My comment was meant to make fun of the notion that [according to Kerry] his 4 months on the swift boats is all that mattered.<<<< Who said he spent 4 months on swift boats?????????.....Something Ive always wondered about...Between in-country processing (sometimes it took a week or more)...Training (many days if not weeks>> I saw somewhere in his record it was a month in the safety of Camh Rahn Bay)... Out processing (many days if not weeks)..This piker probably didnt spent but 40-50 days ( with fewer missions!)in actual combat situations/exposure!!!...and I wouldnt doubt that this SOB got an R and R thrown in there somewhere too!!!!...Something for somebody smarter then me to check out those facts though!
To answer some of your questions I post. I was US Navy also with orders for a one year countinuous tour in-country RVN. I arrive at Ben Hoa airport(Saigon) and reported to the Annapolis Hotel on Plantation road in Saigon. That was the Navy in-transit BOQ/BEQ. I spent one week in Saigon before locating my unit and getting a ride across country via Aussie mail plane stopping at every little firebase on the way. In country R&R required 3 months in-country, as I recall. Out of country R&R required a minimum of 6 months.
I also read that Kerry spent a month in training. Having completed my year, I reboarded that Aussie puddle-jumper and flew to Saigon and stayed at 'Camp Alpha' for 2-3 days, as I recall, before getting a Braniff flight back to Travis AFB. For me, my transit times were about 10 days in and out. Hope that helps.
Nam Vet