Posted on 08/24/2004 1:03:57 PM PDT by 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.
I used to be IN the gun mount, sometimes as Mount Captain.
That required me to stick my head thru the top hatch as the guns fired.
When they did my head (with helmet) would slam back into the hatch cover.
From what I've read, it was common practice for only one of the skippers to write up the after-action report of multi-unit incidents.
As has always been the case in all branches of the service, honor and honesty on the part of the person submitting a report is expected. In kerry's case, that expectation wasn't met.
Any officer requesting to review a report written by a fellow officer would be viewed as questioning that fellow officer's integrity. In most cases, that review shouldn't have needed to happen; in kerry's case, it should have happened.
Trying to read through all of the code boggles my mind. The damage report, last page, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it dated 3/12?
Except for kerry, the only wounded appear to have been aboard PCF-3. They had concussion injuries consistent with a mine explosion. There were no gunshot injuries reported.
2 great articles you pointed to -
http://armor.typepad.com/bastardsword/2004/08/kerry_part_lxvi.html
which also points you to
http://michnews.com/artman/publish/article_4808.shtml
Have just sent the Swift Vets ten dollars, all I could afford this week, gave $300.00 to the Red Cross last week.
According to the SITREP (situation report) on the incident, there were seven wounded. Six of the seven injured were on PCF-3.
kerry's casualty report portion of it lists him as:
"TREATED BY MEDICAL OFFICER ABOARD USCGC SPENCER (WHEC-36) AND RETURNED TO DUTY WITH COASTAL DIVISION 11."
This is consistent with the account of his leaving PCF-94 in "Unfit for Command".
Which Adams-class can were you on? I did a WestPac cruise on the Hoel (DDG-13) at the end of 1972.
Yep. His purple heart document was submitted as shell Fragment.
Thank you very much- everything helps, and I really believe the money is better spent with them than with larger groups. This is true grassroots support.
knocked vs not
What is new to me in this thread is that Rassmann was essentially there for a ride-along. Not that I'm faulting his being there ... in fact, it seems odd that Swifties alone would be sent out to check a village without accompanying troops doing the recon with the boats providing the cover ... but what tickles my interest is why Rassmann chose Kerry's boat and if there was any special relationship between the two men before the rescue incident. It calls into question Rassmann's impartiality. For example, were these two men cowboys who liked to shoot first and ask questions later, to blow things up with grenades, etc.? Now maybe this account is wrong but it does open up some more questions if it is right.
Burns whines,"I deserve that medal! I got hit with shell fragments!"
Hawkeye replies, "Those were egg shell fragments that got stuck in your eye while you were eating breakfast!"
>>Kerry enlisted in 1966. His six was up in 1972.
Kerry's awards ALL say Kerry was USNR (Navy RESERVES) does that change what you wrote?
by the way, it DOES shed a little irony on Kerry lambasting Dubya's Texas Air Reserves service.
how do we lookup the details of Rood's medal, and if Kerry had a part in writing it up or witnessing it?
"Have you seen this account?"
Thanks. It is well-researched and highly detailed.
I notice it says Lt. Rassman was the Awards and Decorations officer for his Special Forces unit. That's interersting. Awards and Decs might have been an additional duty, or he may have been an admin type and not a combat officer. Maybe someone can find his unit, specialty, and duty assignment at that time.
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