Book reopens Kerry's war wounds ( New Book questions Kerry's Nam injuries, etc)

sunday times via theaustralian.news.com.au ^ | 02/23/04 | sunday times vis theaustralian.news.com.au

[KQQL]

but who recommened him for those awards..his buddies or himself or his commander.

PEOPLE have a right to KNOW>

[xone]

Except by his own words he volunteered for the swift boats because they didn't see combat. The Navy changed the mission on him. So he took the 3 scratches you're out path to go home early. He likely went to swifts because he wanted to be the HMFIC instead of some division O supervising paint chipping and getting run by the CO at every turn. This tendency of yours in getting larger and paler every response. I also noticed you don't support Kerry. And this part of his life is important, motives always are.

[Destro]

I have never heard of medals and the reason for their handout being a secret before. That is a puzzlement if true. I know the military keeps your private medical records sealed (like if you had VD, etc.) but never that they kept the reason and the who's of the issuing of combat medals secret.

[Hon]

" I don't support Kerry but this attack on his record is small minded and stupid."

What is stupid is your attack on people commenting on a book which is (or was) written by two Boston Globe reporters who know a HELLUVA lot more about Kerry than you ever will.

[Travis McGee]

NO, it is NOT true, Destro is making it up. Kerry served safely far out at sea on a Destroyer before being reassigned to the Swift boats, where he served 4 months before requesting his early-out for his three "scratch" Purple Hearts.

[Destro]

I do. A wounded fanatic like those communists were can still fire an RPG at a boat and maybe even sink it (the swift boats were not exactly tanks). Funny how you are now accusing a war vet for war crimes. I guess it is ok for our side to do it.

[Travis McGee]

When was Kerry ever "badly wounded?" His CO says he never missed a day of duty for his wounds.

[AlbionGirl]

As I said before, it makes my blood boil to think of one such as your brother-in-law being subjected to such disgraceful treatment following service to his Country.

You know what else, I'm really starting to form a general dislike for generals.

Are you a Ralph Peters fan? I happen to really like him because, number 1, he's very experienced and knowledgeable (sp?), and number 2, he loves the Soldier, that is the fighting men, and I do too. Anyway, he wrote a piece back several weeks ago on generals, and lets just say that I became more than a little nauseous (sp?).

Once again, cynicom, God bless and keep you and yours.

Alb...

[GRANGER]

Keep plugging Destrocrat. Kerry's first "tour" was afloat. No action. Why won't Kerry release his militrary records? Some basic facts need to come out: who put Kerry in for the Silver Star? Perhaps he is embarrassed that the award recommendation is in his own handwriting.

[Destro]

Travis, he did indeed serve 2 tours of duty. The Destroyer was the first tour of duty and the swift boat the second one. They were not part of the same tour as the navy reckoned them.

[Destro]

Kerry was not badly wounded beyond that it took him out for 2 days. That is as bad as the wound was. All 3 were Flesh wounds.

[kabar]

Though he served two tours, there was a big difference between serving on coastal/river patrol and being on a big ship at sea which is not in harm's way.

I will take issue with you somewhat. I served 8 months off the coast on an LPH (including 65 days straight at sea) and one year in country. Just because you were on a big ship didn't mean you were out of harms way. A good friend of mine almost lost his life on the USS Oriskany, CVA 34, which had a major fire that cost 44 men their lives in Oct 1966 off the coast of Vietnam. There were plenty of lives lost and others injured on our ships due to accidents and handling ammo, etc., associated with high temp ops in a war zone. I received combat pay for both assignments, at sea and ashore.

[Travis McGee]

I'm beginning to think that Kerry's Silver Star is every bit as deserved as LBJ's WW2 Silver Star.

I'm getting the feeling that Kerry requested the Swift Boat assignment in order to get his "JFK PT-109" ticket punched, in order to use it (like LBJ and JFK) to leverage a run for office.

When he got home, war heroes were out of style, and war protestors were the flavor of the month, so he changed tacks to sail with the new wind.

Now, 40 years later, he's trying to run again as a "noble war hero."

Which was it? Depends on what he wants, at the time.

[Destro]

Perhaps he is embarrassed that the award recommendation is in his own handwriting.

It is possible. When did such info become sealed anyway? I thought the reasons for medals were part of the public record?

[Polybius]

Surprised anybody (much less the Globe) is going to print this!

The Boston Globe has printed it before......

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.

[cynicom]

Travis...

To show the value of medals, all are not equal, check history about LBJ "winning" a Silver Star. After one does that, you have a better sense of balance when a man broadcasts that he has a Star.

[Travis McGee]

We are talking about VIET NAM. A million others were also doing "tours of duty" in Korea, Germany and around the world at that time. It was even a "tour of duty" to fly F-102 "widow makers" for the Air Force on active duty in the states. That was the war called "the Cold War," against the Soviet Union. Plenty of pilots died flying F-102s, a cranky and unforgiving interceptor.

But what we are talking about is VIET NAM, so don't try to be slick here. We know the difference.

[jackbill]

It was his secone tour, which would have lasted a year. He served less than four months of that tour. The sentence is not incorrect - you are.

You are the weakest link. Goodbye.

[Godebert]

"I like my modifier 'up close and personal' over hand to hand combat. When you track down and are close enough to see the man you kill 'up close and personal' sounds about right to describe it."

After taking a belt of .50 cal from the swift boat, I doubt that VC had much fight left in him anyways. I'm guessing if Kerry even did see the VC....he was in small pieces by that time. It would be interesting to see the narrative on the citation for the silver star.....and to learn who wrote it.