Kerry's PCF (Swift) Boats Records [Where Is He?]

Swift Boats Net ^ | Composite

[Hon]

Kerry commanded his first swift boat, No. 44, from December 1968 through January 1969. He received no medals while serving on this craft.

Kerry experienced his first intense combat action on Dec. 2, 1968. He was slightly wounded on his arm, earning his first Purple Heart.

In late January 1969, Kerry joined a five-man crew on swift boat No. 94 completing 18 missions over 48 days, almost all of them in the Mekong Delta.

Kerry earned his second Purple Heart after sustaining a minor shrapnel wound in his left thigh on Feb. 20, 1969.

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February 28, 1969: When Kerry's Patrol Craft Fast 94 received a B-40 rocket shot from shore, he hot dogged his craft beaching it in the center of the enemy position. To his surprise, an enemy soldier sprang up from a hole not ten feet from Patrol Craft 94 and fled. The boat's machine gunner hit and wounded the fleeing Viet Cong as he darted behind a hootch. The twin .50s gunner fired at the Viet Cong. He said he "laid 50 rounds" into the hootch before Kerry leaped from the boat and dashed in to administer a "coup de grace" to the wounded Viet Cong. Kerry returned with the B-40 rocket and launcher. Kerry was given a Silver Star for his actions.

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Kerry and crew stand together in An Thoi, Vietnam, on February 28, 1969, after presentation of Kerry's Silver Star. He also received a Purple Heart for a minor wound. From left: Del Sandusky, John Kerry, Gene Thorson, Thomas Belodeau. Kneeling from left, Mike Medeiros, Fred Short.

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On March 13, 1969, a mine detonated near Kerry's boat, slighting wounding Kerry in the right arm. He was awarded his third Purple Heart. PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) 94 crew in March 1969, from left, Gene Thorson, David Alston, Thomas Belodeau, Del Sandusky, and John Kerry.

PCF 44
Crew	e-mail Address	Dates	Base	Comments
		17 April 1966	Cam Ranh Bay	first arrived in South Vietnam
Leland M. Mills, LT, OinC		4/66-??	Cam Ranh Bay	??Glenview, IL??
George Hoover, BM2		4/66-??	Cam Ranh Bay
David Franklin Parsons Jr, RM3	brenda.parsons@version.net	4/66-??	Cam Ranh Bay	Lakeland, FL
Francis Joseph "Sonny" Buchta, EN3		4/66-5/66	Cam Ranh Bay	Dayton, TX
Cox, GMG3		4/66-??	Cam Ranh Bay
Wayne Watkins, SN		4/66-??	Cam Ranh Bay
Lucian Gale Jewell, EN1		5/66-1/67	Cam Ranh Bay	Dawson Springs, KY
James A. Colombo, LT, OinC	Midnightvette@cs.com	??-6/67	Cam Ranh Bay	Hagerstown, MD
James Stephen Matheny, RMSN	jsm4914@peoplepc.com	3/67-6/67	Cam Ranh Bay	Granite, IL
Michael Gene Cosper, GMG3		??-6/67	Cam Ranh Bay
Gary Earl Nolan, RM3		??-6/67	Cam Ranh Bay
Ralph E. Duerre, LTJG, OinC		?/67-12/67	Cam Ranh Bay	was from Ithaca, NY
Joseph R. LaVoie II, QM1	JLavoie101@.aol.com	67-68	Cam Ranh Bay	Kent, WA
W.P. "Sonny" Taylor, RD2	tnfayette@aol.com	5/67-3/68	Cam Ranh Bay	Oakland, TN
		12/27/67-4/30/68		overhaul in Sasebo, Japan
Robert T. Grace, LTJG, OinC		5/68-??	Cam Ranh Bay	Virginia Beach, VA
MacKinnon, QM2		5/68-??	Cam Ranh Bay
Goss, BM3		5/68-??	Cam Ranh Bay
Anthony, EN2		5/68-??	Cam Ranh Bay
Donald J. Shaw, RD2		5/68-7/68	Cam Ranh Bay	Northbrook, IL
Robert Allen Kreyer, GMG2	bkreyer@egcrc.net	5/68-8/68	Cam Ranh Bay	Novoto, CA
John Everet Repshire, EN1	russpr@st-tel.net	6/68-??	Cam Ranh Bay	Russell Springs, KS
Peter V. Carey, LTJG, OinC			Cam Ranh Bay	was from Farmington, CT
Thomas Williams Wright III, LT, OinC	twright3@hotmail.com	11/68-4/69	An Thoi	Savannah, GA
James T. Thompson, EN2		11/68-4/69	An Thoi
George E. Bobb III, RD3		11/68-4/69	An Thoi	Westerville, OH
William J. Newman, BM3		11/68-4/69	An Thoi
Donald Eugene Kinser, BMSN		11/68-4/69	An Thoi
Frederick  J. Nastasuk, GMGSN		11/68-4/69	An Thoi
Michael A. Adkins, LTJG, OinC		6/69-5/70		La Mesa, CA
		31 October 1969	Saigon	transferred to South Vietnamese Navy
PCF 3851

