Ex-Kerry crewmate visits Florida cities (putting the "lies" to bed)

OCALA - The highest ranking enlisted man on Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry's U.S. Navy swift boat in Vietnam, Clearwater resident Del Sandusky, will visit three north central Florida sites next Wednesday.

Sandusky will visit with UAW retirees on 4301 Maricamp Rd., from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., be at the Disabled American Veterans Center (Chapter 85) at 9892 SE 58th Ave., from 3-5 p.m. before concluding his visit at the Unified Training Center at 809 North University Ave., in Gainesville from 7-9 p.m.

Sandusky was born in a farming community in Streator, Ill., in December of 1943. His father worked for the Santa Fe railroad and the moved to Florida in 1957 where Del attended Dunedin Middle School.

He joined the Navy in 1961 and began his first tour of Vietnam in 1964. He volunteered and was assigned to the "river boat squadron" in 1965 and spent 1966 in Da Nang on the river. He began his second tour in spring of 1968 and John Kerry came onto the swift boat in January of 1969. He was there throughout Kerry's service and beyond.

"He will be here to answer any and all questions about the man who saved his life and whose life he saved," said Bob Van Heyde, a local Kerry supporter.

I found another story on the Alachua Post. The first address in the troy is incorrect The correct address is 809 W. University Ave Gainesville, FL 32601-5116

The map is available here.

I googled Sandusky and found some conflicting words from him regarding Feb 28, 1969 Silver Star episode.

In Wash post interview in Mar, Sandusky says Kerry, then 25, captained a patrol boat on the Mekong Delta. One day, after taking fire from the Vietcong and after the boat's windows had been blown out by a rocket, Kerry spotted a guerrilla along the shore aiming a B-40 rocket launcher at his boat. Navy training prescribed an immediate retreat. But in a rush of adrenaline, Kerry made a snap decision. Impulsively, he beached the boat, jumped off and shot the guerrilla. It makes a great story. "It was completely planned," said Del Sandusky, Kerry's second-in-command. "He had a number of different scenarios. This was all in his head."

Well, Del, was it all planned in Kerry's head, or did he just freak out and have to chase a guy down that was only 10 feet from the boat BEFORE he got hammered with a .50 cal? Where was this numerically superior force cited in the award? By nthe way, regardless of what Sen Warner said today regarding the 'process' of awarding Silver Star, Kerry's was awarded only 2 days after the event! (I don't see any injuries in this pic, do you?>

It should be noted that Del was awarded a Navy Com with combat "V" for that same day. Seems these guys were all heroes that day, but only Kerry has PH.

Notice Del is first on left with Navy Com medal.

Kerry and crew stand together in An Thoi, Vietnam, on February 28, 1969, after presentation of Kerry's Silver Star. He also received a Purple Heart for a minor wound. From left: Del Sandusky, John Kerry, Gene Thorson, Thomas Belodeau. Kneeling from left, Mike Medeiros, Fred Short.

Opbuzz and I talked last night and he has some interest in going. Taxman is teetering, but doesn't want to be around so many Kerryites, Oxen is contemplating it. Still haven't heard from the Warrior Nyrse, though he is back in town tonight I think.

I am ready to roll to Gainesville and either FReep outside or go inside and ask Del some questions. This guy was Kerry's coxswain, and it looks like he is also Kerry's cox***ker!

Let's FReep him!

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