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

[Ruth A.]

The fact of the matter is that medals can be self-nominated. The sailor sends the paperwork up the chain of command. It may be editted, but it is approved and assumed to be work of the high-mucky-mucks.

The PH issue leans toward no serious injuries. Makes me think that Kerry is willing to make an appearance and duck out of the first loophole possible. Hey, doesn't that sound like his nuance m.o.?

[Sacajaweau]

When you wind up with three purple hearts (for boo boo's), and put in to go home, it says it all.

HANOI JANE explains it further.

[MarkeyD]

My dad got a purple heart for shrapnel in his foot. But then, he spent 9 weeks in a hospital bed with his right foot sewn to his left calf in order to get the graft to take.

[wingman1]

I'm sure my friend's medical report said the same thing as Kerry's. HOSTILE ACTION.

[kabar]

I also notice that the Bronze and Silver Stat citations don't include the dates they were signed. It would be interesting to find out how long the process took from nomination to approval.

[twgiles]

I haven't served in the military, and have never put myself in the line of enemy fire. I salute anyone who has.

This is the wrong place to make hay, whatever you may think of the merits of Kerry's PHs.

[Mr.Atos]

Who's joking?!?...

[Bommer]

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

Contusions are listed as a reason for a Purple Heart?

Main Entry: con·tu·sion Pronunciation: k&n-'tü-zh&n, -'tyü-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English conteschown, from Middle French contusion, from Latin contusion-, contusio, from contundere to pound, bruise, from com- + tundere to beat; akin to Gothic stautan to strike, Sanskrit tudati he pushes
: injury to tissue usually without laceration : BRUISE

[Luis Gonzalez]

Yeah...

They handed in an old copy of "The Ballad Of The Green Berets", and an old 45 RPM of "The Battle of New Orleans".

[vollmond]

With respect to Purple Heart #2, whose mine was it? Were we mining that area or were the NV? Or did the mine come from our V allies?

[wingman1]

"I haven't served in the military, and have never put myself in the line of enemy fire. I salute anyone who has."

And I salute you for your honesty.

[vollmond]

Sorry, I meant PH #3.

[snippy_about_it]

And I'm thankful for your father's service.

My problem with Kerry is his bragging, many, many soldiers fought but don't go around claiming themselves to be a hero. Many are but don't see the need to brag about it. I just watched the entire 10 hours of Band of Brothers. Kerry should watch it and humble himself. Most, hell, the majority of Vietnam veterans never got away with only 4 month in country. Kerry had a plan and saw his ticket out well ahead of his three injuries.

[wingman1]

Kerry was down South. It wouldn't have made any difference whose mine it was. The US did not begin to mine Haiphong Harbor (in the North) until 1972 - way too late.

[vollmond]

Thanks for the response.

[pointsal]

What does old Botox-Johnnie got to hide?

[oldironsides]

3 Purple Hearts signed on the same date is MORE than interesting now that we know his commander refused to sign off on the first request by Kerry. How many officers had to request an award? I saw many soldiers injured multiple times. I started the IVs , cut the fatigues off, calmed them and saw them get ONE Purple Heart even though they had
many wounds. I am very suspect of John Forbes Kerry and his search for scratch awards. More often than once a GI used profanity when we were working on them and they promptly aplologized for saying it. No apology needed. They were hero's to me. God help Kerry if he manipulated his awards and slipped out early with slick moves with Purple Hearts. There is a special place for him.

[F.J. Mitchell]

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

Whoopee! does that qualify him to be President of the USA? If so, how come Veterans of WWII, GHW Bush and Bob Dole, were passed over for draft dodging war protesting, womanizer, Bill Clinton?

Wonder if anyone else on the boat recieved any Medals, or if Kerry was so busy writing up his on hang nails that he forgot about his troops?

[MarkeyD]

Eggzactly!