"Adm. Hoffman & Commander Elliot in 1996 answered the call to defend Kerry against Weld in the very tight US Senate race in MA. They held their noses, praised him highly, and likely saved him"
I'm really confused why they would do this in the first place. They believe he was a traitor then .. Hmmmm?
I cannot answer to their motives? Perhaps a vet versus a non vet who had impugned vets.
No, actually they did not put it together at that time.
What they were defending was the back shooting incident.
They defended Kerry against accusations for this, and frankly they still do. The back shooting was acceptable in war time with an armed enemy soldier.