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Records Counter a Critic of Kerry
Washington Post ^ | 8/19/04 | Michael Dobbs

Posted on 08/18/2004 8:24:34 PM PDT by Callahan

Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who commanded a Navy Swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly disputed Kerry's claim that the Massachusetts Democrat's boat came under fire during a mission in Viet Cong-controlled territory on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire" directed at "all units" of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat "despite enemy bullets flying about him."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: foia; kerry; larrythurlow; michaeldobbs; militaryrecord; swiftboatveterans; swiftboatvets; thurlow; wp
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To: CedarDave

Kerry has been a political animal from the age of 10. He used to rub elbows with the kennedy's and other demo garbage. He knew the game. Kennedy was the same, he didn't deserve his accolades. He should have had a Captains Mast for what happened.
FWIW - I have 2+ rows of ribbons, and have never read the commendation to go with any of them, the only reason I know I have them is from my DD214. In fact I had a few more than I knew when I got out.


141 posted on 08/18/2004 9:12:56 PM PDT by ProudVet77 (So many questions for Kerry - so few answers from Kerry)
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To: Callahan

The citation would be a condensed version of the report submitted of the mission, along with any witness statements. Thurlow may have contributed to describing what transpired on the mission, but he would not likely have had a direct input to the award process.


142 posted on 08/18/2004 9:12:56 PM PDT by ampat
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To: CedarDave
Dave,

I agree with you. Kerry's lies about the Medals have hurt all of us.

Remember that Kerry also lied when he came back from Nam, and hurt all Vets with his lies, and especially the POW because they were tortured with his lies.

The American people were also hurt because Kerry pitted everyone against each other for his own personnel political gain.

I hope that Kerry burns in hell for the harm that he has done.

143 posted on 08/18/2004 9:13:17 PM PDT by Viet-Boat-Rider ((KERRY IS A NARCISSISTIC LIAR, GOLDBRICKER, AND TRAITOR!))
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To: HarryCaul
**SNORT** Lookie what I found on the very bottom of this spin dried pile of folded, spindled and mutilated facts the Compost calls an article:
Advertising Links by Google What's this?
John Kerry's bestseller
My Vision for a Better America Only $16.97 (affiliate)
www.amazon.com
Kerry in the White House?
Cast your vote now and see election results today
kerry.peel.com
Hedge Fund Mistress
Former John Kerry girlfriend has written a tell-all book.
www.hedgefundmistress.com

How many people saw the thread on the Hedge Fund Mistress thread? Former Kerry Lover Launches Website And MAN she's more whacked out than Teresa!

144 posted on 08/18/2004 9:15:38 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: Callahan
The Washington Post especially has an interest in keeping Kerry's dishonesty secret.

The Washington Post used Kerry's dishonesty and, in particular, his dishonesty about Nixon and Cambodia as a springboard from which to launch their hatefest against a President which caused him to resign.

If the public figures this out, the Post is toast.

145 posted on 08/18/2004 9:15:41 PM PDT by what's up
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To: Chaguito
Dang, I have to read more carefully...

dobbsm@washpost.com

Re: my previous email...sorry I missed the paragraph in your article regarding after action reports. Am I to understand from your article that absolutely no after-action report exists for this episode?

Beyond that, I still feel that the citation is not a piece of primary documentation. Your article, while presented fairly in my opinion, puts too much emphasis (also in my opinion) on an anonymous(?) document. Any help?

146 posted on 08/18/2004 9:16:35 PM PDT by Chaguito
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To: Callahan
Ask yourself this question as an "undecided voter". Kerry's contends that there was "HEAVY small arms and grenade attacks" on 5 boats. How is it that John Kerry was apparently the ONLY one of 30 crew members wounded especially when one boat was completely immobilized by a mine and the others were sitting ducks trying to rescue the crew in the disabled boat.
147 posted on 08/18/2004 9:16:40 PM PDT by Texasforever (God can send you to hell but he can't sue you. He can't find a lawyer.)
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To: Callahan
Regardless of SwiftVets (although their material is pretty damning to "Cut & Run Kerry), there is still no excuse for the FREQUENT lies he told:

1. Bicycling across Russian Checkpoint in Germany

2. Christmas in Cambodia

3. Anti-War Hippie days <-- WHILE STILL A NAVY RESERVIST!

4. Meeting with communists

5. Entering politics <-- Somebody needs to dig HERE!

6. Annulment of marriage

7. Absentee Senator

8. POW/MIA cover-up

9. Adopting Bob Kerrey's record as a Senator

10. HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN 2004

Folks from Massachusetts aren't very selective about their candidates for Senate, now are they?

148 posted on 08/18/2004 9:16:49 PM PDT by RasterMaster (Saddam's family were WMD's - He's behind bars & his sons are DEAD!)
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To: Protect the Bill of Rights
Kerry is stupid. He lied. He has pulled a monumental fraud on The United States of America

Hope he has a good lawyer... maybe Edwards will help...

149 posted on 08/18/2004 9:17:12 PM PDT by DaveMSmith (When you think LIAR, TRAITOR, FRAUD or COWARD... think JOHN KERRY!)
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To: Texasforever

IIRC he got the "V"; citations are on his website (even if they are signed by Reagan's Navy Sec'y).


150 posted on 08/18/2004 9:17:16 PM PDT by 1066AD
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To: Callahan
"Thurlow knew there was no fire, why accept the Bronze star?"

