Timeline : The end of Kerry's tour in Vietnam

Unfit For Command, The Washington Post 8/22/2004 | 8/24/2004 | zot

[zot]

I've been putting together a timeline of the end of Kerry's short tour in Vietnam, and I think the sequence highlights two events that have not been focused upon together and should be emphasized: (a) Kerry abandoned the other boats and fled from what he thought was a battle, and (b) he abandoned his own boat and rode home with the wounded.

13 Mar 1969 - Five Swift Boats are sent to raid a Vietcong village: Kerry PCF-94, Droz PCF-43, Pees PCF-3, Chenoweth PCF-23, and Thurlow PCF-51. Special Forces Lieutenant Rassman goes along for the ride on Kerry's boat. They depart the LST anchored offshore at 7:30 am, cruise about 11 miles up the Bay Hap River, then about 3 miles up the Dong Cung Canal, and get to the village at 8:15 am.

1. The village is deserted. As they are returning to the boat, Kerry and Rassmann decide to blow up a five-ton rice bin. They climb on top of the huge pile and dig a hole in the rice. On the count of three, they toss their grenades into the hole and run. Kerry doesn't run fast enough. He gets hit in the butt by some pieces of rice.

2. As the five boats are returning down the Bay Hap River, they come to a fishing net stretched across the middle of the river. As PCF-94 is going around the fishing net to the right and PCF-3 is going around it to the left, a mine explodes under PCF-3.

3. Simultaneously: (a) Kerry goes to full throttle, which causes Rassmann to fall overboard, and flees down the river with all his guns firing at the shore, and (b) the other three boats go to help PCF-3 with all their guns firing at the shore.

4. After 40 seconds, PCF-43, PCF-23 and PCF-51 cease fire, but Kerry keeps on firing and fleeing down the river.

5. PCF-43, PCF-23 and PCF-51 work together to rescue the crew of PCF-3 and keep PCF-3 from sinking.

6. Kerry finally turns around, comes back, and fishes Rassmann out of the water.

7. As PCF 23 is leaving the area to take the three seriously injured men from PCF-3 to the Coast Guard cutter offshore, Kerry jumps in PCF-23 and goes with them.

8. PCF-94 (without Kerry) tows the badly damaged PCF-3.

9. Kerry writes the after-action report that portrays him as a hero. He does not mention the fact that he abandoned the other boats and fled from what he thought was a battle, or that he abandoned his own boat and rode home with the wounded.

13-17 March 1969

1. Kerry's after-action report is used to request that he be awarded the Bronze Star and his third Purple Heart.

2. Several Swift Boat commanders discuss the problems they have been having with Kerry. The fact that he bugged out twice on the same day is the last straw. One of them remembers the regulation about three Purple Hearts.

3. Tom Wright, another Swift Boat commander at An Thoi, approaches Kerry one night and tells him that several fellow Swiftees believe it might be best for everyone if Kerry simply left.

4. Kerry goes to see CDR Charles F. Horne, Commander of Coastal Squadron One, and requests reassignment to the United States. (Kerry apparently told CDR Horne precisely the type of assignment he wanted. See next entry.)

17 March 1969 - CDR Horne signs a telegram dated 17 March 1969 that says Kerry "has been thrice wounded in action while on duty incountry Vietnam. Reassignment is requested ... as a personal aide in Boston, New York, or Wash., D.C. area."

11 Apr 1969 - Kerry reports for duty at Headquarters Military Sea Transportation Service, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in Brooklyn, New York, as a personal aide to Admiral Walter F. Schlech.

[zot]

Kerry's last mission in Vietnam shows two examples of cowardice. I think he is attacking the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth so viciously because THIS is the truth he doesn't want anyone to know.

[ClearCase_guy]

Very nice timeline.

Add to this the first Purple Heart which was given for an injury Kerry suffered 9 days before he experienced any combat (self-inflicted).

Your timeline shows that his third Purple Heart was also for a self-inflicted injury, received while not under enemy fire.

Three purple heart, two of them fraudulent.
Bronze Star for fleeing the scene of a mine explosion
Silver Star -- with improper V -- for shooting a wounded man in the back.

The guy is a big fraud, and its now impossible to hide it.

[QQQQQ]

This is an excellent summation of the timeline and actions.

Is this in the book?

"7. As PCF 23 is leaving the area to take the three seriously injured men from PCF-3 to the Coast Guard cutter offshore, Kerry jumps in PCF-23 and goes with them.

8. PCF-94 (without Kerry) tows the badly damaged PCF-3. "

They should put THIS in an ad, that Kerry abandoned his post. And he wants to be Commander in Chief?!

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

ZOT,

I think that you are absolutely correct. THis has been churning in my mind for a while, ane you put it down correctly, in my opinion.

[backhoe]

To read the latest on the Franchurian Candidate's bizzare exploits, click the picture, goto "last," and work backwards:

If you would like to help the Swift Boat Vets ( as I have, and I urge all to do-- even a few dollars will help ) kindly click on this logo:

If, perchance, the top "click the pic" link is not visible, click here:

-John Kerry- some selected, informative links...--

---

I want you to help the SwiftVets-- here's how:

1st download the videos and burn them onto a CD or DVD and Hand Them Out! Take lots of extra copies.

