Kerry's Vietnam service now fair game

www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Jack Kelly

[nelsonted1]

Kerry's Vietnam service now fair game

Jack Kelly

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | I would not have contemplated writing anything even mildly critical of John Kerry's Vietnam service, were he not making it the centerpiece of his campaign, and were not he impugning President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard. But as lawyers say before cross examination: "if the witness opens the door..."

Kerry joined the Navy after graduation from Yale in 1966, became an officer, and volunteered for Vietnam. After service on a destroyer, Kerry volunteered again to be a swift boat commander. This was courageous and commendable. Service on the swift boats, which patrolled the Mekong river, was about the only way a sailor who wasn't an aviator or a SEAL could get shot.

Kerry served on swift boats for about four months. During that time, he was awarded the Bronze Star (the lowest decoration for heroism in combat) and the Silver Star (the next higher decoration for valor) and three Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in battle. These latter decorations — like my title of "nationally syndicated columnist" — sound more impressive than they are. All three wounds were minor cuts from shrapnel, which, according to Kerry, caused him to miss a grand total of 2 days of duty.

For soldiers and Marines, especially of the enlisted variety, a Silver Star is a big deal. You've got to do something profound to get one. But the rules were different for officers, especially for naval officers.

This is the action on Feb. 28, 1969, for which Kerry was awarded the Silver Star: A Viet Cong fired a B-40 rocket at Kerry's boat, Patrol Craft Fast-94. Tom Belodeau, manning the twin 50-caliber machine guns at the rear of the boat, opened fire on the VC, wounding him. The VC fled behind a hooch. Kerry ordered PCF-94 to shore, leaped out of the boat, pursued the VC, and finished him off.

I can envision grizzled infantrymen shaking their heads. "He got the Silver Star for that?"

Kerry had an advantage most servicemen do not. Medal recommendations have to be made by the commanding officer of the unit in which the heroism took place. Kerry was the commander of PCF-94. Presumably, Kerry's medal recommendation was made by the commander of the squadron to which PCF-94 belonged. But Kerry's commander wasn't there. The evidence he had of the heroism of Lt (jg) John F. Kerry came chiefly from the after action report of Lt. (jg) John F. Kerry.

Shortly after being awarded the Silver Star, Kerry took advantage of a provision in Navy regulations that permits a sailor who has been wounded three times to obtain early release from his combat tour. For Kerry — since his wounds were so minor — this was taking advantage of a technicality. There is nothing wrong with this. Many officers similarly situated would have done the same. But it wasn't heroic.

To recap: Kerry was a double volunteer. As a swift boat commander, he was brave and able. But I am unaware of any soldier or Marine who was awarded a decoration of any kind — much less the Silver Star — just for killing a wounded man who was running away.

Though it is being hyped far beyond what it warrants, Kerry's Vietnam service was honorable. What is not honorable is the way Kerry — in testimony before Congress in April, 1971 — falsely accused his fellow Viet vets of routinely committing grisly war crimes. Nor does it speak well of Kerry that in several demonstrations he marched under the flag of the Viet Cong. It is one thing to oppose the war in Vietnam. It is another to cheer for the enemy.

In the senate, Kerry has a reputation for trying to have things both ways. Kerry exhibited this tendency early on at an antiwar protest in which he flung medals over a fence at the White House — but the medals weren't his own. Kerry says now that he is proud of his Vietnam service. But he said then that he was ashamed of it.

If Kerry plans to use his war service as a credential, he also should also be held to account for his behavior in its aftermath.

[End Times Sentinel]

What is not honorable is the way Kerry — in testimony before Congress in April, 1971 — falsely accused his fellow Viet vets of routinely committing grisly war crimes.

If he knew of these "war crimes" and didn't report them, isn't that dereliction of duty?  Shouldn't he be court-martialed for that?  Or is he just making stuff up again...

BTW- you need a link to the source.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Semper Paratus]

The evidence he had of the heroism of Lt (jg) John F. Kerry came chiefly from the after action report of Lt. (jg) John F. Kerry.

Why am I not suprised.

If there is skepticism about W's NG record why is this out-of-bounds?

