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.

[jackbill]

I saw it.

However, the VC flag behind Kerry, mentioned at the end, is photoshopped.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a VC flag prominently displayed in his "mansion" on Beacon Hill.

[There's millions of'em]

It is suggested that Adam Walinsky used his influence to get Kerry an early out--

Most likely Senator Ted "Designated Driver" Kennedy.

Who was better equipped at manipulating the press than Ted?? And they were old friends, even then.

[Howlin]

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

I wasn't speaking of his getting out of the Navy early; I meant the part you posted about the fact that he didn't have to leave his crew, etc.

Great work, once again, Hon.

(BTW, have you done a timeline thingy?)

[Howlin]

Go ahead. You can take him!

[terilyn]

I swear I read that too! But I couldn't find it. All the "official" stories show that Rassman contacted the campaign. If I find it I'll ping you.

[Carolinamom]

Your tag line prompts me to ask how Kerry is different from Lt. Calley since Kerry admits to killing an old man, a woman, and a child as well as free-firing, burning villages, etc.?

Calley was court martialed. A friend of mine was sent from the Pentagon to Vietnam to gather the information.

[Howlin]

Mo, onyx, did we read something about the GOP guy who Kerry supposedly "saved" -- the one who said he came on his own -- was really contacted by the campaign?

[Hon]

I'm not sure whether there was any influence behind him getting out of VN early. Here is all I have ever seen about it, from the Boston Globe:

"But Kerry thought he had seen and done enough. The rules, he said, allowed a thrice-wounded soldier to return to the United States immediately. So Kerry went to talk to Commodore Charles F. Horne, an administrative official and commander of the coastal squadron in which Kerry served. Horne filled out a document on March 17, 1969, that said Kerry "has been thrice wounded in action while on duty incountry Vietnam. Reassignment is requested ... as a personal aide in Boston, New York, or Wash., D.C. area."

The document notes that Kerry was "presently on full-duty status and available for reassignment."

Horne, in a telephone interview, said the transfer request was allowed under then-existing naval instructions and was "above board and proper." Transfer was not automatic and was subject to approval by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, he said.

"I never once in any way thought my decision was wrong," Horne said. "To get three Purple Hearts and not be killed is awesome."

Kerry, asked whether he is certain a rule enabled him to leave Vietnam after three Purple Hearts, responded: "Yep. Three and you're out."

For the past several weeks, Kerry's staff said it has been unable to come up with a Navy document to explain that assertion. On Friday, however, the National Archives provided the Globe with a Navy "instruction" document that formed the basis for Kerry's request. The instruction, titled 1300.39, says that a Naval officer who requires hospitalization on two separate occasions, or who receives three wounds "regardless of the nature of the wounds," can ask a superior officer to request a reassignment. The instruction makes clear the reassignment is not automatic. It says that the reassignment "will be determined after consideration of his physical classification for duty and on an individual basis." Because Kerry's wounds were not considered serious, his reassignment appears to have been made on an individual basis.

Moreover, the instruction makes clear that Kerry could have asked that any reassignment be waived.

The bottom line is that Kerry could have remained but he chose to seek an early transfer. He met with Horne, who agreed to forward the request, which Horne said probably ensured final approval. The Navy could not say how many other officers or sailors got a similar early release from combat, but it was unusual for anyone to have three Purple Hearts."

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061603.shtml

But it should never be forgotten that Kerry has already been dating Jackie Kennedy's half-sister and had worked on Ted Kennedy's campaign before he ever went to Vietnam.

Indeed, his roommate at Yale was McGeorge Bundy's nephew. He and Kerry had talked before Kerry went to VN. So it is very likely there was influence wielded.

Also, I have never been able to find any mention of this Naval Instruction apart from this in the Boston Globe. You'd think it would have been pretty famous and there would be a lot of mention of it. I haven't seen it anywhere--except as I said, it was mentioned as a custom in the post that I put at the top of the Purple Heart thread.

[johnb838]

So in less than about a two week period, Kerry gets the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, THREE Purple Hearts, and he's out of there. This does NOT pass the smell test.

[Mo1]

the one who said he came on his own -- was really contacted by the campaign?

To be honest .. I'm not really sure who contacted who first

But it has been reported that Kerry's campaign was in contact with the guy before that surpirse chance meeting they had

So Kerry knew he would be there

[Hon]

"(BTW, have you done a timeline thingy?)"

The Boston Globe has a timeline, but it's fairly sketchy. Mother Jones has a more detailed timeline, they they tried to use to show up Bush's service.

You could probably turn up both with a Google.

[Hon]

Here's the Mother Jones' timeline:

http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2004/02/02_400.html

[Semper Paratus]

What do you mean by that?

Where have you been? Every speech for the last 2 years Kerry brings up his Vietnam experience. Lately he's been dragging around some of his boat crew to events and the DNC has been pushing the lies tha Bush sluffed off his National Guard duty. So Kerry's record including his libel that American serviceman were committing atrocities dialy in Vietnam belongs on the table!

[johnb838]

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

I heard an interview with Ollie North where he talked bout his wounds. He said he received two Purple Hearts (one was for a sucking chest wound). He said after that he didn't put in for them any more because if you got three they'd take you out of action and his place was with his guys. He said it's what Marines do. I don't doubt him.

If one was unfortunate enough to have to go into combat, what a blessing it would be to be led by a man like Oliver North.

[Hon]

Kerry pretended to be surprised to see Rassman show up in Iowa. They acted out a surprised meeting in front of the cameras.

But the American Spectator reported that Rassman had contacted the campaign days before, to offer to help. The Kerry camp eventually admitted they had been contacted by him, so it shouldn't have been a surprise.

[There's millions of'em]

Well, my tag line is based on jfk's own comments and admissions.

I am not familiar in detail with the specifics of the two officer's actions. But, it is fairly well established that Calley ordered his platoon to round up the villagers and then they executed them, or some of them before the intervention of other US troops put a stop to it. I don't believe Calley was operating in what was known as a "free fire" zone.

The most obvious difference is that no one except jfk is accusing jfk of doing anything wrong. His superiors gave him medals. Calley was prosecuted, although there was some attempt to cover it up, IIRC.

And, based on this article, I would suggest there aren't any folks out there who are going to come forward and testify against jfk:

http://www.s-t.com/daily/10-96/10-28-96/a03sr015.htm

[Swordmaker]

What was he doing running after VC when he had just been wounded in the thigh?

Limping and crying "Owie, Owie, Owie!" with every step.

[lainde]

Thank you for that clarification. I am not a soldier and am loath to pass judgment or second guess those who defend us. But it always seemed to me that was a despicable thing to do (especially if the gunner had laid down 50 rounds to obviously wound the guy). But I kept thinking maybe they didn't have the ability to "take prisoners". I didn't know what their orders were for wounded Vietcong. It's confusing, but somehow his action either seemed foolhardy or murderous. Based on the action described in this article I'm having real problems with his "war hero" definition.

[T'wit]

It didn't sound very heroic to me either. But... we have at least three different accounts of that little action, so we really can't say we have the facts at hand. The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that Kerry beached his patrol boat. If my correspondent is right (and he rose to the rank of admiral), that was just never done because it made the boat defenseless. Maybe Kerry violated orders, maybe he was just stupid. At the least, he should have gotten a reprimand, not a medal.

[T'wit]

> Limping and crying "Owie, Owie, Owie!" with every step.

Hahahahaha! Scared the b'jaysus out of that Charlie :-)