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Kerry campaign provides military records
AP | 4/20/04 | NEDRA PICKLER

Posted on 04/20/2004 5:48:11 PM PDT by kattracks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid questions about his military records, John Kerry's campaign on Tuesday provided documentation of Vietnam War injuries that included shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and buttocks that earned him three Purple Hearts.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on Kerry's Web site by day's end. Kerry said all his military records are available to the public during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meehan said the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested a copy of his record from the Navy last month and received roughly 150 pages last week.

Conservatives, talk radio and some newspapers editorials have questioned whether Kerry was deserving of the three Purple Hearts, fueling questions about his Navy service from 1966 to 1970 and the seriousness of his injuries.

He served two tours of duty, four months on the USS Gridley frigate off Vietnam's shore and nearly five months as a swiftboat commander in the Mekong Delta. He volunteered for the second tour and earned all his medals during the second stint.

Meehan gave The Associated Press 13 pages that included documentation for the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. The Boston Globe obtained some of the records last year for an extensive series on Kerry.

The documents also included declassified reports that briefly explain the injuries that led to Kerry's Purple Heart awards. They show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under intense fire on Feb. 20, 1969, and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttock and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close to his boat on March 13, 1969.

The campaign could not locate a similar report for Kerry's original Purple Heart. As evidence that Kerry was wounded, Meehan showed The Associated Press a "Sick Call Treatment Record" from Kerry's personal files that included a brief written note dated Dec. 3, 1968, and stamped from the naval support facility at Cam Ranh Bay.

"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty," it said. The note is followed by a signature that appears to say "JCCarreon" and some illegible letters that Meehan said probably designate the medical official's rank.

Meehan said the campaign would allow a reporter to see the record at the campaign's headquarters, but not take a copy. He said it would not be made available to the public because Kerry considers it a private medical record.

Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. The documentation does not describe the severity of the injuries. A third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area.

Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager, accused Kerry's campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign's position on Tuesday to release the records in "due diligence" is contrary to Kerry's comments on "Meet the Press" that the records would be made public immediately.

"Senator Kerry's record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters," Mehlman said.

Meehan responded, "Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served."

Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat. Bush released hundreds of pages of his Vietnam-era military records in February to counter Democrats' suggestions that he shirked his duty in the Texas Air National Guard.

The White House said the documents comprise his entire military record. The records did not provide evidence that Bush was in Alabama during a period when Democrats have questioned whether he reported for service.

Kerry on Friday questioned Republicans who avoided the war and now criticize him on national security, but he didn't mention Bush.

"I fought under that flag and I saw that flag draped over the coffins of friends," Kerry said. "I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid the chance to serve when they had the chance."

The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who are wounded or killed by enemy forces. The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action, and the Bronze Star is for heroic achievement.

Kerry received the Bronze Star for his actions after being wounded by the mine, which led to the third Purple Heart. According to his citation, one of Kerry's boatmates was thrown overboard and Kerry pulled him to safety with "his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety." Kerry and the man, retired Los Angeles police officer Jim Rassmann, had an emotional public reunion in January, two days before Kerry would win the Iowa caucuses.

___

On the Net:

http://www.johnkerry.com

Facsimiles of Kerry's Purple Heart citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/purplehearts.pdf

Facsimiles of Kerry's bronze and silver star citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/stars.pdf

Facsimiles of reports describing Kerry's wounds are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/actionreports.pdf



TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; kerry; militaryrecord; unearnedpurpleheart
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To: mass55th; Darlin'
The Dec. 2, 1968, mission behind what he has claimed to be his first Purple Heart was

That's an odd way for Brinkley to write that, isn't it?

281 posted on 04/20/2004 8:07:51 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
ooooooooooooh! I go for puns! Will Shakespeare liked them too.
282 posted on 04/20/2004 8:07:51 PM PDT by Carolinamom
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To: sonsofliberty2000
I sense a good freep opprotunity when Kerry comes into town. We could put that quote on a poster or bumper sticker...
283 posted on 04/20/2004 8:08:36 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: Howlin
I thought 20 years ago they would be out of MY FACE. I am SO SICK, SICK of them!!!

The press is TRYING to shove them down our throats. I am also SICK of them!

John Kerry is a f'n liar and I am SICK of him and his CRAZY, FILTHY mouthed wife.

I am also SICK of him and the rest of the Democrats/liberals saying they "support our troops, but". They don't SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and NEVER have supported them. They just KNOW that there would be HELL to pay if they told the TRUTH. They would NEVER be elected to ANYTHING EVER AGAIN!!! If anyone thinks Hillary Clinton, in any way, supports our military, they are STUPID! She makes me ILL!
284 posted on 04/20/2004 8:10:58 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: MJY1288
Probably already answered, but VN vet hubby says these requests were often backlogged and would therefore be signed off on the same day if they were swift in succession.