[AgThorn]

In the senate, Kerry has a reputation for trying to have things both ways. Kerry exhibited this tendency early on at an antiwar protest in which he flung medals over a fence at the White House — but the medals weren't his own. Kerry says now that he is proud of his Vietnam service. But he said then that he was ashamed of it.

Seems like Kerry and Gore must have gone to the same matchbook correspondence course on "politics 101 - how to reverse yourself more than once"

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

That's what caught my eye, too. It sounds as though he manufactured his own Silver Star. Not flattering.

[centurion316]

more good intel

[grobdriver]

What happened to the story of him being decorated for turning his boat around, under fire, to pick up some guy who had fallen overboard?

[mystery-ak]

So, he got the Silver Star by writing his own after action report....okay!

[LisaMalia]

What happened to the story of him being decorated for turning his boat around, under fire, to pick up some guy who had fallen overboard?

I've never heard that one. Maybe it's "urban legand" ala Kennedy's PT109 manufactured story.

[stuartcr]

I can envision grizzled NGs saying...'you mean they're shooting at us?'...or, 'want me to stop at the grocery store on the way home from drill, honey?'

[grobdriver]

Well isn't that the guy they had reunite with Kerry recently? The guy he supposedly "saved"?

[mabelkitty]

Actually, he attempted to have all of the military court-martialed on his word only.

[mystery-ak]

here's another one for you.

[cinFLA]

Seems like Kerry and Gore must have gone to the same matchbook correspondence course on "politics 101 - how to reverse yourself more than once"

JFK dated JFK's wife's half-sister. JFK read PT109 and felt he needed that type of resume to bolster his career (just like JFK). JFK is following the JFK mold in his long standing desire to be the president.

BTW, is NOT Irish-catholic.

[Just mythoughts]

Apparently that noted liberal historian Brinkley, of New Orleans, put it in his book about the "HERO".

I heard the "saved" one claim that he was in Southern California, happened to be in a book store, happened to see the book by Brinkley and turned to the page that told his story and made contact with the JFKERRY campaign.

Brinkley's book is the only place where I have heard about this event.

[lonevoice]

"But I am unaware of any soldier or Marine who was awarded a decoration of any kind — much less the Silver Star — just for killing a wounded man who was running away."

Bump!

[drhogan]

you're right--kerry staged a big reunion with the guy in front of news cameras. maybe his bronze star was for that.
but why did kerry and the guy he save avoid each other all those years? i wonder if there is more to that story. i wonder who wrote that report.

[Gunner Mike]

I can envision grizzled NGs saying...'you mean they're shooting at us?'...or, 'want me to stop at the grocery store on the way home from drill, honey?'

Perhaps you might ask these units' personnel?

Air National Guard
Pueblo Crisis and Vietnam War Mobilizations
1968-1969
Unit Designation Date Mobilized Location Demobilization Date
104 TFS (MD) 7 Apr 68 U.S. 20 Dec 68
119 TFS (NJ) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 17 Jun 69
120 TFS (CO) 26 Jan 68 Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam 30 Apr 69
121 TFS (DC) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 18 Jun 69
123 TRW (KY) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 9 Jun 69
136 TFS (NY) 26 Jan 68 Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam 11 Jun 69
138 TFS (NY) 13 May 68 U.S. 20 Dec 68
147 AAS (PA) 13 May 68 U.S. 12 Dec 68
154 TRS (AR) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 20 Dec 68
165 TFS (KY) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 9 Jun 69
166 TFS (OH) 26 Jan 68 Kusan AB, Korea 18 Jun 69
171 AAG (PA) 13 May 68 U.S. 12 Dec 68
174 TFS (IA) 26 Jan 68 Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam 28 May 68
174 TFG (NY) 13 May 68 U.S. 20 Dec 68
175 TFG (MD) 13 May 68 U.S. 20 Dec 68
184 TFG (KS) 26 Jan 68 Kusan AB, Korea 18 Jun 69
188 TFS (NM) 26 Jan 68 Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam 4 Jun 69
192 TRS (NV) 26 Jan 68 U.S. 7 Jun 69
* SOURCES: ANG UNIT DATA CARDS, NGB-PAH, NATIONAL GUARDBUREAU, HISTORICAL SERVICES DIVISION, AIR NATIONALGUARD ARCHIVES.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - VNVAJK

[stuartcr]

Why?