Because he probably didn't read it. I can honestly say I haven't read many of my medal citations either. I have also written 4 bronze star citations, and know for a fact that the recipients didn't read them or know what they said until they recieved the medal. Depending on when the medal is awarded, you may not ever read it. Especially when you are in a combat zone. Medals are awarded by folks who recognize your achievements. Not by folks trying to have their achievements recognized. I have also been submitted for a medal I didn't think I deserved. But that isn't my call. It is the call of the person who submitted me. After the medal was submitted, it was screened and reduced to a more minor award. That is fairly common. None of it is up to the person being recommended for the medal. (unless he submitted himself)

151 posted on 08/18/2004 9:17:26 PM PDT by Rokke
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To: Protect the Bill of Rights

I believe the Swifties contend that Kerry wrote or significantly influenced that AAR, and that's the crux of the issue. I want to know if there are other AARs???


152 posted on 08/18/2004 9:17:34 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: Callahan

Interesting that the Post completely ignored the book until now and leads with this. I think the MSM would have served Kerry better by ignoring the issue. I think the Swift boat vets have gotten on a lot of folks' nerves. First you had the rabid panicked attacks on the talk shows, still nothing from MSM, then newpspers in smaller markets started asking questions, and now the Post, one of the linch pins of MSM, has entered the fray with a feeble attempt to confuse things. Look for the slimes to trumpet the same thing.

Looks to me like a lot of the Kerry mafia behind the scenes are worried. They have to be scrutinizing the book looking for any possible angle. Keep in mind that anything they can't twist has probably been found to be irrefutable.


153 posted on 08/18/2004 9:18:03 PM PDT by meatloaf
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To: Callahan
I'm just placing myself in the shoes of the average idiot "undecided" voter. If Thurlow knew there was no fire, why accept the Bronze star? If he thought he deserved it just because of the mines, he's not questioning the validity of Kerry's own Bronze, just the extraneous "under fire" stuff.

Hostile fire was not the basis for Thurlow's Bronze Star. You can receive a Bronze Star without hostile fire, i.e., sans a combat "V" distinguishing device. I am sure that Thurlow didn't see Kerry's citation or even know about the circumstances for which it was awarded until Tour of Duty came out. The SBVFT are questioning Kerry's Bronze Medal citation for a number of reasons. He took off while everyone else stayed to protect PCF 3 and he received a medal for picking someone out of the water. Thurlow's actions went beyond that per my earlier post.

154 posted on 08/18/2004 9:18:05 PM PDT by kabar
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To: RasterMaster
-->

I sent this to a local newspaper tonight.

 

 

THE UNDOCUMENTED CANDIDATE

 

Every document requested from President Bush has been released.

John Kerry has avoided releasing any of his official documents relating to:

  1. Attendance in private and public intelligence meetings.
  2. Attendance when the senate was in session.
  3. His and his wife’s IRS returns.
  4. His military records.

 

Come on already, we even have President Bush’s DENTAL records from the National Guard!

 

                If anyone asks a question about the “wrong” candidate they are attacked and smeared by the news media. Who is the media working for in this country? This isn’t the news media of my father’s generation. What has happened to them? Where have they gone? Today’s news media seem to be working in “lock step” with each other for an agenda that is not in the best interest of our great country, America. The people of America are starting to wake up and they do not like what they are seeing! The news media must take note of this NOW before it is too late for them.

 

 


155 posted on 08/18/2004 9:19:01 PM PDT by Not a 60s Hippy
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To: what's up
"Has this been mentioned in the Washington Post yet?"

Not that I know of. Which doesn't mean it hasn't been, but it's not bloody likely and if it was it's spun like this article is.

156 posted on 08/18/2004 9:19:11 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: kabar

also note the post suggests Thurlow should file a 180, not Kerry! it's Kerry's report that was filed in these regards.


157 posted on 08/18/2004 9:19:38 PM PDT by Steven W.
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To: Texasforever; Callahan; All
I'm watching the rerun of Special report and they showed one of John Kerry's crew mates answering a question about this story. He said that Kerry's boat did leave the other boats and when they returned all the boats were firing everything they could at both shores, but he said NOTHING about taking fire. I am no expert at the S.O.P. for the kind of situation the Swift Boats were in, but it makes sense that they would lay down suppression fire 360 degrees around the crippled boat?

This could be why Rassman insist they were under fire. If I was in the water after striking a mine and suppression fire was being laid down from several other Swift Boats, I would swear to it too :-)

I will see if I can find the transcript of what the Kerry crew member said and post it!

158 posted on 08/18/2004 9:20:07 PM PDT by MJY1288 (John Kerry Says he Would Conduct a More Thoughtful and Sensitive War on Terror)
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To: FairOpinion
Also, the AP sued the Pentagon to release Bush's records, and they did.

You're righ they did have to sue

That's why this all smells funny

159 posted on 08/18/2004 9:20:42 PM PDT by Mo1 (FR NEWS ALERT .... John Kerry over dosed on Botox and thinks he's Bob KerrEy)
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To: 1066AD
John Lehman correct?

John Lehman was not the Secretary of the Navy in 1968

160 posted on 08/18/2004 9:21:02 PM PDT by MJY1288 (John Kerry Says he Would Conduct a More Thoughtful and Sensitive War on Terror)
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