And I read he asked for and got FOUR deferments and was turned down on the 5th request (he wanted to study in France ... :-) .... so eventually joined the navy reserve.
Is a Corporal equivalent to a 1st LT....? as I seem to remember about a Corporal who also had delusions beyond his station.
Not only that, the truth of kerry's *service* is that he put time on the what was it, Grady? Missle friggat, far removed from any action, except 2 weeks off the coast, but still not near any action, then he sailed back home.
he counts that as a "tour" in Veitnam. Then, he put in for the swift boats because at the time, they were not involved in the delta rivers. He thought it was the safest place to be. Unfortunately for kerry, they were re-assigned and he found himself where he did not want to be.
But, as we know, he collected Purps fast and got out as fast as he could, making up a story how he was a "war hero" in the proccess.
According to his congressional testamony, and his book, he hardly spent time on the swift boat, he was always in seol, advising generals, fighting in trenchs with marines, burning villages, making mock assaults on the enemy for observing generals. All this within 4 months.