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It appears Del Sandusky was aboard the entire time of Kerry's command

Understood, but Kerry was in command of two boats, the PCF 94 and PCF 44. Gardner was on the PCF 44. According to Unfit for Command Kerry took over PCF 94 from Peck in "early February." If that is the case, Sandusky served with Kerry for less than two months. Kerry left Vietnam on March 26 and his request to leave was submitted on March 17. Gardner spent a longer time under Kerry than Sandusky.

Understood, but Kerry was in command of two boats, the PCF 94 and PCF 44

I question Kerry's PCF44 "command". I posted on another thread:

08 Nov - 06 Dec CosDiv14 Boston Whaler (transferred a few days after his first Purple Heart "action")
06 Dec - 13 Dec CosDiv11 PCF44 OIC (or under observation of Lt. Wright, the "real" PCF44 OIC?)
14 Dec - 28 Jan CosDiv13 Unknown (awaiting his own craft to command --or undergoing "re-training" due to Wright's poor opinion of Kerry?)
29 Jan - 26 Mar CosDiv11 PCF94 OIC (After Lt. Peck was wounded)
27 Mar - 31 Jul MSTSA Admiral's aide (Combat vet in MSC ?)

I've (and others) wonder how Kerry got a SWIFT command without spending any time in type. IMO, Kerry was probably OIC --under instruction while Lt. Wright remained the responsible OIC.
Noteworthy that a hot-running jg like Kerry had no action worth mentioning while on 44.