Kerry campaign provides military records

AP | 4/20/04 | NEDRA PICKLER

[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

[GretchenM]

What a load of manure! He's proud of his service in Viet Nam and he blasted the same service before the Senate.

Key quote: "I don't want anybody to think twice about it."

That's right, America, your democrat presidential wannabe contender does not want you to think.

[Robert A Cook PE]

August 12th?

His medals were given AFTER he returned to New York?

(Awarded sure: sometimes the medal is received after the paperwork goes through ....

But this sounds like an "admiral's aide" writeup back home to get a photograph receiving medals from an admiral...

Who never knew him under real combat duty....

[GretchenM]

To overgeneralize is to err.

I couldn't stand xblubba42 and I still can't.

xblubba42 would not have been elected if the man Ross Perot hadn't thrown his hat into the ring and if a great many American males had not voted for him.

"we and the country didn't deserve the consequences of hair brained women putting Clinton and Gore in office....."

I see it differently.

Every time I would pray that God would deal with clinton, He would stop me and say, "Pray that America repents of its abortions." Every time. I began to understand that God was letting America reap some of what it had sown when He allowed bill clinton to be inflicted on us via the ballot box. It jerked us around pretty well by 2000. I base this on the Scriptures that say all authority is given by God, that He sets the rulers into place, and that means even the evil ones, for His purposes. We can accept His dealings and turn to Him for help or we can keep sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind.

[BonnieJ]

My husband was hit with shrapnal in five places and he spent 5 weeks on a hospital ship for his Purple Heart in V.N. He returned after recovery to active duty to finish his 13-month "tour" (the usual length, not the short ones Kerry had!). He doesn't know of anyone with a P.H. for an incredibly minor injury. He considered his the most minor actually.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I had worse injuries playing softball and basketball during my service at Ft Rucker, Al. (76-78)

I have the scars to prove it.

[Robert A Cook PE]

I agree!

He was prominently complaining several times to the admirals and generals in Saigon about "how to fight the war" ... (A specific Lt jg being mentioned by both Admiral Zumwalt and General Abrams! That doesn't happen unless the junior officer is either VERY good, or VERY bad!)

Disobeyed orders about not leaving the boat during a fire fight!

Admitted to killing several civilians and wounded VC teenagers ...

My opinion?

He was "fired" - His CO was glad to accept ANY excuse to get rid of him early! Any reason to get him as far from combat as possible made things safer for his troops ...

And much worse for the world now.

)

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" "Kerry gets shrapnel in his ass-what was he doing?

Diving for cover ?"

Last week, Kerry said he " wasn't going to run a half assed, namby pamby campaign."
But,now we know that Kerry really is " half assed."

[GretchenM]

From your link @203: "Vietnam veterans should demand, in addition to Kerry's release of records, a statement of apology for his personal war crimes. He should also admit that his broad brush characterization of Vietnam veterans as "criminals" was based on bogus confessions from fabricators and liars in the Kerry-Fonda anti-war cabal. He must not be allowed to perpetuate the fantasy that all Vietnam veterans are responsible for routine and sanctioned crimes against non-combatants. Vietnam veterans should contact the Kerry campaign (info@johnkerry.com) with demands for a full redress."

I keep coming back to the essential question. Why is this man a United States Senator?

[GretchenM]

Typical dem thinking. Kerry's med records are private, but by God Bush had to release the whole nine yards.

[GretchenM]

Remember way back "when"? When we thought once Bush won we'd never see their slimey A$$e$ again?

I never thought they'd go away, and have lived in a sort of silent *terror* over all the hillaryclones she's training in her Senate office and around the country.

These two will repopulate the dem party for years to come with their slithery ways and corrupt tactics. It's not going to be pretty.

[GretchenM]

Kerry is such a metrosexual.

Judging by that awful pic of him trying to kiss the grimacing Mrs., I'd say he's a neutrosexual when he's around her.

[ducks1944]

I have gotten worse wounds than that using a weed-eater on my lawn.

[ducks1944]

I have gotten worse wounds than that using a weed-eater on my lawn.

[ducks1944]

We want someone to come forth who treated Mr. Kerry. Someone must have see and treated him. It is funny that no one has come forward that seen him treated when he almost got killed??? All this does is bring up more question (Tom Dashle). We want all releasted to public. That is what President Bush did, now we Kerry to do the same. I have gotten hurt worse with weedeating my lawn, than Kerry did for one of his Purple Heart. By rocks hitting my legs. We want all the record. What is Kerry hiding???

[GretchenM]

How many hours ago did you sign up today on Free Republic?

[SkyPilot]

[PhilDragoo]

[F14 Pilot]

John Fallujah Kerry ( sKerry ) won't win!

[greasepaint]

Can the supposed medic / medical officer,
J C Carreon, be located?
Do we know what unit JCCareon was in?