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To: mtntop3; VeniVidiVici; R. Scott; Howlin
I compiled this quickly so if there are any errors please let me know.

Date Medal Action Wound Treatment
12/2/1968 Purple

According to Kerry's own description in Douglas Brinkley's Tour of Duty, the Dec. 2, 1968, mission behind what he has claimed to be his first Purple Heart was "a half-assed action that hardly qualified as combat."

slightly wounded on his arm,

"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow.

"He had a little scratch on his forearm, and he was holding a piece of shrapnel," Mr. Hibbard said.

Shrapnel removed and appl[ied] bacitracin dressing. Ret[urned] to duty."
2/20/1969 Purple

Kerry and crew involved in combat

PCF 94 came under intense hostile A/W and rocket fire

shrapnel wound in his left thigh

Condition good, prognosis good, presence of NOK is not medically warrented.

Treated by MO aboard USCGC Wachusetts and returned to duty with coastal division.

2/28/1969 Silver Admiral Elmo Zumwalt later joked that he wasn’t sure if he should give Kerry the Silver Star or court-martial him for his actions on February 28, 1969. Kerry had ignored standard operating procedure as his squadron ferried troops up the river that day. (beached PCF, twice)  And this statement was made despite the fact Zumwalt had personally pinned a Silver Star on Mr. Kerry. No wound

Commendation signed by Lehman

Commendation signed by Zumwalt

3/13/1969 Bronze and Purple Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his safety, he pulled the man aboard.

his arm bleeding and in pain and

The Personnel Casualty Report from that day says Mr. Kerry "suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close aboard" his boat.

Another Source

But the citation for the Bronze Star that he was awarded for the same action described "his arm bleeding and in pain," saying nothing about arm bruises or shrapnel wounds anywhere.

Condition good, prognosis good, presence of NOK is not medically warrented.

Treated by Medical Officer aboard USCGC Spencer, returned to duty with coastal division eleven.


538 posted on 04/23/2004 2:16:57 PM PDT by hobson
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To: hobson
Good summary. On the Silver Star there is also a citation signed by ADM Hyland.
544 posted on 04/23/2004 2:26:27 PM PDT by kabar
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To: hobson
Silver Star:

Kerry has three different Silver commendations for the 2/28/69 action, each signed by a different commander, the last two signed well after Kerry had left active service.

The first was signed by Zumwalt as Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam.
The second version was signed by Hyland as CINC PacFlt
The third version was signed by Lehman as SecNAV

551 posted on 04/23/2004 4:14:19 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly ... But Kerry's ABBCNNBCBS press corpse lies every day.)
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To: hobson
Excellent idea. Suggest that the Zumwalt commendation-listing precede that of Lehman, and that the approximate dates for all three of these Silver Star certificates be noted.
553 posted on 04/23/2004 4:32:31 PM PDT by mtntop3 ("Those who must know before they believe will never come to full knowledge.")
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To: hobson
Bookmarked
554 posted on 04/23/2004 4:39:39 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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