Q. Could you please help those of us that are neophytes how to copy?

Both ads are on the SwiftVets.com site. Under "topics" click on "Latest News".Then, see newbie guides at http://www.doom9.org/guides.htm

( Kudos to Fuzzy! )

To read the latest on the Franchurian Candidate's bizzare exploits, click the picture, goto "last," and work backwards:

If you would like to help the Swift Boat Vets ( as I have, and I urge all to do-- even a few dollars will help ) kindly click on this logo:

[adam_az]

John "Sir Robin" Kerry: A Comparison of John Kerry and Sir Robin

[Cold Heat]

I concur.

It is also interesting that Kerry's contemporaries, (fellow commanders and staff) actually wanted Kerry to take advantage of the three heart rule and get out. They did not want him around and considered him risky and out of control.

Kerry reportedly first refused, saying he wanted to stay and fight.

When morning came, he reportedly gone. Bag and baggage.

[Steven W.]

From Unfit for Command, page 91:

When Chenoweth's boat left a second time to deliver the wounded PCF 3 crewmen to a Coast Guard cutter offshore, Kerry jumped into the boat, leaving the few remaining officers and men the job of saving PCF 3, which was then in terrible condition, sinking just outisde the river. Kerry's eagerness to secure his third and final Purple Heart evidently outweighed any feelings he may have had of loyalty, duty, or honor with regard to his fellow sailors. Thurlow and the brave sailors who saved PCF 3 and towed it out did not seek Purple Hearts for their "minor contusions." Indeed, several of the PCF 3 sailors did not seek or receive Purple Hearts. Chenoweth, Odell, and their boat-mates who fished out and saved the sailors of PCF 3 likewise had no thought of seeking medals but only of rescuing their comrades and saving PCF 3. Kerry, however, portrays himself towing the disabled PCF 3 to safety after saving it. Another lie: The damage control on PCF 3 was done by Thurlow. While Kerry's boat, PCF 94, participated in towing PCF-3, Kerry was no longer on it for most of the trip (he was safely on the Coast Guard cutter), and Thurlow and Chenoweth are certain that Kerry played no role in saving PCF 3 or its crew.
When Chenoweth and Thurlow (as well as several other Swiftees who were there on March 13, 1969) first saw the Kerry ads, they believed the event that Kerry had described in his campaign biography and that was portrayed in his campaign television ads (as well as in the medal citations) had to be different events involving different people. What they had experienced on March 13, 1969, was so unlike the incident Kerry described that they could not imagine that he was describing the same event. They were horrified when they finally realized Kerry had received medals for the incident they remembered.

[WOSG]

PING - Kerry

[lepton]

bookmark bump

[zot]

Yes, this is in the book UNFIT FOR COMMAND pages 91-92 (PCF-23 is refered to as Chenoweth's boat).

[Vortex]

Has anyone speculated yet that sKerry's "lucky" hat he's been saying was given to him by a CIA agent was actually given to him by Rassman?

You know, CIA and Special Forces, it's all the same right?</sarcasm>

[BushisTheMan]

Some guy who just came out for Kerry says it is a Navy regulation to report wounds.

Anyone know?

[QQQQQ]

Thanks. I just have to go get the book.

I am glad you put together the timeline in the way you did. It makes it very clear and easy to follow what happened.

[demlosers]

Nice I'll bookmark.

[QQQQQ]

I don't know -- but they mean WOUNDS, NOT scratches.

Can you imagine what would happen if everyone would start reporting scratches, which only require a bandaid?

[newzhawk]

What bothers me so much is that when this all started coming out in the early summer- I read the circumstances of Kerry's version of how he got his different medals to my husband- he was in the Navy driving LST's and is a 200 ton boat Captain. He was amazed Kerry didn't get in trouble instead of medals! He left his boat and ran ashore to shoot someone that was already injured by a M50 - would have been half dead or dying- and left a man overboard and "came back" . It was also obvious that he didn't need medical help when a bandaid and neosporin were applied- only fairy Kerry would report this- The info I haven't heard publicly was that Kerry's draft number was low and first tried to get a deferment to study in Paris and was denied. He then chose the service he preferred before getting drafted - big deal - most guys did this as well. From what I understand- Bush's draft number was in the 300's and was unlikely to get drafted anyway- but signed up for hazardous flying duty but in the states so he could finish his education. My own brother with a high number never even considered that he would be drafter with his 337 number - and went to school and did no service- only 10% of male population did! Yet the Dems have no problem allowing theri 527's and stooges trash Bush and Cheney - yet said nothing against the weasel Clinton! I hope my blood pressure survives this election year!

[euclid216]

Did any of the other four officers write an after action report? If yes, are they available? If not, why not?

[Steven W.]

the "special hat" is his (Kerry's) IMHO

[euclid216]

The first draft lottery was held on December 1, 1969, and applied to all candidates eligile for induction in 1970. Neither Kerry nor Bush were affected by the lottery. By the way, my lottery number was 212, but the lottery stopped at 195. Pretty close, huh.