Kerry has previously said Rassman was on another boat, Rassman has said he was on Kerry's boat. The second mine was IMO cover for hightailing it..elswhere it is reported Kerry hit his own wake and slipped on shell casings on the deck falling and injuring his arm (bruise) I believe Kerry with Sandusky at the wheel took off when the first mine blew..
I want to know if Alston was on Kerrys boat..he did receive a bronze star but I don't know for what event/day.
Langhoefer who now claims to have heard enemy fire and that he saw Kerry dive in after Razma was on the PCF 43 he also received a bronze star..was it for the same incident? Does his citation say while under fire?
We know Rood received a bronze star his citation includes other action, probably from earlier in the day.
Kerry has now cast doubt on some very heroic men's actions by his own embellishment. Clearly all these men were regularly in harm's way. If it was me I would feel resntment for someone who bugged out in 4 months..then again if he got me out of there early I might feel some debtof gratitude...
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.
This is suspicious in and of itself. A couple of the Rassmann versions have him looking up and seeing Kerry reaching his hand down in the water to help grab a hold of him and pull him out of the drink. Another version has him seeing Kerry's boat nearby, swimming toward it, grabbing the net overhanging the boat, climbing the net, but just not having enough energy to lift his body over the lip of the boat. Kerry sees him struggling, reaches out his hand, and pulls him the rest of the way into the boat. Nowhere else have I read that Kerry dove in to save Rassmann.