I heard Gardner on some of the TV channels over the weekend. They tried to shout him down with someother vet that wouldn't address what Gardner was saying. It sounds like he was more effective in this forum.
Thurlow has been put on the defensive because his medal report, (obtained at the time Kerry obtained his) records enemy fire.
nikos
Thurlow also says he never even knew he had been submitted for a Bronze Star, and that it was sent to him a good 3 months after he left the Navy. He thought it was for jumping onto the #3 boat and saving the crew. The citation wording was very similar to Kerry's and was most likely, he surmises, based on John Kerry's sole account in the only after-action report filed with the Navy (a.k.a. "the official Navy record"). My speculation only, but I think he and the others would willingly give up any medals they thought were awarded under false pretenses.
Brand new ad featuring Gardner is out:
http://humaneventsonline.com.edgesuite.net/unfit_video3.html