- PCF 44 and 6 other swifts were delivered to Cam Ranh Bay, from Subic Bay, PI, onboard the USS Tortuga, LSD-29 on 17 April 1966.   While offloading, at night, from the LSD, one (1) boat suffered a damaged screw and four (4) others damaged skegs.

- PCFs 43, 44 and 47 stopped an infiltration attempt by taking an enemy arms trawler under fire and destroying it, 29 February 1968.

- In August 1969, a ceramic gunshield was installed on mount 52 for evaluation.   The disadvantages of restricting the movement of the .50 caliber mount, with the after pin removed, the restricted viewing area, due to the height of the shield, and the fact that it was a one shot item, that would have to be replaced after any damage, ruled out any further installations.

PCF 94
Crew	e-mail Address	Dates	Base	Comments
		October 1966	An Thoi	first arrived in South Vietnam
Thomas S. Winslow, LTJG, OinC		5/67-5/68	An Thoi	Oakland, CA
Quint, RM1		5/67-5/68	An Thoi
Carlyle John Brown, EN2	johnbrown578@aol.com	5/67-5/68	An Thoi	Watervliet, MI
Guraltemo, GMG2		5/67-5/68	An Thoi
James L. Brookshire, BM3	jbrook1029@aol.com	5/67-12/67	An Thoi
Mike ????, SN		5/67-5/68	An Thoi	Navajo Indian
Thomas M. Herritage II, OinC		3/68-3/69		Novi, MI
Larry James Balok, OinC	seascow@msn.com	7/68-11/68	An Thoi	Bradenton, FL
James L. Miller, RD1	jlmiller@tscnet.com	7/68-11/68	An Thoi
Kenneth Poole, EN2		7/68-11/68	An Thoi
Vern Radcliff, GMG3		7/68-11/68	An Thoi
		11/9/68-1/17/69		overhaul at NSF Cat Lo
Edward Robert "Tedd" Peck, LTJG, OinC	tpeck49@cableone.net	1/69-1/69	An Thoi	Santa Rosa, CA
Delbert Sandusky, QM1		1/69-1/69	An Thoi
Eugene Kenneth "Thor" Thorson, EN2		1/69-1/69	An Thoi	Ames, IA
Michael Richard Eugene Medeiros, QM2		1/69-1/69	An Thoi	San Leandro, CA
Stanley E. Jenereski, RD2	Jenereski@aol.com	1/69-1/69	An Thoi	Southborough, MA
Daniel Salinas II, LTJG, OinC		1/69-??	An Thoi
Joseph Edward Muharsky, RD2	ndc@mwwed.com	1/69-4/69	An Thoi	Mentor, OH
Larry G. Potter, QM2		1/69-??	An Thoi
James Barry Bogart, EN3	bogey67401@yahoo.com	1/69-8/69	An Thoi	Salina, KS
Dalmas K. Coates, BM3	dalyeame@midusa.net	1/69-??	An Thoi	Wamego, KS
Chris Whalen, GMGSN		1/69-??	An Thoi
Henry "Buddy" Berman, QM2	buddyb@atlantic.net	5/69-7/69	An Thoi	DeLeon Springs, FL
Alfonso Abrego Garza, RD3	algarza@earthlink.net	6/69-6/70	An Thoi/Cat Lo	Richmond, TX
John Ellis O'Neill, LTJG, OinC	oneilljohn@copn.com	9/69-3/70	An Thoi/Cat Lo	Houston, TX
Harry George McConnell, LTJG, OinC	hmcconnell@daytonalaw.com	12/69-11/70	Cat Lo	Ormond Beach, FL
Bradford Miles Slepicka, RD3	ElbowG97@aol.com	9/70-10/70	Cat Lo/Sa Dec	Katy, TX
		1 October 1970	Cat Lo	transferred to South Vietnamese Navy
PCF 3915

