Revealed: how 'war hero' Kerry tried to put off Vietnam military duty

The Telegraph ^ | Filed 07/03/2004 | Charles Laurence

[Tamzee]

So he tried to avoid Vietnam by asking the draft board for a deferral allowing him to go to Paris instead, was denied, and only then did he join the Navy...

[Defender2]

kerry wanted to spend more time in paris learning more how to perpetuate socialism/communism and stealth support for terrorist enemies.

[GeronL]

Senator John Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential candidate

They better not start acting like he should be replaced.

Oh and I thought the libs said he "volunteered to go"

[coconutt2000]

And while the Bush campaign refuses to support or comment on any attacks on Kerry's vietnam record...


The Democrats continue to attack Bush's patriotism.



Positive campaign my derriere!

[Tamzee]

FYI... per old Harvard Crimson article....

Kerry admitted he tried to avoid Vietnam by going to Paris, request turned down by the draft board. He joined the Navy so he wouldn't be drafted.

[McGavin999]

We've known about that here for a long time. People are starting to get lost in the minueti of all of this. The BIG points are, did he lie about his service, did he lie about Cambodia, and why is he attacking his fellow vets?

[conservative in nyc]

According to the Democratic Party's version of Sen Kerry's military history, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Harvard through eagerness to do his duty, and sailed with the Navy for combat as soon as he graduated in 1966.

I'm confused. Didn't Kerry go to Yale? Why would he be in the Harvard ROTC?

[John Valentine]

"In Vietnam, John Kerry proved his patriotism beyond question. Everyone knows that."

Everyone does NOT know that.

[luvbach1]

I read recently that Kerry chose the swift boats for them being the least risky combat assignment in Vietnam. However, I must say I don't know why anyone would have thought that.

[nopardons]

Thanks for the ping,Tamsey.

His asking to go to Paris has been on FR,but it's GREAT that it's now been made more public. :-)

[Mo1]

We've known about this for MONTHS

Nice to see the Brits don't have a problem researching

Hint hint to the American press .. the information is out there IF you really wanted to look

[knarf]

I'm not overly affected by this report.
Lots of guys tried to get out of serving as a matter of SOP. When it didn't work it was, shrug the shoulders, I gave it a try, and go in.

Those of us who were of age in the mid to late sixties were bombarded with much imagery of Viet Nam.
There were only two ways to go ... enlist or take a shot at deferment.

Lots of shots were taken.

[John Valentine]

Note that this article is old, dating back to the 3rd of July... it predates the Dem Convention...

[Cold Heat]

Bwahahaha!

Got him!

[John Valentine]

That look sto be an error in the research or in the writing of the article. Kerry was in Boston campaigning for Congress AFTER his exploits in Vietnam when he was written up in the Crimson.

[BigSkyFreeper]

But...But....In The Bent One's DNC Convention speech, Kerry said "send me!", and that was the end of it!

[goldstategop]

LMAO! The news just keeps getting better and better. Powerful stuff. Too bad the authors of Unfit To Command couldn't include the material in their book. I guess its too late to pulp existing copies and squeeze in this stuff from Harvard. Some "hero" John F*ckin' turned out to be.

[smonk]

I heard this in the primaries. the media will consider it "old news".

he joined the Navy, in essence, to avoid the Army. But only after he failed to have the whole thing deferred. very heroic.

[america-rules]

"I read recently that Kerry chose the swift boats for them being the least risky combat assignment in Vietnam. However, I must say I don't know why anyone would have thought that."

No, he asked to be on a ship because he thought he would serve off the coast. The Gov't had a little test with the swift boats and he was forced to go on one !

[Cold Heat]

This is more pertinent now. He has told the story of a man who wanted to serve. His minions have been beating the people over the head with it.

I totally for got about this!

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