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New Navy Document Challenges Kerry's Combat Valor
News Max.Com ^ | 9-15-04

Posted on 09/15/2004 7:16:37 AM PDT by hope

Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 10:05 a.m. EDT

New Navy Document Challenges Kerry's Combat Valor

In the midst of a formal Navy investigation into whether Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam war decorations had been falsified, a new document has surfaced that casts doubt on his claim that he acted with valor in the action that earned him a Silver Star with Combat V.

Kerry won the Silver Star after claiming he single-handedly shot a Vietcong guerilla with a loaded rocket launcher while patrolling the Mekong Delta.

But the Navy after action report, obtained Tuesday by syndicated TV commentator Mark Hyman of "The Point," states that he merely chased down a lone, wounded enemy who was running away and shot him. In 1996, Kerry Swiftboat mate Thomas Bellodeau challenged the top Democrat's account, revealing that he fired the first shot that hit the VC. Only then did Kerry hunt the wounded enemy down and finish him off behind a hut.

You know, I shot that guy," Bellodeau told the Boston Globe. "He jumped up, he looked right at me, I looked at him. You could tell he was trying to decide whether to shoot or not. I expected the guy on Kerry's boat with the twin 50s to blast him, but he couldn't depress the guns far enough. We were up on the bank."

Bellodeau died in 1997 and Kerry spoke at his funeral - but the presidential candidate has never corrected the record that gives him credit for Bellodeau's act of bravery.

John O'Neill, a leader of the Swiftvets running anti-Kerry TV ads, told the New York Post that the document uncovered by Hyman shows Kerry "was pursuing a wounded man and not charging alone into superior numbers and intense fire," as his Silver Star citation claims.

The Silver Star with Combat V citation that appears on Kerry's campaign web site bears the signature of former Navy Secretary John Lehman. But Lehman said two weeks ago that he never signed the Kerry award, raising questions about whether his signature had been forged.

Reacting to Lehman's comments, a Navy spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that the service has never issued a Silver Star with Combat V to anyone.

Editor's note:

108-108-108-108-108


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: combatv; kerry; kerrylies; militaryrecord; navy; silverstar
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To: hope
the document uncovered by Hyman shows Kerry "was pursuing a wounded man and not charging alone into superior numbers and intense fire," as his Silver Star citation claims.

LOL!

21 posted on 09/15/2004 7:34:15 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Chewbacco

"How did this BOZO every get elected to anything??!!"

Home state of Ted Kennedy??!! & Barney Fag???!!!


22 posted on 09/15/2004 7:34:38 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch (A 4 month swift boat commander or a 4 year Commander in Chief, you decide.)
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To: hope

This sort of thing about Kerry (and no forged documents necessary) will only appear on NewsMax. The same type thing (regardless of its authenticity) on Bush would be all over CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN for weeks.


23 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:00 AM PDT by Avenger
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To: hope

So that's how you "EARN" a Silver Star(w/Combat "V")?????Shoot a wounded enemy soldier(probably in the back as he is fleeing),and ShaZammm,A Silver Star!!!!!!!


24 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:05 AM PDT by bandleader
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To: Chewbacco
How did this BOZO every get elected to anything??!!

The Boston Globe is the NY Times of Boston. Nuf said.

25 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:05 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: hope

WHOA!!!...First things first!!...It is my understanding that>>>>THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "V" DEVICE ON A SILVER STAR!...<<< as shown on his "records"...Lets clear that up first...Did I miss something here???


26 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:28 AM PDT by M-cubed
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To: gunnygail
My goodness! Kimchee has awfully dramatic phyiological results. I hope the ass-kissers at DNC headquarters and MSM are prepared for the outcome!
27 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:40 AM PDT by pointsal
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To: Chewbacco

Incredible, isn't it?


28 posted on 09/15/2004 7:35:49 AM PDT by hope (Let no man deceive you!)
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To: hope
The Silver Star with Combat V citation that appears on Kerry's campaign web site bears the signature of former Navy Secretary John Lehman. But Lehman said two weeks ago that he never signed the Kerry award, raising questions about whether his signature had been forged.

Reacting to Lehman's comments, a Navy spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that the service has never issued a Silver Star with Combat V to anyone. Let's get this straight - the citation Lehman says he didn't sign also includes a combat V which the Navy says it has never given.

Is that anything like a copy of a private memo which purports to have been written in 1971 but which was typed on equipment equal to Word for Windows, and refers to undue influence from a retired superior?