- On 29 January 1969, PCFs 5, 72, 93 and 94, together with units of COSDIV 13, conducted operations in the Cua Lon river.  PCFs 72 and 94 came under fire while probing a side canal resultings in 3 USN WIA and light damage to PCF 94.

- PCF-94, in company with PCFs 22, 35 and VNN PCF-3806, 14 January 1970, were supporting a troop sweep when PCF-94 was hit by a claymore mine resulting in two (2) friendly WIA and damage to the hull and one engine.

- While patrolling on the Rac Giang Thanh, 25 April 1970, PCFs 3 and 94 came under heavy AK-47 and B-40 rocket attack.  Three (3) B-40 rockets detonated close aboard PCF-94, causing shrapnel damage, the starboard bow was also hit by 9 AK-47 rounds.  One crewman on PCF-3 was wounded.  The PCFs suppressed the fire and then spotted for a SEAWOLVES strike on the surrounding area.

[terilyn]

Thanks for the response.

I'm not a big believer in coincidences. Rassman coming out of the woodwork at exactly the opportune time when Kerry looked like he was all but ready to have a fork stuck in him....

It might all be on the up and up, but color me suspicious.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Loss of two days doesn't sound like a serious wound to me. Seriousness is not a criterion for the Purple Heart. I'm not sure what your point is other than to further glorify Kerry.

[backhoe]

Yes, #21 is deleted. That bad, huh?

Oh, just the usual juvenille potty-mouth running on about girls who are porn "stars."

He'd probably faint if a real woman laid a hand on him.

[Kozak]

Don't ever forget it was Kerry and his 'rat pack that started it with Vietnam

Yeah. Brilliant tacticians. They get to lose the Vietnam war AGAIN

[mabelkitty]

This just leaves more questions than answers....

[deaconblues]

"Navy Cross 1
Silver Star 1
Bronze Star 26
Navy Commendation Medal 20
Purple Heart 16

Out of all of those men what are the odds that one person would get the only Silver Star, one of only 26 Bronze Stars, and THREE of the 16 Purple Hearts?

Additionally, what are the odds that members of his crew received two of the 20 Navy Commendation medals??

If Kerry got a Sivler Star, surely other members of that crew and mission were recognized some how too. Can those dates and records be matched up?"

The two sailors on either side of Kerry are wearing "Navy Commendation Medals", presumably awarded at the same time Kerry received his "Silver Star".

[Howlin]

Don't ever forget it was Kerry and his 'rat pack that started it with Vietnam.

What do you mean by that?

[Howlin]

By cutting and pasting websites together to make your point is a bit cheap don't you think?

Hon is doing damn fine work with what is available on the internet.

Hon wouldn't have this problem if Mr. Kerry would release HIS military file, including his dental charts.

[Howlin]

Kerry???

I'm thinking just that.

[Howlin]

Why would Kerry refuse that request?

[Howlin]

Why did young Lt. Kerry come home so soon.?

