I've seen a couple accounts of this so far and in none of them does it say that Kerry called the guy. Where did you see that?
At the beginning of the article, Rood says he was contacted by John Kerry and that is why he spoke out.
" . . . and in recent days Kerry has called me and others who were with him in those days, asking that we go public with our accounts."
His own words.
I heard him interviewed personally on WTMJ in Milwaukee and he did say that Kerry phoned him