29 posted on 09/15/2004 7:36:20 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: Melinda

Are you questioning my Patriotism!!??

I defended this nation as a young man and then I held secret meetings with the enemy and betrayed my country as a young man and then I betray the VVAW by using them as political pawns, then I supported the war in Iraq then I didn't support it, then I supported it again, and now I don't!! I have the support of many foreign leaders but will not say who they are.

Are you questioning my Patriotism!!?? umm, YES

LOL


30 posted on 09/15/2004 7:37:21 AM PDT by Chewbacco (I actually did have a tagline, before I erased it.)
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To: hope
claiming he single-handedly shot a Vietcong guerilla with a loaded rocket launcher

"...but what the elephant was doing in my pajamas I'll never know."

31 posted on 09/15/2004 7:37:30 AM PDT by Ichneumon ("...she might as well have been a space alien." - Bill Clinton, on Hillary, "My Life", p. 182)
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To: Chewbacco

I used to tune in to Imus regularly,but his constant references to "My Guy"(Skerry)finally got to me.I would start screaming obscenities at the radio!!I now know Imus for what he TRULY is,a POLTROON!!!!


32 posted on 09/15/2004 7:38:10 AM PDT by bandleader
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To: hope
In the midst of a formal Navy investigation into whether Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam war decorations had been falsified, a new document has surfaced that casts doubt on his claim that he acted with valor in the action that earned him a Silver Star with Combat V.

Hey, this is monospaced type, it must have been written in the 70's...

(Just kidding. But seriously, what's up with the ugly font?)

33 posted on 09/15/2004 7:40:07 AM PDT by Ichneumon ("...she might as well have been a space alien." - Bill Clinton, on Hillary, "My Life", p. 182)
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To: hope
The Swifties are kicking Kerry's butt!!

No Christmas in Cambodia!

1st Purple Heart could have been self-inflicted!(Kerry spokesperson)

Silver Star confirmed for shooting a wounded teenager in the back as he tried to run away!

34 posted on 09/15/2004 7:40:11 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: dvldog03

I believe there is a "Museum"in NYC that stores recorded transcriptions of all airwave broadcasts.


35 posted on 09/15/2004 7:41:28 AM PDT by bandleader
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To: bandleader

Yes, he gets to me too. I don't believe he really supports Kerry.

He is just filled with a bone-chilling, cancerous, HATRED for Cheney(i never understood why) and Bush's staff. (i never understood why) it is very unpleasant and disrespectful just on a respecting another human being as a person level.

But I do understand your point. Lots of (here we go again) eyerolling going on when Imus is on.


36 posted on 09/15/2004 7:45:57 AM PDT by Chewbacco (I actually did have a tagline, before I erased it.)
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To: hope
Sign Form 180 Mr Kerry!!!!!!


37 posted on 09/15/2004 7:48:32 AM PDT by dubie
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To: pointsal

They spew out so much methane from their oral anifices, who'd know the diff?


38 posted on 09/15/2004 7:49:51 AM PDT by gunnygail (Founding member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. (I operate the minigun, more fun):.)
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To: hope; pookie18
Let's get this straight - the citation Lehman says he didn't sign also includes a combat V which the Navy says it has never given.

Is that anything like a copy of a private memo which purports to have been written in 1971 but which was typed on equipment equal to Word for Windows, and refers to undue influence from a retired superior?

The common character of those two things is that they are so egregious that they beg to be challenged.

Just like Filegate, where the Clinton WH committed a great many hundreds of counts of the felony that sent Chuck Colson to the slammer - then didn't even prosecute Craig Livingstone!

And just like "the meaning of 'is'."

Utterly brazen. These people not only want to be above the law, they want you to know they got away with it!

This begs for cartoon treatment! What's the link to the Kerry website showing the citation???


39 posted on 09/15/2004 7:51:06 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: TexasCajun

The Silver Star was probably for beaching the boat while attacking a site that had just fired a B-40 rocket at them. The Chicago guy (OIC of another boat) said that Kerry had proposed this after several boats were shot up running away from fire. It is common for an OIC to receive the honor that probably belongs to the unit. As far as shooting VC's running away after firing rockets at you, even if wounded, good. Any Silver Star inherently is for valor. The question is why the 1978 honorable discharge? It sounds like an upgrade to me under Carter.


40 posted on 09/15/2004 8:03:20 AM PDT by cdubya
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