Veteran critical of Kerry's service (Gardner)

Charlotte Observer ^ | 3/23/04 | DAN HUNTLEY

[NotchJohnson]

A former Navy gunner who served with presidential candidate John Kerry in Vietnam found himself in the media crosshairs this week. Until two weeks ago, Steve Gardner of Clover, S.C., had not talked with anyone from his 10-member Kerry-led boat crew in more than 30 years. The other nine members have generally described Kerry's leadership as heroic and exemplary under fire. Several have appeared with Kerry during campaign stops. Not Gardner. "Our job in that boat was to engage the enemy and Kerry did what he could to avoid confronting the enemy. He ran like a dog," Gardner said in a telephone interview. "What the other members of the crew are saying and what I observed are two different things. ... I was his gunner, I had very close contact with him during several firefights. I saw him with my own eyes." Gardner's comments have not gone unnoticed. A half-dozen stories about him have appeared in newspapers around the country this week and two television crews were at his home Thursday. Contacted on the campaign trail this week by Time magazine contributor Douglas Brinkley, Kerry said he respected Gardner but, "His stories are made up. It's sad, but that's the way it goes in war, and especially in politics." When told of how Gardner's recollections differed from everyone else on the boat, the Democratic Massachusetts senator added: "I'll take nine out of 10 testimonies anytime." Time's online edition on Tuesday night posted a lengthy piece on Gardner written by Brinkley, a historian who authored the book "Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War." Brinkley had interviewed the other nine crew members for the book but said he could not locate Gardner. A crew member later called Brinkley and gave him Gardner's phone number, which led to the online story. Gardner said he moved to Clover about five years ago. Brinkley, director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies and professor of history at the University of New Orleans, concluded that Gardner's out-of-sync recollections were politically motivated, a charge that Gardner denies. "A strong supporter of President George W. Bush, Gardner is sickened by the idea of Kerry as president. `Anybody but Kerry,' he says. `I know what a disaster he'd be,' " Brinkley wrote. Kerry was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for his Vietnam service. Gardner told the Observer that he is a Bush supporter but says his recollections of Kerry have nothing to do with politics. "My opinion of Kerry has not changed since Vietnam. I've kept my mouth shut until a reporter with the Boston Globe called me about two weeks ago," Gardner said. "Yes, I'll vote for Bush in November but that doesn't have anything to do with what I witnessed under Kerry's command on the boat. ... I wish no one had ever contacted me about this. And now the media won't leave me alone."

[NotchJohnson]

Tonight Gardner was on talk radio with John Hancock on WBT in Charlotte and made some claims about Kerry that back up what we hear . . he asked for purple hearts after minor scrapes taht didn't even need a band aid and that he turned and ran in fear when his boat cam under fire. Not sure if he is exactly what we think of as a brave vietnam vet on the up and up.

[cubreporter]

God knows the truth!

[cripplecreek]

Scarboro ran a segment on the assassination vote tonight and i got the distinct impression that the democrats are scared of this one.

[Nachum]

He ran like a dog"

Indeed my friend. He still does.

[eeriegeno]

"His stories are made up. It's sad, but that's the way it goes in war, and especially in politics."

It really is sad, now isn't it?

[cookcounty]

" "His stories are made up. It's sad, but that's the way it goes in war, and especially in politics."

Could be I'm reading too much into this, but doesn't this sound like a guy setting up for a "we all did it" excuse?

[wingman1]

Rush spoke of the KC meeting and vote today also.

After the Bush AWOL stuff, it serves Kerry right.

If I was a Democrat, I would be scared.

[DWPittelli]

I don't think I buy it. Apart from Gardner's apparently contradicting other crew members, on other occasions Kerry was beyond courageous, to the point of recklessly endangering himself, his crew and his boat by beaching the boat to shoot the (perhaps wounded or dead) man who had fired a rocket at said boat. (The better move was to move off 200 yards, where the boat's machine guns are effective but rockets ulikely to hit the boat. If the rocket-firer had any compatriots, Kerry would have been toast.)

[Fiddlstix]

[potlatch]

It really is sad, now isn't it?

And even sadder to me is the fact that the other 9 are probably lying to help Kerry!

[hoot2]

"And even sadder to me is the fact that the other 9 are probably lying to help Kerry! "

even sadder, kerry disgraced the "purple heart"; like klinton selling "a plot" in arlington cemetery...they're disgusting...

[potlatch]

Yes, they are disgusting, wish everybody could 'see' it!!

[vpintheak]

One thing we do know is that Kerry is a millionare, and a lot of money can buy a lot of things. Not saying anything, but you know, it is possible. Knowing what I know of Kerry, I would not put it past him.

[NYCVirago]

Too bad this article doesn't point out that Gardner lost his job the day after the Time story was published. His boss said it was just "a weird coincidence." Right.

[GailA]

btt

[dd5339]

Ping!

Semper Fi