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.

[BadAndy]

"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'm surprized that a 5 foot nothing, 100 pound VC could move after beis hit by a 50 Cal. bullet. Must have been real hard to finish off. Did the VC even have a rifle, or did Kerry murder a defenseless man?

[lilylangtree]

Kerry's record is fair game and we as Bush freepers should make the most of it. Kerry's RAT supporters and the leftist media put up a big stink about the prez' record until he released some information. It's Kerry's turn to come COMPLETELY CLEAN on his record.

[el_texicano]

Ummmm, wouldn't this be a violation of the Geneva Convention???? Shooting a wounded man?? And how do we know he was running away, we have only Kerry's word for that?

[Happy2BMe]

Kerry's Vietnam service now fair game

Anybody coming up with something solid on Kerry's openly demonstrating against the United States Government while he was still on Active Duty - PLEASE PING ME!

[MineralMan]

"Kerry's record is fair game and we as Bush freepers should make the most of it. "

Sorry, but that's a dead end, quite frankly. Kerry served in combat in Vietnam, got some medals, and came back. Criticism of what he did while in country is only going to backfire on the critics, quite frankly.

If you want some ammo, focus on his anti-war actions after he got back. The Vietnam War, however, in the early 70's was unpopular with Dems and Republicans alike, for the most part. We all wanted it over, and Nixon obliged by pulling out of Nam.

Analyzing details of what Kerry did or did not do while in active combat in Vietnam is a losing proposition in this race. He was there. He was in combat. He got medals. Leave it alone. It will backfire.

[mass55th]

"Why am I not surprised."

I'm not surprised either. Kind of cheapens it all doesn't it?

[katana]

The act of "finishing off" somebody wounded by a spray of 50 cal (picture BIG holes) and crawling away may be acceptable conduct but, at least on the face of it, hardly "heroic".

If a German soldier (say, an SS lieutenant) during WWII would have been captured, identified, and found to have done the same thing to an American GI there's a strong likelihood he'd have been greeted by Mr. Rope or Mr. Firing Squad after the war. It might also help explain some of Kerry's statements about "war crimes" and "atrocities" after he came back (early).

[rogue yam]

From NRO today:

KERRY IN VIETNAM [John Derbyshire]
VERY interesting, from a military reader. I post the following because of its authentic-sounding quality, with no wish to slight or disparage anyone -- certainly not anyone who did combat duty in Vietnam. Would be very interested to hear comments or rebuttals from knowledgable servicemen or ex-servicemen, and will post them, though I reserve the right to edit (as I have, slightly, here).

"Three caveats to remember before examining JFK's war record:

"(1) Medal inflation. The Viet Nam War (VNW) was unpopular; in unpopular wars medals are generously awarded to try (usually unsuccessfully) to boost the morale of personnel and/or alter public opinion [the Wehrmacht on the Russian Front comes to mind]. The Navy was especially troublesome in this area because the majority of Naval personnel (aviators being the most prominent exception) in the VN theater were almost never exposed to enemy fire -- there were virtually no naval battles in the VNW (probably not even Ton-kin Gulf as it turns out). River patrol craft personnel were thus the Navy's entree into the medal arena -- they got lots of them.

"(2) Three and out. It was a naval tradition -- NOT AN OFFICIAL POLICY OR REGULATION -- that allowed personnel with three Purple Hearts to transfer to non-combat duty. JFK was well aware of this tradition.

"(3) JFK's Rank. Although JFK was not a high ranking officer he was always the highest ranking officer ON THE SCENE -- these were small craft and small operations. Enlisted men would be unlikely to risk contradicting JFK's account of what happened -- and 'boot lickers' would be encouraged to corroborate him. As ranking officer he was the one writing the eye-witness reports. In a sense his medals -- though approved by higher-ups -- were 'self awarded.'

"With these three caveats firmly in mind let's look at JFK's record:

"JFK experienced his first intense combat action on 2 December 1968. He was slightly wounded on his arm, he was awarded his first Purple Heart.

"JFK was awarded his second Purple Heart after sustaining a minor shrapnel wound in his left thigh on 20 February 1969.

