Tuesday night in a Charlotte, NC, radio show (WBT), Steve Gardner, the tenth member of Kerry's crew who lives in nearby Clover, SC, said among several interesting things that at least one of Kerry's Purple Hearts was suspicious. He himself saw the ABRASION..."not even a cut" Garner said. According to his first-hand account, Gardner said that Kerry went to the commanding officer (G. gave his rank and name) and said he wanted a Purple Heart for his "wound". The officer said, "NO WAY." Then, Garner said, Kerry went to two other officers w/the same request (demand?). The first officer, scheduled to leave Vietnam, told them that if THEY wanted to give Kerry the Purple Heart commendation, THEY could do it, but he was not about to write Kerry up for the award himself.
Perhaps this detail is another reason for Kerry to refuse releasing his records.