B.G. Burkett: Navy Commanders to Cast Doubt on Kerry's War Record

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/04/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

B.G. Burkett: Navy Commanders to Cast Doubt on Kerry's War Record

Several Navy officers who supervised Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry when he commanded a swift boat in Vietnam are preparing to publicly question his war record - including the circumstances under which he was awarded three Purple Hearts - a noted Vietnam War historian revealed on Sunday.

Burkett, whose 1999 book, "Stolen Valor," is considered to be the definitive history of of falsified Vietnam War claims, told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg that Kerry's former commanders would allege that the top Democrat's Purple Hearts were awarded for "self-reported injuries that were virtually nonexistent."

"He never got a day of treatment, he never spent a day in a medical facility," Burkett said. "These were all self-reported wounds, which you're going to hear from some swift boat guys in the future as to the nature of those wounds."

Burkett said he had personally spoken to the Navy commanders who were preparing to go public about Kerry's decorations.

"You're going to get quite a showing [of those speaking out]," Burkett told Malzberg. "I don't know [the number] yet. They're trying to get it to be unanimous of every swift boat guy who ever served."

As to the timetable for the upcoming revelations, Burkett said that Kerry's superior officers "were still discussing that."

"You've got some major rallys being planned against John Kerry by Vietnam veterans on the mall, at the convention - this type of thing," he said. "And we're going to make America aware of John Kerry's military record."

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[guitfiddlist]

Look for JF'nK to pull an LBJ, and show all his little owie's to the public, courtesy of 'Rat media.

[FreeAtlanta]

Could he have "done it" to himself?

[.45MAN]

PING

[sully777]

I wonder if this revelation is Hillary Clinton's "October Surprise."

[OrioleFan]

Maybe Kerry was making such a stink about the "free fire zones" that his chain couldn't get him out of there fast enough, and thus three (bogus?) PH claims were overlooked as a suitable means to an end. They probably knew back then that he would end up in the VVAW,

[JimRed]

Sounds like Kerry is about to be formally and publicly "outed".

Enter, stage left, HILLARY!

[Ghengis]

I listened to parts of an interview with Mr. Burkett on the radio a week or so ago. His position was that it would be devastating to the presidential candidacy of John Kerry when his real service record came to light. He stated that Kerry's war wounds were highly exaggerated.

[wingman1]

I've said this before on this forum, but I don't mind Susan so much. I believe it was Rush who first brought to my attention an op-ed she wrote that was highly critical of the Clintons - where they were using up all of the oxygen of the Dem Party.

As for Liberals, I don't mind listening to Susan or Allan Colmes. I seldom agree, but at least they don't insult one's intelligence.

I do agree with you that she underestimated his candidacy, else she wouldn't have mentioned his "skeletons".

[wingman1]

I read Burkett's book when it first came out - even paying for the hardcover edition.

He did a lot of Freedon of Information Act requests on people who wore phony medals. Alot of stuff that came out in media stories, if they seemed a little bit phony, he researched. Perhaps, more importantly, Burkett exposes guys who built a phony military record and then used the VA system to collect benefits. He goes in-depth about that.
Amazing how many phonies are out there.

What really gets me is, where were these guys when it was not very fashionable to have been a veteran of Vietnam?

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

I don't think you can be awarded a Purple Heart, per the rules, unless you undergo some sort of medical treatment for the injury.

[zip]

Burkett, whose 1999 book, "Stolen Valor," is considered to be the definitive history of of falsified Vietnam War claims, told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg that Kerry's former commanders would allege that the top Democrat's Purple Hearts were awarded for "self-reported injuries that were virtually nonexistent."

"He never got a day of treatment, he never spent a day in a medical facility," Burkett said. "These were all self-reported wounds, which you're going to hear from some swift boat guys in the future as to the nature of those wounds."

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. JF'nK wouldn't lie, would he?

[wingman1]

It would be hard to do and not have someone know. And three times?

Armored vehicles, like tanks and APCs, were great targets for RPGs. It made me grateful to be a groundpounder-although the occasional ride on an APC was nice. Boats made good targets, also. Chances are they got hit with RPGs at times-with alot of shrapnel bouncing around all that armor and steel. If Kerry and his men came under AK47 fire, bullets would fragment. Not a good position to be in.

[zip]

ROTFLMAO

[wingman1]

"He stated that Kerry's war wounds were highly exaggerated."

FOIA requests will give basic information. IIRC, Burkett describes the process, etc. in "Stolen Valor". Burkett did hundreds of these in preparing his book.

In order to make this claim, he would have to have more than results from a basic FOIA.

[daybreakcoming]

Has any interviewer in any media ever asked him outright just what were his "wounds"? Serous question

[justshutupandtakeit]

Gee, just think IF your dad had been a conniving, low-life, self-promoting liar you could have been the son of a senator.

Just your bad luck to have been the son of a TRUE hero. :^(

[FR_addict]

Has any interviewer in any media ever asked him outright just what were his "wounds"? Serous question

Sounds like a good question to me. I would also like to ask him who recommended him for the medals.

[js1138]

I could be wrong about this, but I think you can buy medals. In fact I have never seen medals issued, only ribbons.

Wearing them or displaying them, however, is a crime unless they were awarded to you.

[sport]

Bump