This is slightly off topic, but in the Silver Star incident, Kerry beached his boat and took off running after a VC that had pointed an RPG at the boat. Wouldn't this be a violation of his duty to stay with the boat as its captain?
Shouldn't Kerry have sent one of his crew after the VC?
I have a navy vet for a friend that doesn't understand how he was rewarded for leaving his post.
My understanding, based upon what I have read elsewhere on this board, was that there was some sort of standing order, or recognized 'SOP', in effect at the time which should have precluded Kerry from either 1) running the boat up on shore, and 2) from leaving the boat in the face of hostile fire.
Of course if 'there was no hostile fire', as some here have suggested, then I am not sure those rules would have been in effect. Of course, if there 'was no hostile fire', it is my understanding that no 'purple hearts' or 'Silver Stars' should have been awarded either. Perhaps this is another of those "You cannot have it both ways, John." situations.
Sorry I am so little help (I was seven years in the 'Blue-Water Navy', and we did all our Haiphong Harbor raids after dark), but perhaps others here with more relevant experience can give you the answers you seek. (I am sure there will be no shortage of volunteers, hereabouts!)