to ship him to Siberia ASAP. I wouldn't, but a lot of other guys would, especially in a war zone. You don't have time for political B.S. in a war zone.

Returning on point, to the subject of Kerry's medals, this I speak from experience (post Vietnam). The main reason Kerry has a chest full of medals, and got off his tour early, was because he wanted them, or his superior desperately wanted him out of his hair.

SFS

Commander, USNR (Retired)

[tinamina]

Any chance that John Kerry's connection to the Pershing family (his first marriage was in their house, he graduated from Yale and was fellow Skull and Bones member with Richard Warren Pershing, grandson of the famous General of the Armies, J. J. Pershing) would give him access to the Pentagon which would allow for his easy medals and early discharge?

[cookcounty]

3 1/2 months ----thats less than Gore's 5 months.

[breakem]

pathetic