Posted on 09/03/2004 2:58:29 PM PDT by The Bandit
The RescueSen. Kerry's Bronze Star recommendation makes no mention of Sen. Kerry being under enemy small arms fire. Here is how his Bronze Star recommendation describes the rescue: "LTJG KERRY from his exposed position on the bow of the boat, managed to pull RASSMAN aboard despite the painful wound in his right arm."
Jim Rassmann claims he was the one who recommended Sen. Kerry for a award, originally recommended Kerry for the Silver Star that later was reduced to a Bronze Star. However, Sen. Kerry's Bronze Star recommendation only lists one eyewitness for the rescue of Jim Rassmann: Kerry for President supporter, Del Sandusky.
This is the same Del Sandusky who told CNN NewsNight on May 31, 2004 that "John, shot and bleeding, laid down and pulled up Rassmann by his belt."
(Excerpt) Read more at idexer.com ...
Would like to see a copy of the original before we get too excited.....
The Bandit has posted a bunch of other things--he's legit.
Where is the report?
Go Swifties!
http://www.rocksblues.com/images/sbvt.jpg
LOL!
Simple physics/ logistics question(s) follows...
How much freeboard is there at the bow of a Swiftboat? Is it physically possible/plausible that someone can "one arm" a sopping wet sailor that height?
(In pics, it looks like it's about 5 feet at the bow.) http://www.swiftvets.com/images/swiftboat1.jpg
Rassmann got ahold of the cargo netting, but couldn't finish hauling himself aboard.
Other accounts say that there was a net over the side and that Rassman was part way up, but unable to pull himself up due to exhaustion.
Yes, Rassman probably was exhausted because Kerry had left him to go down river to get away from what Kerry thought was enemy gunfire.
One of the Swiftboat vets says that he was close to getting Rassman when Kerry came back. He witnessed Kerry physically pulling Rassman into the boat. That part is not at issue.
BTT
Rassman may have made a recommendation to someone...perhaps even in writing but I doubt the Navy would have an Army officer...who they probably never saw again after that day...
Stick around for a week or two and do the Navy's paperwork....
It was Lt (jg) John F Kerry who got himself assigned to write up the 'Kerrytales".....
that is how he pulled off getting the Navy to rubber stamp his heroism... Officers and gentlemen are expected to be truthful and honest above all else...and are taken for the most part at their word...
That was what the Navy found out to be their biggest mistake with Lt (jg) John F Kerry..and why his records read....... UNFIT FOR COMMAND
One other even more nefarious scenario...is that corrupt officers sometimes put each other in for unearned medals...sort of a quid pro quo....
imo
I HAD HEARD that Rassman pulled himself up out of the water and climed a swimmers rescue net but just couldn't pull himself over the edge due to exhaustion...
Isn't that a picture of the rescue net hanging down from the bow of the PCF boat? That's the first thing a man-overboard would come in contact with when a boat approached him.
>>the same Del Sandusky who told CNN NewsNight on May 31, 2004 that "John, shot and bleeding, laid down and pulled up Rassmann by his belt."
I bet it would be funny if someone found a retired PCF boat
laid down on its deck and tried to pull up a man in the
water by his belt!
It could make a great swiftboat ad!
>>the same Del Sandusky who told CNN NewsNight on May 31, 2004 that "John, shot and bleeding, laid down and pulled up Rassmann by his belt."
I think we already have PROOF that Del Sandusky is a LIAR
because the medical report shows Kerry got a BRUISE
on his arm, and a bruise does not bleed.
Freeboard is no barrier to Kerry - he is soooo flexible that he can make like Plastic Man.
A good way to get an autopen signature,if so.
A major part of this story will eventually be how Kerry was able to game the system and go around the chain of command to, for instance, get a PH approved months later by someone else when his immediate superior had denied it to him and end up with an elaborate SS citation signed twelve years after the fact by a Secretary of the Navy who claims he never saw the paperwork and never approved it.........
I'll personally pin a Silver Star on you if you can find where you read that!
I have wondered about that feat.
It would be nice to know the distance from deck gunnel to the water. A tired swimmer might be able to stick his hand a couple of feet above the water he is treading.
Kerry does have long arms, so he could reach down. However after watching him drop footballs and ooze out pitches, I would not want to be the water depending on him to pull me in.
We have quite a few riverboat vets on FR. You need to ask them.
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