| John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V” |  |
FrontPageMagazine.com | August 20, 2004
Posted on 08/20/2004 4:48:54 AM PDT by SJackson
| John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V” | |
One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major, spurred on by the revelations in our book, and, in his words. “having seen hundreds of DD 214s” (a veteran’s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry’s DD 214, which is posted on his website. What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry’s Silver Star. Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service “Crosses”).
Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As the major correctly observes, the “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star. But the actual wording on Kerry’s DD 214 (see www.johnkerry.com) is: “SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT ‘V’.”
There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat “V” (called a “Combat Distinguishing Device”) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star. For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has “three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.” Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing. Why? Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for “gallantry” (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a “V” for valor.
Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices. According to the Navy Awards Manual:
Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).
Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation. See also http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Valor_device.
Because the “V” is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry’s Silver Star citation (the “explanation” of why the award was made) does not even mention the “V” for valor (see www.johnkerry.com).
The presence of the combat “V” with Kerry’s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions. How did the unauthorized “V” get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?
The first question should not be taken lightly because we are talking about possible federal crimes. We are talking about the possibility of a forged official document. We are talking, as well, about Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, which states: “[W]hoever, in any manner within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the United States, knowingly and willfully . . . makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both.”
Was the combat “V” added by a sloppy clerk or a yeoman’s typo thirty years ago? Was someone pressured or persuaded to add it? If Kerry had nothing to do with the gratuitously added combat “V,” why didn’t he have his DD 214 corrected when he was separated from the Navy?
Which gives rise to the second disturbing question: If Kerry was not a party to the unauthorized “V,” why, for all these years, has he allowed his DD 214 to remain uncorrected and to repose on his website?
In light of the recent Swift Boat revelations and the cloud they have cast over Kerry’s awards, one plausible answer is that this is yet another example of Kerry’s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam.
Let’s hope it won’t take a controversial TV spot to spark a mainstream media investigation of how candidate Kerry received an unearned “V” for valor.
Henry Mark Holzer [www.henrymarkholzer.com; hank@henrymarkholzer.com], Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn Law School, specializes in federal appeals. Erika Holzer [www.erikaholzer.com] is a lawyer and novelist. They are co-authors of “Aid and Comfort”: Jane Fonda in North Vietnam.
I think you're right. When you separate from the service, you're supposed to go through your DD-214 with a fine-tooth comb because it's the most important document you posess from you time in the military.
While it speaks volumes for Kerry's attention to detail, this is going to be an easy one to explain away. Some clerk at a PSD somewhere transcribes awards received onto the DD-214 straight from the member's Page 4's in their original service record. So, the award was either transcribed incorrectly from his Page 4 or it was mis-typed (the Bronze Star is directly above the Silver Star on the DD-214).
That a Silver Star is not adorned with a "V" device and that no Yeoman or Personnel Clerk would make that mistake.
Whats kooky and spooky about Lurch is not that he lied but that he had his DD214 amended! Who does that almost thirty years later? Fellow veterans? Any of you amended your dd214? Thought so. And then this issue where they made up a silver star with valor just for john kerry? He must be some kinda rambo...
What the right needs is a 60 minutes type show in primetime with say john stossel and michelle malkin at the helm. Trust me, they would never run out of fresh material and we might even see some objective journalism.
So this is no honest mistake or typo? Kerry has a corrected DD215 and it shows no correction to this records only to the Vietnam Service Medal to Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 bronze stars.
The document clearly lists:
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE; BRONZE STAR WITH COMBAT "V"; COMBAT ACTION RIBBON
VIETNAM SERVICE; SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT "V"
It should be possible to track down the signers of this document. It would also be interesting to "SEE ATTACHED SHEET" regarding the "PURPLE HEART (THREE AWARDS)"
When it comes to Medals of Valor,
Nothing is worse then someone that claims to be some thing they weren't.
or add devices to medals that don't belong there.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of all branches of military service and may be awarded either for combat heroism or for meritorious service.
The bronze "V" identifies the award as resulting from an act of combat heroism or "VALOR", thus distinguishing it from meritorious achievement awards.
Interestingly the letters For The President posted on John Kerry's Website signed by Adm E.R Zumwalt (Silver Star) and John Lehman Secretary of the Navy (Bronze Star) are correct regarding the authorization to add a "V" to the Bronze Star but do not mention a "V" for the Silver Star.
Kerry starting to look like the Sergeant Major that tried to escape Parris Island with a Major's oak leaves on his collar and sergeant stripes on his sleeves.
This question probably just shows my ignorance of Naval procedure, but, why would "LT" Kerry leave active service and continue service as an "Ensign" in the USNR?
I understand that would have been inactive service, but why the reduction in rank? When I went on inactive reserve they quit calling me a Senior Airman and started calling me Sergeant!
Judging from the mushroom clouds spotted over the wreakage of the Kerry campaign, I don't think it matters.
"Clicked this link.
It's gone.
"
It's there.
Except that Sec. Lehman was the Secretary of the Navy for REAGAN from 1981-1987. The original certificate for Kerry's Bronze Star is missing.
Obviously if they or whomever were willing to savage Bob Kerrey's war record, than anyone else was/is fair game. Republican candidates should be aware of this in the future...Keep in mind now, this makes three Democrats that have been taken apart over Vietnam. The brothers Kerrey/Kerry and Max Cleland. Although the Right to Work is what really got Cleland tossed, the media claims to this day it was Saxby Chambliss' allegations of "unpatriotic behavior" on part of Cleland which cost him his job.
