[baseballmom]

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1966
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Graduates from Yale.


February 18: Kerry enlists in the US Navy.

October 19: Kerry is ordered into active duty.

December 16: Kerry receives his Navy commission, a few days after his 23rd birthday.

1967
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Kerry spends the year in military training.


December: Kerry begins his first tour of duty, serving on the guided-missile frigate USS Gridley.

1968
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February: With Kerry aboard, the Gridley sails into war to patrol the coast of Vietnam. He never came into contact with the enemy during this time.


June 6: Kerry's first tour ends as the Gridley returns home.

December: Begins second tour of duty as the skipper of swift boat No. 44, patrolling the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam.

1969
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February 28: Kerry shoots and kills a Viet Cong guerilla who was threatening the lives of Kerry's crew. He received the Silver Star for his action.


April: Kerry ends his second and final tour in Vietnam.

1970
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January 3: Discharged from the Navy.

February: Kerry gives up on his first bid for office as a protest candidate in the race for the Third Congressional district.




1978
Feb. 16: Discharged from the US Navy Reserves

Boston Globe

[Robert A Cook PE]

Funny.



That little heavily-editted Boston Globe summary didn't mention Kerry petitioned the Navy to quit active duty (and leave his his "cushy" admiral's aide position in Boston) nearly 9 months early to go run for Congress.

It didn't mention Kerry left his river duty after 90 days ... forcing somebody else to take over his spot. A spot he had just spent a half-year easy training duty in California getting set up to do!

Gee, and here I thought Bush was the "coward" one in an easy leaving the service early!

Except Bush asked to leave when the services were down-sizing AFTER Vietnam was nearly over, and Kerry left when they needed every person they could draft!