My father served in New Guinea, also. He was just a lowly infantry Private (32nd Div). He was involved in a jeep wreck when it was strafed. That messed up his shoulder for the rest of his life. In Nov 44 he went to the Philippines and took part in the Battle of Leyte Island. His Company (F of the 128th) was cut off due to weather and they suffered the full extent of jungle warfare. He went MIA on 25 Dec 44 and was recovered and hospitalized 3 Jan 45. He was one of only a handful of his company to survive. He never fully recovered his health and he died in 1958. (But not before marrying and making a son!)
My father only got one purple heart for his troubles. He spent 14 months in hospitals and wasn't discharged until April 1946.
I don't like John Kerry.
I don't blame you. How many stories are there like our fathers out there? How many share our disgust with the awards given a poseur like Kerry when true heroes were never recognized.
You know in your heart this creep pulled strings to get these awards particularly since they were given for such trivial actions. His actions cheapen the awards given real heroes.