This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!
Hey!! If Rassman wasn't on Kerry's boat, HE DIDN'T SERVE WITH KERRY!!!
'least that's what the Dem's say. (giggle)
In "Tour of Duty," Douglass Brinkley includes excerpts from Kerry's war journal. It seems Kerry's story and Rassman's WSJ Op-Ed differ on a significant fact.
In Brinkley's book, which relies on excerpts from Kerry's war journal, Rassman isn't on Kerry Swift Boat. Brinkley says Rassman fell of PCF-35, while Kerry was OIC of PCF-94 on that day.
On Kerry's campaign website, a press release maintains the Brinkley line:
January 17, 2004
Kerry Reunites with Fellow Veteran in Iowa Veteran says Kerry saved his life in combat; has not seen him since 1969
For Immediate Release
Des Moines, IA - Former Lieutenant John Kerry was reunited today with fellow Vietnam veteran Jim Rassmann, who says Kerry saved his life during combat.
On March 13, 1969, Rassmann, 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 Rassmann’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 Rassmann.
“We were still under fire, and he was wounded at the time…,” recalled Rassmann. And with his boat’s gunners providing suppressing fire, Kerry extended his wounded arm into the water and the two lieutenants locked arms.
Kerry and Rassmann have not seen each other since 1969. Yesterday, Jim Rassmann called John Kerry’s campaign headquarters and said: “I saw that John is in another tough fight, and I want to lend a hand.”
Rassmann, a retired Los Angeles county sheriff who now lives in Florence, Oregon, flew to Iowa this morning to reunite with Kerry. Kerry, with fellow veterans around him, said he was moved by Rassmann’s decision to come to Iowa.
“I remember the day and the moment we last met; the lingering bond between us comes from the shared experience of our service,” Kerry said. “I told Jim what I tell the thousands of veterans I have met in Iowa: As president, I will never—ever—forget your service.” Kerry added.
For Kerry’s bravery, Rassmann recommended that he be recognized, and Kerry was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V. The citation that followed the award read as follows:
“The man was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lt. Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain, with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard.
Lt. Kerry then directed his boat to return and assist the other damaged craft and towed the boat to safety. Lt. Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service.”
Rassman, in response to the Swift Boats for truth, penned an Op-Ed for the WSJ. Rassman like the anti-Kerry Swifties place Rassman on Kerry's boat:
On March 13, 1969, John Kerry's courage and leadership saved my life.
While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath.
Interesting, no?
STUNED....... Just STUNED I say.
Maybe rassman's BEEBER blew a fuse in all the confusion of the moment.....
so by the Dems rules, can he or can he not comment on F john kerry's service??????
And, why not? Who is hurt and who would ever, ever be disproved? Except Traitor John. He has made such a big thing about his lies that it now reflrcts on his current judgment and integrity.
Rassmussen's story is probably the same thing. He got knocked on his butt, doesn't remember a thing but is still here. He gets atrip or two, a little more respect from the other geezers at the hall and gets to hang for a while with some big shots. What do you want him to remember?
If Traitor John had just kept his mouth shut instead of proving that he was a lying jerk. KERRY: RESIGN AND APOLOGIZE!!
WHOA!!!!
He's saying that Kerry left Rassmussin in the water till he realized he wasn't under fire, and only then went to get the man in the water.
bookmark
Does the fact that Bill O'Reilly wrote a complementary blurb for Doug Brinkley's bio of Kerry "Tour of Duty" explain why Bill O hasn't covered the Swift Boat Vets for Truth story with an open mind?
Bill O has been totally pro-Kerry.
Others present say he was sitting at the stern of Kerry's boat eating cookies when the other boat hit the mine. When Kerry heard the mine and bugged out of the area, he flipped Rassmann off into the drink cookies and all.
Is there anything, anything at all about Kerry's 4 month stint that is irrefutable.
Nothing today on the news about it that I saw.
I have heard both stories......but what is clear is that the man was in the water praying not to die and I doubt he got a good look at what was going on all around him with the other boats.
Campaigning vet credits Kerry for saving his life
"..Rassman was a Green Beret in Vietnam when the river boat he was riding hit a mine in the Hap River and came under heavy enemy fire from the banks. A short distance ahead, then-Navy Lt. Kerry was in command of a Swift Boat also under attack. Kerry, wounded in the arm, ordered his boat to turn around. He directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, then moved into an exposed position on the bow to pull Rassman out of the water..."
Kerry Reunites with Fellow Veteran in Iowa(Kerry Press Release)
"..On March 13, 1969, Rassmann, 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 Rassmann’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 Rassmann..."
Perspective: What John Kerry did in the war
".. On March 13, 1969, Jim Rassmann, a U.S. Army Green Beret, was traveling in a group of Swifts down the Bay Hap River when one, the PCF-3, struck a mine and was immediately raked by gunfire from the shore. Everyone aboard was injured.
As Kerry's boat headed toward the damaged vessel, a second mine exploded nearby, throwing him against a bulkhead and injuring his arm. The explosion also tossed Rassmann out of a third vessel, the PCF-35. In the confusion and heavy gunfire from both sides of the battle, Rassmann began drifting down the river, where snipers saw him and tried to pick him off..."
Shame on the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush
"..While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath..."
I don't see the Kerry campaign deliberately omitting the "fact" that Rassman was on Kerry's boat in their press release of January 17, 2004. It would embellish the story as I believe Rassman did in his Wall Street Jounal piece.
Evidence Shows Crewmate Rev. Alston Never Served Under Sen. Kerry
One tale to rule them all,
One tale, I need to find them,
One tale to bring them all
And in the lie to bind them.