It doesn't sound like Kerry's commanders rated him as even 'center mass', but lower. That makes him a pretty poor officer, and one his peers would try to encourage to get out before he embarrassed the Officer Corps. It is my understanding that commanders decide fairly quickly whether someone should stay in or not. It looks to me that decision was reached on the Gridley. And the Gridley's CO was right on the money.
Kerry would have never made it in the US Army as an Infantry Officer. Kerry would find a reason to go the Bn Hq's for some type of briefing to get out of leading his soldiers in combat. If the VC didn't get him , then I would imagine his troops would. Kerry is unfit for any position of public trust and office. Are the people in Ma. brain dead or just don't care what they vote into office? I am glad that I never served with this idiot, we would have had to go to the medical clinic to pull my size 12 out of his dumb/cowardly/opportunistic ass. Airborne Ranger Gone Raving Mad.!!!! Bush/Cheney 2004