13 MAR 1969 Bay Hap River; Dong Cung Canal Four swiftboats were engaged in moving Mobile Strike Force troops on the Bay Hap River and the Dong Cung Canal. Moving down the river in the afternoon following a day of heavy fighting, a mine detonated underneath PCF 3, lifting it 2-3 feet out of the water and, at the same time, a second mine detonated near PCF94, wounding Kerry and knocking an Army advisor on PCF94 into the water. Meanwhile the boats began receiving heavy fire from both sides of the river. Kerry, who had received shrapnel wounds and hurt his right arm, directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire while he pulled the Army advisor back into his boat. PCF 94 then returned to aid PCF 3 and towed the boat down the river to safety. Kerry received the Bronze Star for this action.
This is obviously based on Kerry's Bronze Star Citation, which says that when Brave Sir Robin was fleeing the scene he realized he has a man overboard and returned to pick him up.
But in January, before they had time to align the tale to the Pravda, a mor detailed Kerry campaign Press Release *no longer on Kerry site) said
On March 13, 1969, Rassman, a Green Beret, was traveling down the Bay Hap river in a boat behind Kerry’s when both were ambushed by exploding land mines and enemy fire coming from the shore. Kerry was hit in the arm, while a mine blew Rassman’s boat out of the water. With enemy fire coming from both sides of the river and swift boats evacuating from the area, Kerry’s crew chose to turn their boat toward the ambush to save Rassman.
Inquiring minds wan to know, how did Kerry know a man in a boat behind him had gone over=board?
I also find it strange that a James Rassmann made a $1000 contribution to the Kerry campaign at the beginning of this year, right after he registered as a Democrat after years of being a Republican. During those years, he evidently never saw fit to contribute before. (Per opensecrets.org., going back 10 to 15 years.)