[HRoarke]

Fitreps are always inflated, not just during the Vietnam Era. That being said, one mark or two below perfect isn't a major deal for a LTjg, especially since he is noted as being new to the command. It is fairly common to downgrade a new check in for ranking reasons and then move him up. You have to leave room to do this. 9 below might be a different story but I don't know that this is that big of a deal.

[MindBender26]

It's the Kiss From The Spider Woman.

[MindBender26]

It's the Kiss From The Spider Woman.

[MindBender26]

It's the Kiss From The Spider Woman.

[MACVSOG68]

Fitreps are always inflated, not just during the Vietnam Era. That being said, one mark or two below perfect isn't a major deal for a LTjg, especially since he is noted as being new to the command. It is fairly common to downgrade a new check in for ranking reasons and then move him up. You have to leave room to do this. 9 below might be a different story but I don't know that this is that big of a deal.

That's absolutely right. I would not tap his VN record and hope for some smoking gun. His fitrep wasn't great, but did not indicate anything terrible either. There is so much more to work with by outing his VVAW record and his record in the Senate.

[EternalHope]

I don't know when you served, or if you are on active duty now. But back then, at least in the Air Force, anything less than perfect was the kiss of death.

The system was so flawed that it was useless except to identify a real problem child (such as Kerry). It was changed in the early 70s (I do not recall the exact year).