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 wasnt 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 | |
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. 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. |
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