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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: Mister Baredog
HMMMMM, it must be a forgery right? From now on the Dims will say that about everything.

I believe this came straight from the Naval Archives - the four boxes found to be there. You can go in and make copies or bring the laptop and scan. More stuff will come out but it has to be analyzed.

I'm glad Newsmax does not say Kerry authored this report. On the Swift Vet forum it looks like Lt. Rood wrote this. What still is missing (besides the first four paragraphs of this document) is a report from 55 minutes before - which seems to be Kerry's inflated one. How else could the story get up the chain of command for recognition?

41 posted on 09/15/2004 8:03:57 AM PDT by DmBarch
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To: Ichneumon
<tt> what's up with the ugly font? </tt>

what's up with the ugly font?

42 posted on 09/15/2004 8:06:27 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: Chewbacco

Kerry is an amazingly bad politician!
How did this BOZO every get elected to anything??!!
MASSHOLES, My dear Watson.


43 posted on 09/15/2004 8:06:35 AM PDT by longfellow (You're either with US or from Hollywood! Ultimateamerican.com)
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To: All; Viet-Boat-Rider

And btw, Kerry committed a "no no" when he beached his boat and left his crew the day he shot the supposed "VC" in the back to receive this Silver Star with a bogus "V"...

Instead of a Silver Star, he should have been reprimanded as my fellow Nam Vet "Viet Boat Rider" will confirm!

Semper Fi,
Kelly


44 posted on 09/15/2004 8:07:29 AM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1/5 1st Mar Div. Nam 69&70 Semper Fi http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com)
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To: Chewbacco
Imus asked again, Kerry mumbled something and Imus gave up and moved on.

It is statements like this that make me realize that W. is gonna eat that slimy low life traitor alive.

45 posted on 09/15/2004 8:11:13 AM PDT by AxelPaulsenJr (Excellence In Posting Since 1999)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Don't have a link for the citation, but I'm sure that someone does.


46 posted on 09/15/2004 8:16:46 AM PDT by pookie18
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To: Chewbacco
Kerry is an amazingly bad politician! How did this BOZO every get elected to anything??!!

Massachusetts!

47 posted on 09/15/2004 8:18:10 AM PDT by Fruitbat
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To: hope

WHAT JFKerry a sitting Senator "forged" Secretary of Navy Lehman's signature??????


48 posted on 09/15/2004 8:19:36 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Chewbacco
How did this BOZO every get elected to anything

Because there's something in the water in Assachussetts ?

49 posted on 09/15/2004 8:20:54 AM PDT by clamper1797 (This Vietnam Vet is NOT Fonda kerry)
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To: cdubya
Yes, the enemy should have been killed that day, but there's not much valor in shooting someone in the back.

I do believe Kerry was dishonorably discharged and that his why he will not release ALL his records?

And why will not one reporter as Kerry about his discharge?

50 posted on 09/15/2004 8:21:40 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Ichneumon

>>>But seriously, what's up with the ugly font?<<<

Copied and pasted from Newsmax. I've often wondered why they use it. I always figured they were scanning in typed articles and that was the default font...so, basically, I have no idea.


51 posted on 09/15/2004 8:23:45 AM PDT by DRILL SGT. D
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To: Chewbacco

Remember one of his other double speaks.

Q. It's been reported you have undergone BOTOX treatments.

A. I've never heard of it.

He claims he never heard of BOTOX or he claims he never heard of the REPORTS?

Bill Clinton wannabe.


52 posted on 09/15/2004 8:28:36 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Who would the terrorists vote for?)
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To: hope

I really don't know why this idiot is not on jail for betraying his country. Let's face it, how many other Americans portraits are on the wall in a North Korean museum honoring heros of the Vietnam War?


53 posted on 09/15/2004 8:34:56 AM PDT by Allosaurs_r_us
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To: Ichneumon
But seriously, what's up with the ugly font?)

It's supposed to give you that hot-off-the-press-flash-bulletin feeling.

Doesn't work on people who don't remember typewriters.

54 posted on 09/15/2004 9:00:46 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Aquinasfan
Doesn't work on people who don't remember typewriters.

I remember typewriters, and it still doesn't work on me. :-)

55 posted on 09/15/2004 9:18:17 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: gunnygail

And his campaign stinks about as bad as that stuff!! LOL


56 posted on 09/15/2004 9:20:24 AM PDT by gimme1ibertee (Kerry-About that career-dissipation light-it just kicked into overdrive!!)
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To: hope

If I recall correctly, there's an issue of legality about wearing/displaying a false military award. As I understand it, Kerry displays these in his senate orifice.

Anyone out there know the legal issues involved, if any?


57 posted on 09/15/2004 9:20:26 AM PDT by Chu Gary (USN Intel guy 1967 - 1970)
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To: Chewbacco

Democrat voters, my man, Democrat voters.

Unfortunately we also have more than our share of them here in Florida.


58 posted on 09/15/2004 9:25:12 AM PDT by sport
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To: hope
John Kerry needs to release all of his military service and medical records.

John Kerry, sign the Form 180 petition at http://www.SignForm180.com
59 posted on 09/15/2004 9:35:12 AM PDT by Beckwith (John Kerry, sign the Form 180 petition at http://www.SignForm180.com)
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To: Chewbacco

I believe that one of Imus's more endearing names for Dick Cheney is:"Pork Chop Boy"!!!!Imus makes me want to PUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


60 posted on 09/15/2004 9:35:50 AM PDT by bandleader
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