Posted on 08/21/2004 10:48:37 PM PDT by XHogPilot
The Mission, The River, The Ambush. On March 13, 1969, John F. Kerry participated in the mission that has become a centerpiece of his campaign for the presidency- and his account has been disputed by some fellow Swift boat veterans. The dispute focuses on when and how Kerry was injured on the mission, and whether the force of five Swift boats came under Vietcong fire after one was hit by a mine on the Bay Hap River. Here are the events of the mission and ambush, according to eyewitness accounts and U.S. Navy reports:
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
They made the foxhole up in order to introduce the idea that there were people on the shore who could/would shoot. Of course there is no reason for a mine to be detonated by someone on shore. There probably wasn't anyone on shore.
No he didn't, he said that he was with Kerry for 2.5 months out of Kerry's 4 month swiftboat duty. But I'm pretty sure that he has said that he was the gunner for this mission.
Notice on the map that Kerry's boat is by itself on the top. Rassman says he was diving to the bottom of the river to avoid the other boats. Why?
I suspect he was diving to avoid the gunfire he ASSUMED was coming from the shore, but, in reality, was the suppression fire from the other boats.
He may have been afraid of being mistaken for an enemy combatant since Kerry had left him by himself [which is substantiated by the map!].
Where is the hard starboard turn of PFC-94?
"Are there any discrepancies in this Washinton Post article? I think there is some discrepancy as to which boat Rasmussen started out on. How about the rest of Kerry's crew - Is is properly listed?"
There was no fire fight at the village, read the lies here in Kerry's official records and Rassman's own words.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1196649/posts
Gardner had left about a week before this mission. He was on Scarborough and said he could testify to the Feb incident but not this one because he wasn't there. Hurley kept trying to get him to say he was but Gardner kept saying he wasn't and couldn't judge this incident. Gardner was the one who shot a father and son because Kerry failed to spot their fishing boat on the radar and they came up on them. They were not armed. Kerry filled out the After Action Report and claimed their was 4 VC that was going to attack them because he thought he would get in trouble for failing to man the radar. If he had seen on the radar they could have put out flairs 500 yards away warning the fishing boat to stay back.
Kerry then went on to write the report the way the Boston Globe is reporting it because that's what the official story is. The Swift Vets are telling a different tale, and their story hasn't changed since it broke.
If the ambush was on the left side of the river, and Rassmann was dumped on the right side, more distance from most likely site of ambushers, -IF- any were firing.
THe graphic is indefinite as to the point Rassmann fell off. It shows striking a mine "some distance" downstream. I think Kerry lost Rassman with a sudden maneubver of some sort, accelleration or turn.
Nitpicky, point "9" labeled "advances until ... " is located at a point where he is no longer advancing
PCF-43 also moved in to assist PCF-3
PCF-3 circled, under power but without helm, after being mined. THurlow jumped from PCF-51 to PCF-3 to lend aid to the incapacitated crew.
The graphic omits mention of the time after the ambush, until the damaged PCF-3 was towed clear.
The picture of the crew of PCF-94 is not dated, it should be.
Kerry accidentally wounds himself WHILE trying to destroy the rice (the rice-butt injury, and as far as we know, the only shrapnel in his PH report for the day).
I'm sure there are more.
Not true. Rassman said he got a call out of the blue from Kerry's people that John wanted to meet him after 30 years. At this meeting Kerry asked him to help him and his campaign.
I suspect he was diving to avoid the gunfire he ASSUMED was coming from the shore, but, in reality, was the suppression fire from the other boats.
Thats exactly right.
Bobbing on the surface or being underwater during the entire incident doesnt really contribute to him being a credible eye witness. He only believes he was being fired upon.
The propogandists are overtiming it this weekend. That link is priceless.
If he fell off the boat and then they turned it around to go back for him did Kerry drive the boat and then jump down and then pull him out of the water too?
Couldn't Rassman tread water for a minute until the other boats arrived?
The swift vets story and the others said another boat was hit with the mine not kerry's?
They left that part out too. A very convenient omission.
Rood was involved in action on Feb 28. Rassmunn, and this story, occurred on March 13.
There were at least three Bronze Stars awarded for this action on the 13th. Kerry, Thurlow, and one other (name escapes me, but he's the guy who pulled Thurlow out of the drink anfter PCF-3 ran aground -- Thurlow was on PCF-3 because he jumped off his PCF-51 in order to render 1st aid to the incapacitated crew of PCF-3). I don't know how many Purple Hearts. Thurlow did NOT get a Purple Heart for this incident. THurlows Bronse Star was delivered after he had separated from the Navy.
The other boats were busy giving aid to PCF-3. The amount of time Rassmann was in the water gives a good idea of how far Kerry bugged downstream. I wouldn't be surprised if Rassmann missing was detected by a head count, rather than by seeing him go over. IF by head count, then the crew of PCF-94 knew damn well he was on that boat.
you are correct..rood did say there was more enemy than just the single VC....on 2/28
Lambert
Did John Kerry attack a numerically superior enemy force while under withering fire? Kerry's Silver Star citation letter recites routing a score of VC, as well as the above-noted details.
I've always had a problem with THAT explanation...
Rassman would have to be as green as grass to not be able to distinquish between the sound of AK47s and the .50 Caliber machine guns from the boat...
The "song" of the AK47 is VERY distinctive - and not to be confused with any small or medium arms that were in use at the time...
Also - if he was being fired on while in the water - he would have seen the kicked up water from bullet immpacts.. or heard the sonic crack of rounds passing nearby.
Rassman's story about fire from the shore - was NECESSARY to set the scene for his rescue under hazzardous conditions and thus put him in a position to recommend Kerry for the Silver Star that the reviewing officers reduced to a Bronze Star...
Think of it.... A Medal for Valor - for picking a guy out of the water that fell off your boat... NO firing from the shore as reported by ALL the other officers that were on the river at the same time....
Bull Squat...
Semper Fi
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