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."
"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.