Posted on 08/23/2004 2:52:54 PM PDT by gilliam
Kerry Spot reader Barnaby observes that the article by former Swift Boat commander William B. Rood creates a new problem for John Kerry. Rood's bronze star citation says he earned the medal "while serving with friendly foreign forces" and "Underwater Demolition Team THIRTEEN and Vietnamese Regional and Popular Force personnel."
Kerry's Silver Star citation makes no mention of Underwater Demolition Team THIRTEEN, and the friendly foreign forces aren't credited with any role in the battle. The description makes it sound like Kerry and his crew saved the day.
This inconsistency bears out one of the Swift Boat Vets's objection to Kerry's Silver Star citation. Page 83 of Unfit for Command: "The citation simply ignores the presence of the soldiers and advisors who actually "captured the many enemy weapons" and routed the Viet Cong. Further, the citation ignores the preplanned nature of the tactic and the fact that Kerry's boat did not beach first. Finally, the citations statement that Kerry attacked a "numerically superior force in the face of intense fire" is simply false." Admiral Roy Hoffman, who keeps being cited as a formerly pro-Kerry vet who has "changed his story," says he was told Kerry had "almost single-handedly" routed the Viet Cong.
It's little things like this that make one wish one could ask questions of Mr. Rood. And it makes one wonder if Kerry's reports to his superiors after battles were more than a little self-serving.
Simple, eFing was in French Foreign Legion...
The Kerry owes the Navy 8 more months of service and his record immediately goes from "honorable" to "dishonorable" or "incomplete"
I heard that too. This is the 1st PH. The one that Hibbard would not sign onto, and that Kerry resubmitted, 3 months later, via a different chain of command.
If he admits the Swiftees are right on THIS matter, it gives the Swiftees a HUGE boost in credibility. Camp Kerry is nuts if they admit this.
if Rood's account is truthful, and also at odds, with Kerry's, then he is using a most perfect tactic of issuing his statement and leaving it to all work out without his having to constantly re-create a situation that would benefit Kerry's constantly changing scenarios.
"Rood believes that his word will be swallowed as gospel simply because he says it"
That's the impression that I got from the initial news stories. Apperantly, this guy thinks he is like Moses coming off the mountain to set everyone straight. Several time last week I heard news stories that ended with something like, "This should be the last word on the matter." This story was just the latest in the string.
These slimes in the media act like we are all children that need the wisdom of news reporters to reveal the truth.
That's been my take on it, after a few hours of reflection after reading Rood's article. I think he's unhappy/angry that Kerry leaned on him to write a story. SO, he writes a story that illustrates the Swiftee's correct on the important point, and points out a difference of stories on an unimportant point (the age and garb of the single VC). The media gloms onto the minor discrepancy in a knee-jerk reaction, then the Swiftees tease out the areas where Rood agrees with their version.
I did notice, the Rood story has not made much of a splash. Methinks the media caught on to the trap ;-)
Good point, especially since he won't take follow-up questions. Have any of Kerry's little band been deposed
To the best of my knowledge, neither kerry nor any of his supporters has ever made a sworn statement regarding their claims.
Now get the news to Kerry Spot!
> ... points out a difference of stories on an unimportant
> point (the age and garb of the single VC).
Probably knowing full well that Kerry never challenged
the Boston Globe when they wrote up his exploits as
"teenager in a loincloth".
PLEASE keep reading the Silver Star citation!
On the next page of Kerry's Silver Star citation you've linked to you'll come to the part about Kerry & Rood taking intense fire and a B-40 rocket blowing up on Kerry's boat.
Of course that's never been mentioned in Kerry or Rood's reflections. It would warrant a silver star. Their stories don't.
THIS IS 100% TOTAL CONFIRMATION OF EVERYTHING THE SWIFTVETS HAVE SAID!
Please read & reconsider: this
Nobody born in 1953 was drafted. The last folks ordered for induction were numbers 95 and lower, born in 1952.
I believe college deferments ended with the first lottery held on 12/1/69, for guys born 1944-1950.
http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm
If he is in his early 50s he would have graduated High School around 1969-1970.... so yes, he is old enough
I saw today that the WP filed a FOIA request for them (I don't know when) and got back six pages with the info that the rest could not be released without Kerry's consent.
You know what they say -- the camera doesn't lie! ;-)
IIRC if you had a student deferment in 1970 you could continue until age 24 or undergraduate degree as long as you completed a certain number of units per year...it changed either late 1970 or 71..thus I believe Edwards was deferred...but those already deferred could continue till one of the three above conditions triggered losing the deferment...
get his or anyone's draft records here, just need their address at time of registering and date of birth:
http://www.sss.gov/RECORDS2.HTM
Before Congress made improvements to the draft in 1971, a man could qualify for a student deferment if he could show he was a full-time student making satisfactory progress toward a degree.
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