Citation Enhancement (Serious questions raised about Kerry's Vietnam decorations)

The American Spectator ^ | August 30, 2004 | 'The Prowler'

[quidnunc]

Record break-in

It appears that the Kerry campaign is finally getting some of its own medicine, as it is feeling heat to release the bulk of the Sen. John Kerry's service record.

For months, the campaign has been hiding behind Freedom of Information Act requests and what it has said was an exclusivity contract with its paid historian, Douglas Brinkley.

But Brinkley late Friday said that there was nothing holding back the campaign from releasing documents.

By some counts, there are more than 100 pages of documents related to Kerry's military service that may answer some of the many unanswered questions and mysteries about his time in Vietnam and the citations and awards he claims to have earned. For example:

Why are there three — THREE! — separate and differently worded citations for Kerry's Silver Star award. On Saturday, former Navy Secretary John Lehman denied that he ever signed that third, generously worded citation, which Kerry has posted on his website.

Why has Kerry claimed that he was awarded a "Combat V" for his Silver Star, when such an award has never been awarded?

Why are there two separate, differently worded citations for Kerry's Bronze Star? Again, with the second officially reworded by Lehman?

Why did Kerry seek a revision in 2001 to the number of campaign stars on his Vietnam service medal? Kerry's website claims Kerry had four, when the Navy says that he deserves only two. These stars are critical, because they indicate the number of military campaigns a soldier served in.

[Happy2BMe]

Thanks for the ping.

"Serious" doubts is correct. Very, very, series doubts on Kerry's purple hearts (he literally begged for the first one).

BTW: Purple Hearts were turned down by the "real heroes."

My brother turned down his first two simply because he felt he had not been wounded badly enough (direct gunfire while on USMC Recon missions and also didn't want to alarm "mom" back home that he was getting "scraped up" any.

Shows you the kind of worm Kerry was.

[Smartass]

Want to join in the fun? Click the logo to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

[Zechariah11]

Brinkley seems to be having second thoughts.

Could it be that he feels as though Kerry played him for a fool?

[PhilipFreneau]

Why did Kerry seek a revision in 2001 to the number of campaign stars on his Vietnam service medal? Kerry's website claims Kerry had four, when the Navy says that he deserves only two. These stars are critical, because they indicate the number of military campaigns a soldier served in.

I think Kerry is right on this one. On this site there is a list of the 17 campaigns. I believe Kerry qualified for 6 and 7 while on the U.S.S. Gridley, and 9 and 10 while in-country. See Kerry's service timeline to verify the dates. (Note: #8 should have read, Vietnamese Counteroffensive (1 July-l November 1968) Phase V)

[Happy2BMe]

Thanks for the ping. That one went out as email.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[jamaly]

I am hopeful that there will be a watershed moment in the consciousness of the liberal print media. Obviously it is a slim hope. But perhaps someday, students will sit in total astonishment at lectures while professors explain how "investigative journalists," and "reporters" ignored mountains of damning evidence and documents against liberals, but were mighty pit bulls at unearthing irrelevant, inconsequential documents against conservatives.

From your mouth to God's ear. Unfortunately, this won't happen unless we return to a Victorian era. Not an impossibility; but not likely either.