Kerry question: How common is 3 purple hearts in 3 months?

[Conservomax]

I was reading about Kerry's service on this site: Vietnam Vets Against John Kerry after hearing my father, a WWII vet go on a rampage against Kerry's service record. Being from MA, I was of course, familiar with Kerry's war record and moreimportanatly, post war record, but I did not know the details. On this site it says that Kerry was wounded and awarded the PH three times in a little over 3 months. Is that common?

My father was shot, stabbed, and blown out of a landing craft during WWII, and never received any citation, I know that it was a different war. But I don't understand how Kerry could be so decorated in such a short period of time without someone pulling strings for him.

[CholeraJoe]

I don't know what the threshold is for "medical attention," but I think it's probably something more than tweezers and band-aids for splinters suffered during combat.

The standard is just that - medical attention for wounds. Having a tiny piece of shrapnel pulled out of your leg by a medic and heading back to the front gets a PH just as much as having a leg blown off. I knew plenty of combat vets who took minor shrapnel wounds, bandaged themselves, kept fighting and never put in for a PH.

[jimkress]

Minimization of the number of Purple Hearts one receives is an intelligence test.

Kerry FAILED.

[The Great RJ]

If the criteria for getting a PH is that low shouldn't Al Gore get one for suffering paper cuts and carpal tunnel syndrome from using a manual typewriter during his Viet Nam service? </satire

[Kirkwood]

Yeah, that's right. He didn't even think he deserved them and tried to give them back. (sarcasm)

[angkor]

From "Duty -- and ambition"
Boston Globe, 1/18/2004

"As the skipper of a small Navy "swift boat" that typically carried five or six sailors, Kerry went beyond the usual orders that called for flushing out the enemy. He would often order the boat to charge the shore, and at one point he chased down and killed a Viet Cong who had pointed a weapon at the craft. But after six months of dangerous duty on the waterways of South Vietnam, Kerry decided it was time to leave. He had received a Silver Star and a Bronze Star, as well as three Purple Hearts, all for relatively minor wounds, only one of which kept him out of action for a day or two. Naval regulations enabled someone with three Purple Hearts to leave early, and Kerry decided he had seen enough."

[Commissar]

Going after Kerry's Vietnam record, and medals, is a non-starter.

The most promising angle is to paint him as a "Massachusetts liberal" in the Teddy Kennedy, Mike Dukakis, Barney Frank tradition.

[js1138]

Kerry was in country for four months...

I believe his total service in Nam was longer than that. Considering the "seriousness" of his wounds, I'd say his petition to leave was somewhat legalistic. I knew lots of guys -- enlisted and draftees -- who would have jumped at the chance. Officers, however, would generally prefer to stay where the action is.

For example, LBJ's son-in-law was assigned to Cam Rhan Bay, but there was no action there. For whatever reason, no doubt political, he asked to be reassigned. Ambitious people do not generally look for easy ways out.

[Ga Rob]

I totally agree...That will work, if the Dumbs nominate him, we'll have enough ammunition just from his voting record in the Senate.

[Gefreiter]

Heh... John Kerry, "Apocalypse Not".

[Brett66]

What Kerry's service to his country means to him:

[nevergore]

I'm am NOT a Kerry fan or supporter...I do not like the man's policies or stand on most issues, however that stated...

Kerry went to Nam even though he could have easily avoided service, by all accounts he served with honor and valor when there. He placed himself in harms way on numerous occasions and earned his medals. He was not a fake like Gore pulling privilege.

This still does not make him fit nor competent to be president but he does deserve our respect for his service and duty to country.

NeverGore

[TommyDale]

Kerry was captured and was tortured by the Viet Cong in a "face stretching" machine. The results are history.

[Michael.SF.]

We all should forget about going after Kerry's War record, even if he lied. Instead we should focus on what he did after the war as two of these pictures illustrate:

Cover of Kerry's book. The picture is intended to be an irreverent depiction of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi.

Kerry at left, sailing with friends

[XRdsRev]

War heroes deserve appropriate respect for their actions but they do not merit carte blanche, nor are they deserving to be totally immune from criticism.

I am reminded of a previous great American war hero. He served with distinction as a General and was severely wounded in the leg, leading a charge against a fortified enemy position during an important and decisive battle. He is credited for helping to lead and achieve that important American victory and he was hailed across the land as a hero. He was indeed one of America's best and bravest military officers and there is a unique monument dedicated to him. His later actions however, put quite a dent in his career and legacy as an American. His name was Benedict Arnold.

[shhrubbery!]

Somewhere I read that medals were handed out like candy during the Vietnam war.

Don't remember the reason for this, but I believe it was claimed there was a Nixon directive was behind it.

I don't say this to malign any individual Vietnam vet's medals. I'm sure there are many who earned them honorably. But it's sad that the meaning of the honor was cheapened by some higher-ups' decision to bestow it promiscuously.

[angkor]

There's a long FR posting (from the Atlantic Monthly) here:

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1057936/posts

[ZULU]

He could have sustained serious brain damage. Listen to his speeches.