That said, hubby scoffs at these "wounds" since he airlifted men who had lost limbs and worse, and refused PH's himself as they were stitches and fleshwounds.

Lucky and God blessed for three tours piloting helicopters.
285 posted on 04/20/2004 8:12:08 PM PDT by annyokie (There are two sides to every argument, but I'm too busy to listen to yours.)
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To: xzins
As far as I know a contusion id a bruise. Also Aas far as I know a contusion is not a Purple Heart wound, unless you're John F'ning Kerry and can write up your own citation.
286 posted on 04/20/2004 8:12:13 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Heard the one about the dyslexic devil worshiper? He sold his soul to Santa.)
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To: Darlin'
Kerry is such a metrosexual.

I get worse wounds than his when I garden.
287 posted on 04/20/2004 8:12:54 PM PDT by Peach
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To: Peach
Looks like the Tenth Brother from Clover, SC, was correct when he told about that Kerry "wound".
288 posted on 04/20/2004 8:14:44 PM PDT by Carolinamom
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To: MJY1288
Has Kerry ever been to Walter Reed, he should, those are real combat injuries.......he makes me sick!...he cheapens the PH for those who truly deserve it....
289 posted on 04/20/2004 8:14:52 PM PDT by mystery-ak (Ted Kennedy...traitor to the USA, responsible for the deaths of US troops....Mike1sg.)
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To: mass55th
"I think when he went into the hospital for have his heart worked on, they actually performed a labotomy."

I think that when Pat Buchanan's Surgeon was performing his Bypass surgery, he accidentally redirected the blood flow that would normally flow directly from the heart to the brain, to flow through his Rectum first :-)

290 posted on 04/20/2004 8:15:09 PM PDT by MJY1288 (2 Things You Wont Find at a Kerry Campaign Rally... A Leader, and an American Flag in the Crowd)
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To: kcvl
Calm down, hon. They opened a huge hornets nest by gong after Bush's military records. Kerry now has to show his. He's toast!
So far, thousands of vets and American civilians out there are going to hear how he got his purple hearts. Three boo boo's, and he claims to be an all American "hero" . They'll be pissed! No one likes being lied to.
291 posted on 04/20/2004 8:16:30 PM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: Howlin
"About John" on the top of the left column.

Next page ... "View the Service Record" most of the way down on the right column.

Next page ... "View John Kerry's military records by clicking here." at the top of the page.

Next page ... "Military Service Awards."

http://www.johnkerry.com/about/militaryrecords_1.pdf
292 posted on 04/20/2004 8:17:24 PM PDT by watchin
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To: cookcounty
Another great point. Great tag line, btw.
293 posted on 04/20/2004 8:17:40 PM PDT by Tribune7 (Vote Toomey -- appeasement doesn't work)
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To: cookcounty
What does that tell you about a Kerry campaign when he has to hire or invite ENTERTAINMENT? ROFLOL! When Kerry brought up Bush/Cheney the crowd BOOED him. They were there for the ENTERTAINMENT NOT POLITICS. He probably couldn't get a crowd without it.
294 posted on 04/20/2004 8:18:22 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: concerned about politics
Kerry is such a toad!

Got that right! Been emailing as well!

295 posted on 04/20/2004 8:18:35 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Support Bush-Cheney '04 -- Losing is not an Option!)
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To: wingster; Howlin; All
"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty,"

Ya'll are being too tough on Sen. Kerry. That stuff really stings when you put it on a boo-boo.

It takes a real man to know they are going to apply the "stingy stuff" and still go in for a second and third treatment. Especially when your Mommy isn't there to kiss it and make it better.

My eight year old bo even cried once when I sprung it on him. Next time I'll give him a Purple Heart to make him feel better.

296 posted on 04/20/2004 8:19:46 PM PDT by RobFromGa (There isn't always an easy path, but there is always a right path.)
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To: Howlin
FOFLOL. He is smug, isn't he ?
297 posted on 04/20/2004 8:19:49 PM PDT by Darlin' ("I will not forget this wound to my country." President George W Bush, 20 Sept 2001)
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To: wingster; Howlin; All
"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty,"

Ya'll are being too tough on Sen. Kerry. That stuff really stings when you put it on a boo-boo.

It takes a real man to know they are going to apply the "stingy stuff" and still go in for a second and third treatment. Especially when your Mommy isn't there to kiss it and make it better.

My eight year old boy even cried once when I sprung it on him. Next time I'll give him a Purple Heart to make him feel better.

298 posted on 04/20/2004 8:19:55 PM PDT by RobFromGa (There isn't always an easy path, but there is always a right path.)
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To: victoryatallcosts; concerned about politics

299 posted on 04/20/2004 8:21:52 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: watchin
Kerry's military records are smudged so they can't be read. Can you make them out? Names and everything are smudgy.
300 posted on 04/20/2004 8:22:10 PM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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