http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2004/07/22/76146.php?sp1=rgj&sp2=News&sp3=Local+News&sp5=RGJ.com&sp6=news&sp7=local_news
Instead, Rassmann is recounting the story of March 13, 1969, over and over again to reporters, Kerry supporters and veterans. He is a scheduled speaker July 29 at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Rassmann, a first lieutenant in the Army special forces, was eating a chocolate chip cookie on Kerry’s patrol boat as it pulled back from a fire fight when a nearby boat hit a mine. During the ensuing combat, Kerry’s boat was rocked by another explosion, which injured Kerry and tossed Rassmann into the water.
Worried that retreating boats would run him over, Rassmann said he swam to the bottom of the river and waited for the fleet to pass. When he surfaced, the boats were gone and the enemy was shooting at him from the riverbanks.
Rassmann said he started a swim for the north bank. But within minutes — a period of time that felt like “six or seven years” — he saw a boat returning for him.
When the boat, captained by Kerry, passed over him, Rassmann grabbed a net hooked to the bow and climbed onto the side of the boat. But he couldn’t manage to get over the railing and into the boat.
“This fire is continuing and I expected I was the perfect target,” he said. “Next thing I know, John comes running out of the pilot house and up toward me up on the bow. And I didn’t get shot. I mean, it was a miracle neither one of us got shot. And he got down on his hands and knees and pulled me over and we got up.”
The act won Kerry a Bronze Star Medal.
Kerry and Rassmann parted that day and didn’t speak again until this year.
Even Rassman's account indicates that Kerry was "pulling back" OUT OF THE FIRE FIGHT when he picked up Rassman. "Rassmann, a first lieutenant in the Army special forces, was eating a chocolate chip cookie on Kerry’s patrol boat as it pulled back from a fire fight when a nearby boat hit a mine.
What's controversial is how Kerry got his wound - During those few minutes right around the mine explosion, or when he blew up the civilian's sampan earlier....
I'm sure that happens ALL the time.