“Kerry’s boat “took 188 enemy hits”
I am late to this thread, but it is my recollection, from reading the book, Unfit for Command, authored by the SwiftVets, that wether or not Kerry’s boat took “188”, “200” or “50” hits, there are/were damage assessment records for his boat that documented those “hits” as having occurred prior to the incident they are ascribed to.
When speaking of actions that higher officers took, with regard to approving awards and medals for incidents in question, in Kerry’s record, one cannot discard Kerry’s own hand, directly or indirectly, in the action reports that, in the Navy code of honor, the higher officers would not generally question in paper work passed up to them. Their approval cannot alone substantiate the basis, the factual basis of any claim - other than the singular fact that they signed a paper that was sent up to them; a report/citation they simply assumed to be correct.
Additionally (if not already mentioned in the thread), in one case mentioned in Unfit for Command, Kerry was denied an award citation by his commander (the “wound” needed only a bandaid), and then Kerry later resubmitted it to that commander’s replacement.
The replacement knew nothing of the events in question, had not been present, in command, during the events and had he been present they would have been related to him by other officers at the time as well, some of whom also had transferred out. The replacement had no context of experience in the events and took Kerry’s word of honor as a Navy officer, and approved the citation. [As best I can recall from Unfit for Command - unless my Alzhiemers is kicking in today]
Yes, there was some mention of some precombat problems with the boat’s condition. It was mainly mechanical deterioration type of problems, though, not primarily bullet damage, and nothing anywhere near as extensive as 188 or even 50 hits.