I did NOT hear it and I would be surprised if that was stated HOWEVER they may have NO CHOICE because that very statement (written 9 days after the 1st PH citation) said they had NOT YET SEEN COMBAT.
This was published in "TOUR OF DUTY" which came from JFKerrys official notes that he gave to Brinkley for his authorized BIO.
I heard it too, from Brit Hume.