[cincy29]

I saw a very powerful episode of Law & Order based on these premises. There was a squad of soldiers who had supposedly burned down a village or otherwise committed an atrocity. They all got some kind of high-level medal for courage in the firefight. (Remember, the VC liked to hide in villages, so it's not like they just went and smoked this village because they had nothing better to do on a Friday night.) One of the recipients was about to "go public" about what happened, and he was killed by another.

Granted, it was a TV show, but the scenario seemed entirely plausible. If I was a Swift Boat guy who is on either side of this, I'd be doubling up my life insurance premiums about now.

[Trident/Delta]

It is difficult to understand the motivations if all of this is just from their embarrasment.