[Destro]

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 agree. What bothered my about this article saying Kerry "only served" four months on a tour is that he had a cushy job on the big ship and opted to volunteer for his second tour of duty on a swift boat. In other words he took himself off the easy duty and into the harder combat seeing duty. That has to count for something. I don't support Kerry but this attack on his record is small minded and stupid.

[KQQL]

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

But but but ....why wouldn't he release his service records..

[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.

[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.

[CedarDave]

What bothered my about this article saying Kerry "only served" four months on a tour is that he had a cushy job on the big ship and opted to volunteer for his second tour of duty on a swift boat. In other words he took himself off the easy duty and into the harder combat seeing duty. That has to count for something. I don't support Kerry but this attack on his record is small minded and stupid.

That essentially is what I did, except I spent just two weeks shy of a year over there, and usually didn't go charging up rivers with our 83 ft. patrol boat. I agree that questioning his record up until the time he left the country is not going to win us any points. It's what he did AFTER he returned him is what's despicable in my opinion, starting with his anti-war antics and continuing through his time in the senate. His votes against our military programs truly show where his sympathies lie.