"JFK was given a Silver Star for an action on 28 February 1969: JFK's Patrol Craft received a B-40 rocket shot from shore, he beached his craft in the center of the enemy positions and an enemy soldier sprang up from a nearby (10-15 ft.) hole and fled. The boat's forward machine gunner hit and wounded the fleeing VC as he darted behind a hooch. The twin .50s gunner also fired at the VC. The gunner said he 'laid 50 rounds' into the hooch before JFK leaped from the boat and dashed in to administer a 'coup de grace' to the soldier. JFK returned with a B-40 rocket and launcher. [In contrast, Army and Marine personnel were -- and are still -- routinely trained to engage and close with the enemy. Had JFK been commanding a platoon or rifle company this action -- going towards and not running away from enemy fire -- would have been routine.]

"On March 13, 1969, a mine [this is dubious; marine mines were hardly used by NV forces; it was probably a propelled grenade of some type] detonated near JFK's boat, slighting wounding Kerry in the right arm. He was awarded his third Purple Heart. On the basis of these awards JFK then petitioned to be removed from combat operations. Interestingly JFK also made sure to have the men who served in his craft transferred to safer positions (easy to due in the VNW Navy) -- perhaps to ensure their endorsement of his actions."

[thackney]

Another J F'ing K" ping

[Paul_B]

Sounds like it's time to get Kerry's medal records out to the public.

[ahumblefan]

"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."

The writer is ignorant of the military. (The sailors most likely to get shot are corpsman.) This makes his whole column suspect.

Leave Kerry's war record alone. Politics aside, he's braver than most of his critics.

[Eaker]

Another War Record Ping!!

Thanks again, thackney!!!

[Polybius]

After service on a destroyer, Kerry volunteered again to be a swift boat commander. This was courageous and commendable.

It would be very courageous if Kery had know that swift boats were going to be used to patrol the rivers. However, that mission mission did not come about until after Kerry transferred to swift boats.

What did Kerry expect?

In his own word:

Boston Globe, 6/16/2003: ........"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.

Ooops.

So, now what? Well, Kerry needed a way to get out of combat as soon as possible. He racked up three Purple Hearts for injuries that cost him a combined grand total of two days in Sick Bay then used the "three Purple Hearts" excuse to ask for and get granted an early termination of his combat tour after serving only four months.

Boston Globe, 6/16/2003: .........Along with Kerry's unquestionable and repeated bravery, he also took an action that has received far less notice: He requested and was granted a transfer out of Vietnam six months before his combat tour was slated to end on the grounds that he had earned three Purple Hearts. None of his wounds was disabling; he said one cost him two days of service and the other two did not lead to any absence. .........The bottom line is that Kerry could have remained but he chose to seek an early transfer.

There is no doubt that Kerry served in combat. However, he did not willingly volunteer for combat and, once in combat, Kerry sea-lawyered himself out of combat as fast as he could for minimal injuries.

By contrast, I recall my uncle coming home as a Bay of Pigs POW and then later coming home from Vietnam with bullet riddled legs and one Purple Heart and, after recovering, going back for a second combat tour, to be followed by more serious wounds and another Purple Heart and another long recovery to be followed by more combat.

Forgive me if I am not overly impressed by what Kerry did in Vietnam and thoroughly disgusted by what Kerry did after he came home from Vietnam.

[eureka!]

Bump for later....

[tcuoohjohn]

I would exercise caution in stories such as these. Navy regulations forbid an officer recommending himself for a commendation for valor. An officer may recieve a commendation for the silver star if he is nominated by his commanding officer and it is subsequently approved by a commendation board. The silver star is awarded from action reports, testimony of those who participated in the action ( save the nominee), the evaluation of his commander and the commendation board.

The Bronze star is awarded at the immediate command level and requires no commendation board review.

[thackney]

A Silver Star for shooting a wounded man running away. That medal he should have thrown over the fence.

[Just mythoughts]

Who dear sir will come forth and speak for all those who suffered for the "HERO" acts afterwards.

NOw it might make him a HERO in your mind but in my mind it leaves him owing BIG TIME!

He made this the issue and he proudly trotted out his saved one ignoring all those he caused harm by, after he saved 1.

So don't give me a lecture about putting people down.

[jwalsh07]

Well, somebody finally came right out and said it.