In a nutshell, paybacks are a bitch. Any R candidate (veteran)better have his stuff wired tight BEFORE he get's his name in the arena. Were I such, the first step would be to review my 201 File in GREAT detail!
For Immediate Release August 19, 2004
Statement By Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Member Larry Thurlow
I am convinced that the language used in my citation for a Bronze Star was language taken directly from John Kerry's report which
falsely described the action on the Bay Hap River as action that saw small arms fire and automatic weapons fire from both banks of the
river.
To this day, I can say without a doubt in my mind, along with other accounts from my shipmates-there was no hostile enemy fire
directed at my boat or at any of the five boats operating on the river that day.
I submitted no paperwork for a medal nor did I file an after action report describing the incident. To my knowledge, John Kerry was the
only officer who filed a report describing his version of the incidents that occurred on the river that day.
It was not until I had left the Navy-approximately three months after I left the service-that I was notified that I was to receive a citation
for my actions on that day.
I believed then as I believe now that I received my Bronze Star for my efforts to rescue the injured crewmen from swift boat number
three and to conduct damage control to prevent that boat from sinking. My boat and several other swift boats went to the aid of our
fellow swift boat sailors whose craft was adrift and taking on water. We provided immediate rescue and damage control to prevent
boat three from sinking and to offer immediate protection and comfort to the injured crew.
After the mine exploded, leaving swift boat three dead in the water, John Kerry's boat, which was on the opposite side of the river,
fled the scene. US Army Special Forces officer Jim Rassmann, who was on Kerry's boat at the time, fell off the boat and into the water.
Kerry's boat returned several minutes later-under no hail of enemy gunfire-to retrieve Rassmann from the river only seconds before
another boat was going to pick him up.
Kerry campaign spokespersons have conflicting accounts of this incident-the latest one being that Kerry's boat did leave but only
briefly and returned under withering enemy fire to rescue Mr. Rassmann. However, none of the other boats on the river that day
reported enemy fire nor was anyone wounded by small arms action. The only damage on that day was done to boat three-a result of
the underwater mine. None of the other swift boats received damage from enemy gunfire.
And in a new development, Kerry campaign officials are now finally acknowledging that while Kerry's boat left the scene, none of the
other boats on the river ever left the damaged swift boat. This is a direct contradiction to previous accounts made by Jim Rassmann in
the Oregonian newspaper and a direct contradiction to the "No Man Left Behind" theme during the Democratic National Convention.
These ever changing accounts of the Bay Hap River incident by Kerry campaign officials leave me asking one question. If no one ever
left the scene of the Bay Hap River incident, how could anyone be left behind?
Statement by Navy Veteran Van Odell, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
in Rebuttal to Michael Dobbs, Washington Post, August 19, 2004
A courageous, soft spoken man of the Midwest, Larry Thurlow has a heart bigger than the great plains and a
commitment to truth and honesty that is boundless. He is under attack, because John Kerry is feeling the heat of truth
at the hands of this honest man and others like him.
The Kerry Campaign is attacking the truthfulness of this man and the Bronze Star he so richly deserves for his actions
on March 13, 1969. I was there. I saw what happened.
The mine's detonation lifted PCF-3 completely out of the water just yards ahead of me. All boats commenced
suppression fire in case enemy small arms fire ensued. None did.
All boats came to the aid of PCF-3, except one: John Kerry's boat. Kerry fled.
Larry Thurlow piloted his boat straight toward the mine-damaged PCF-3 from which thick, black smoke billowed. He
jumped aboard and personally led damage control operations that saved the boat and rescue operations that saved
the lives of badly wounded men. Larry's leadership was in the highest traditions of the naval service. His leadership
allowed the other men and boats of the mission to exit the river safely. This single act of meritorious service -- the
chief requirement of the Bronze Star -- should be honored, not ridiculed, by the Kerry campaign and its allies in the
mainstream media.
To reiterate, only one enemy weapon was deployed that day -- the command-detonated submerged mine that disabled
PCF-3. Larry Thurlow's citation contained references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire," because that
was the language chosen by John Kerry who penned the spot report on the action that day. There was no "enemy
small arms and automatic weapons fire" received that day. John Kerry's report was fiction -- a hoax on the entire chain
of command. Larry Thurlow's heroism and meritorious service, however, is real.
To me Larry is one of the heroes of our country. He is a man who served his country when called and who returned
home to be a productive citizen. Larry and men like him are the strong backbone of our society. I am proud to have
served with him.
YEAH! Heck, why do we even have medals anyhow? I thought we were supposed to have an Army of One? Handing out medals for personal good deeds is just damaging the self-esteem of the non-good-deed-dooers. John Kerry will see to it that this will be fixed when he becomes President. Maybe? Just maybe it would be better if a soldier rescues another soldier than the whole platoon got a medal?! Yeah! then they could pin it to their nice new baby blue hats!
I served in combat operations in Vietnam for 14 months and my DD214 just mentioned a couple of awards. Many years later I read an article in Leatherneck Magazine suggesting that vets send a copy of their DD214 to their service branch records bureau. I did, and a few weeks later I received a box of medals & devices from them and a document saying that I had been awarded these items, but they had not been placed on my DD214. You have to remember, in those days in Vietnam there was often much chaos. Company clerks were always behind, maybe new or untrained, etc. I say we give a pass here before we criticize.
Some here should talk to a VFW Rep and verify the number of times vets seek their help in getting DD-214s amended...
19 years in the US Senate. What did he accomplish ?
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