Supposedly he used some obscure rule that said that when you're hit three times, you get an immeidate go home card.

He asked to be reassigned to somebody in D.C.

If I recall correctly, there is some discrepancy about who asked who for what regarding his "homecoming."

[satan]

Why, in the photo at the beginning of the post, is Kerry wearing a Silver Star next to a Purple Heart w/2 clusters? Where is the Bronze Star with V? He's already back in the USA as an aide.

[Howlin]

TIRED OF HEARING KERRY CALLED A 'HERO'
mark steyn website ^ | February 17, 2004 | Sgt. Major Edward F. Komac


Posted on 02/17/2004 6:04:52 PM EST by dennisw


Letter Of The Week TIRED OF HEARING KERRY CALLED A 'HERO' Thank you for your article, Kerry's post-battlefield conversion is pathetic.

I spent three tours in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces (Airborne) with side trips to Laos and Cambodia. I lost twenty-three of my friends during the war. That is the price you pay for the profession we followed.

However, the America public and a lot of Vietnam Veterans are being taken in by John Kerry's service in Vietnam. If you read about the award of his three Purple Hearts, they were nothing but scratches. If my Team Medic would have put me in for a Purple Heart every time I was dinged, I would have a chest full of them also, I wouldn't been able to face my fellow Team Mates. He used those three awards to get out of further combat. Also, the award of his Silver Star is rather dubious. It was up-graded from a Bronze Star, which by the way, I have three of them. During the Anti-war protest, the Vietnam Veterans threw their medals on the steps in Washington. When Kerry's were seen displayed in his office, someone asked him, didn't you throw those away during the protest? His reply, the ones I threw were symbolic.

I'm sorry that I got on a roll. I'm just tired of hearing what a "hero" Kerry claims to be. I would like to see that picture of him with the VC Flag behind him when he was telling everyone what evil things we done in Vietnam displayed more often.

Sgt. Major Edward F. Komac USA Retired

[Howlin]

See #114.

[Hon]

"Supposedly he used some obscure rule that said that when you're hit three times, you get an immeidate go home card."

I'm not sure how obscure it was. It might be obscure. But I'm not even sure it was ever written down. I've never seen it cited. It's mentioned in passing on the Purple Heard thread here:

The Purple Heart [Superstitions]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1079832/posts

But it is not automatic. You have to apply or be put in for it. And you can be turned down. You can also turn it down. It's often written up as if Kerry didn't want to leave his crew behind. He didn't have to. He could've stayed very easily.

And you are not sent home--you are re-assigned, presumeably out of the combat area.

"He asked to be reassigned to somebody in D.C."

Kerry asked to be made an aide back in either DC, NY or Boston. He was sent to Boston.

"If I recall correctly, there is some discrepancy about who asked who for what regarding his "homecoming.""

It is suggested that Adam Walinsky used his influence to get Kerry an early out--which he got, so that he could run for Congress. (He didnt' run for Congress.)

Walinsky was the head of the VVAW, but he had been a speech writer for RFK, so he was very well connected. Kerry had already been piloting Walinsky around to rallies even while he was still on active duty. Walinsky is said to have written and even rehearsed Kerry on his speech to the Senate in April 1971.

[Howlin]

Har! Good find!

[onyx]

He'd probably faint if a real woman laid a hand on him.

I ain't volunteering!

[Hon]

"Why, in the photo at the beginning of the post, is Kerry wearing a Silver Star next to a Purple Heart w/2 clusters? Where is the Bronze Star with V? He's already back in the USA as an aide."

That question might have been answered by the letter Howlin just quoted:

"Also, the award of his Silver Star is rather dubious. It was up-graded from a Bronze Star, which by the way, I have three of them."

I've never heard that claim before--that it was an upgrade. If so, then Kerry shouldn't be claiming to have both. But I think the person in the letter might be mistaken.

[Howlin]

Smells like DEAD FISH, if you ask me.

Didn't we read that the campaign contacted him?