Rassmann and one other Special Forces soldier were the leaders of the indigenous troops aboard the Swift boats that day.
Unique in my experience, Rassmann says he cannot remember the name of a single SF soldier he served with! (That's like forgetting your own brother). However, we do have orders placing him in Special Forces and on team A-404 and later A-405. He was on A-404 as Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations officer at the time of this incident.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
" Rassmann and one other Special Forces soldier were the leaders of the indigenous troops aboard the Swift boats that day."
Rassmann told Michael Kranish ( page 105) that his job ferrying Chinese mercenaries in northern Vietnam was on hold, because the rainy season had ended and the marshes were dry.
He and his men " had free time on their hands, so he decided to head south and hook up with navy swift boat crews."
He met Kerry in a bar, they hung out for a month and the day of his rescue was their first " mission " together.
Kranish makes it sound as if Rassmann was just hanging out with Kerry.