Kerry Camp Offers Some Military Records

Yahoo! News ^ | 4/20/04 | Nedra Pickler - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON -

Amid questions about his military records, John Kerry (news - web sites)'s campaign on Tuesday provided certification of his medals from the Vietnam War, including three Purple Hearts for combat injuries.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on the Internet by day's end. Kerry said all his military records are available to the public during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meehan said the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested a copy of his record from the Navy last month and received roughly 150 pages last week. He said the campaign was in the process of scanning images of the documents Tuesday and they would be posted on Kerry's Web site.

Meehan gave The Associated Press 13 pages that included documentation for the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. The campaign gave the same records to the Boston Globe last year for an extensive series on Kerry's background.

The documents also included declassified reports that explain Kerry's wounds that led to his Purple Heart awards. They show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under intense fire on Feb. 20, 1969, and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close to his boat on March 13, 1969.

The campaign could not locate a similar report for Kerry's original Purple Heart. As evidence that Kerry was wounded, Meehan showed The Associated Press a "Sick Call Treatment Record" from Kerry's personal files that included a medic's written note dated Dec. 9, 1968.

"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty."

Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. But a third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area.

Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman accused Kerry's campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign's position on Tuesday to release the records in "due diligence" is contrary to Kerry's comments on "Meet the Press" that the records would be made public immediately.

"Senator Kerry's record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters," Mehlman said.

Meehan responded, "Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served."

Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat.

According to the Pentagon (news - web sites), the Silver Star is awarded for "gallantry in action against an opposing armed force" and the Bronze Star is for "heroic or meritorious achievement of service, not involving aerial flight in connection with operations against an opposing armed force. Bronze 'V' device worn to denote valor."

The Purple Heart is "awarded for wounds or death as a result of an act of any opposing armed force, as a result of an international terrorist attack or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force."

___

On the Net:

http://www.johnkerry.com

[cyberaxe]

.....forrest got hit in the buttocks!!.....

.....lol.....

[Mr.Atos]

Obviously, in responce to an extreme hatred for his country, and his own sub-concious guilt and self-loathing, Kerry was the only officer in Vietnam to frag himself.

[SF Republican]

SHOT IN THE BUTT!

[Williams]

republicans will never make much of this, but I note Kerry can't find the records on the 1st purple heart, which is the one that's been questioned by his superior officer. Also, Kerry's campaign and the article are fudging the issue of his request to get out of combat. They make it sound like the NAVY wanted to reassign him, whereas Kerry requesteda deskjob after minor wounds and only 4 months of combat. Considering that Kerry keeps saying his record IS a reason to make him president, I don't think that record reflects the decisions of a future commander in chief.

I believe Colin Powell saw lots of combat on the ground in Vietnam for a lot longer without asking to go home.

[Pukin Dog]

"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty." Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. But a third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area. Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

Oh, he's gone. Here comes Hillary. Live by the Vietnam sword, die by the Vietnam sword. Kerry is so arrogant that he would claim THE NAVY wanted him to go home? Oh man, Kerry is going to catch hell. This should be SO easy to refute.

[I still care]

Not enough. Where are his dental records? His pay stubs?

That is what the press demanded of Bush.

[onedoug]

From my own year in Vietnam combat, Kerry's medals make me proud that I didn't get any.

[talleyman]

Meehan showed The Associated Press a "Sick Call Treatment Record" from Kerry's personal files that included a medic's written note dated Dec. 9, 1968.

No excerpts - we want the complete files - and the name and address of the Medic! (Must have been pretty superficial if all it required was bacitracin - I got hurt worse than that in my garage!)

[ExpatCanuck]

Kerry was the only officer in Vietnam to frag himself.

You joke about this, but the thought has crossed my mind that somewhere in the unreleased documents is the written speculation of some medical officer or superior that a wound was self inflicted.

[stylin19a]

I read on some FR thread that kerry originally tried to get out after 2 Ph's. I never was able to find that documented anywhere. I wonder if anyone else might have tracked that down ?

[Dog]

He got it in the BUTT!!!!!!!

LOLOL!

[Ragirl]

This is not good......he's toast unless he coughs up more details--especially about the first purple heart that is in question. Sounds like his scrapnel wound was very minor.....but he's so arrogant he doesn't think anyone has the guts or the right to question him or his service. He's not the "presumptive nominee", he's toast. Hillary will be moving in as the "reluctant candidate".

[Sacajaweau]

Butt joke coming on...

Man, did he want to get out of there.....

And back to Hanoi Jane

[bayourod]

".....forrest got hit in the buttocks!!..... "

He must have been attacking to the rear. Or maybe he charges backwards.

[wingman1]

During a mortar attack, when an initial round impacted, one of our NCOs received shrapnel in the buttocks. He was dusted off and was back on the morning chopper. We joked about it when he got back to the field. A couple of years later, I visited his home. He had a Bronze Star with V Device and his Purple Heart, in their original boxes, laying on the bottom shelf of an end table.

The last thing in the world I would have done then would be to insinuate that he didn't earn his PH.

As much as I can't stand Kerry, he faced enemy steel.

[NormsRevenge]

UPdate with additional info links

On the Net:

http://www.johnkerry.com

Facsimilies of Kerry's Purple Heart citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/purplehearts.pdf

Facsimilies of Kerry's bronze and silver star citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/stars.pdf

Facsimilies of reports describing Kerry's wounds are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/actionreports.pdf

[mcshot]

Can't wait to see this scum get slimed. And the truth should do it.
mc

[dmzTahoe]

"Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on the Internet by day's end. "

So what he is saying is, "after the White-Out dries and we fully edit the info."