Replies

"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."

You are two for four.

Agree that Kerry should not be beat up for knowing the rules and using them, or for bitching about policies (we all did that, part age, part justified, and part 'just because'). Kerry is a jerk, Max Cleland is a jerk, Al Gore is a jerk, Mc Cain is more than a jerk; Vietnam is neither cause nor excuse nor pertinent.

However, "worked for Army Times" and "National Guard Pilot" are off-base. Most of us were NOT chin deep in paddy water and most of us did NOT get home on a three PH rotation!
You go over and do what you are assigned to do. Or, you find an honorable way to stay home and do what you are assigned to do.
(Note here that Guard and Reserve units have been chewed up in more than one US fought war; it's a gamble unless you decide to go all conch AFTER getting rotation papers.)

Your second accurate statement is the "other things"...especially true thirty years later when some bozo sets down his beer and tells you he'd really liked to have served but had to stay home with the (instant or very quickly organized) family.

PS: Might want to reconsider citing "Platoon" as a valid starting point for debate.