Guess my perception was that Dukakis' military service was being equated to Kerry's. Came home after a late night in a noisy bar (great band tho). I see your point this morning.
One thing about Kerry that bothered my were the "two tours" references he allowed to go uncorrected. I know guys who served on a carrier and a destroyer off the coast and they always called it a "cruise" and not a tour. Second, I never heard a Vietnam vet call less than a full tour of duty, a tour.
They might say "twice" and emphasize that one and/or the other occassion was not a full tour.
Don't forget, Kerry and his ilk back in the 60s liked to rant about "ticket punchers" and those who went "in and out" to enhance their careers or collect combat pay. It's part of the urban legend about all our Vietnam servicemen that were smeared by Kerry and the "Vietnam Veterans Against The War" pukes.