Kerry's C.O. Says First P.H. Was Not Authorized by Him

FOX NEWS ^ | 4/28/2004 | self

[kellynla]

John Kerry's commanding officer was just interviewed on Fox News. According to Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard when Kerry showed up in front of him requesting a Purple Heart, Hibbard saw that he had a "scratch"(Hibbard's word) on his forearm. And because, according to Hibbard, there was no report of enemy action on Kerry's patrol that day and the "scratch" did not receive medical attention from a medical officer, Hibbard declined Kerry's request for a Purple Heart.

[Fedora]

I appreciate the insights in your comments. One question I've had is whether Kerry's fast accumulation of PHs was assisted by any behind-the-scenes string-pulling. Prior to Kerry enlisting his roommate had two uncles prominent in the LBJ administration's Vietnam planning, William and McGeorge Bundy, both of whom Kerry met prior to going to Vietnam. I'd be interested in your opinion on whether someone in that type of position would have been able to pull strings on behalf of someone in Kerry's position in order to shorten their service time.

[kellynla]

"Everyone in Nam knew about the three purple heart rule"

Well this Marine didn't know about it...I guess I was too busy fighting the war and trying not to get another PH! LOL
Of course, if one of us grunts got a PH they were very lucky if they were able to live through it. Charlie didn't miss often and if they did they didn't leave much behind...But then we didn't have bunkers in the bush either.

[Travis McGee]

If they pull a well-timed "Toricelli Switcheroo," who is their Lautenburg who can "save" the 'rats and win the Whitehouse?

Hillary?

[Polybius]

For the record, Purple Hearts are given for the following enemy-related injuries:

You neglected to include the portion of the Pruple Heart regulation that requires the wound to be serious enough to "require treatment by a medical officer".

In the military "medical officer" means a physician.

If a Purple Heart were given out for every scratch after every time a soldier "hits the dirt" during an enemy attack, ever combat mission would end with a Purple Heart.

In regards to your comments about questioning the "wounds", the question becomes "What wounds?"

If Kerry earned three "Frank Burns Purple Hearts" to sea-lawyer himself out of his one year combat tour after only four months, it is very appropriate to question the matter.......especially since the DNC has questioned Bush's National Guard service.

[lilylangtree]

Question: I never heard of the 3 Purple Hearts got a free pass out of 'Nam. Is there something written or was it unspoken policy? Definitely would explain Ketchupman's Purple Hoaxes.

[DuncanWaring]

...Kerry was "above the majority."

Anyone who knows how fitness reports are written knows that that was the kiss of death

To elaborate, Air Force "Officer Effectiveness Reports" from the era had a nine-level "overall" rating, "one" being the lowest and "nine" being the highest. If I recall correctly, the word associated with "nine" was "Outstanding", and "eight" was "Excellent".

"Excellent" was a Kiss of Death, so "above the majority" actually translated into "Truly Pathetic".

[Travis McGee]

I want to know about his dubious Silver Star, where he grounded the boat and jumped off, violating every SOP, in order to execute a badly wounded VC. Allegedly.

I want to know if that was a setup, like LBJ's phoney WW2 Silver Star.

I read that the other members of that boat crew were all rewarded with safe shore duty when Kerry left VN.

[plain talk]

I didn't know war hero's actually requested purple hearts.

[plain talk]

I didn't know war hero's actually requested purple hearts.

[Gritty]

...comment #148 (this one) removed by moderator,... or would be if I posted what I am really thinking...

[Pagey]

Typical Liberal Behavior. This comes as no surprise at all. He was a skinny pansy w/ no muscles on his arms at all back then, (as is obvious from pictures) and he remains a pansy as an adult.

[cake_crumb]

LOL! I just told my daughter about the possible Purple Hoax. She said she hates it that he's running for president. She said he's a camera hog, useless. "he's like a...camera hog...and he never has anything interesting to say. Well, he says lots of interesting stuff, but it would be better if he hadn't made most of it up."

[Travis McGee]

I'd like to really dissect each purple heart action and especially his Silver Star. I'd like to know if the skids were greased by Uncle Teddy pulling strings, hard. I'd like to know if the other "witnesses" were rewarded in any way. I'd like to know who put in the original paperwork for his Silver Star.

His Silver Star stinks like a put up job, a contrived bit of theater.

[Fedora]

Donald A. Still, Chief Staff Officer, signed all the PH confirmations.

Thanks much for mentioning that and giving the link--I hadn't seen that before.

[kellynla]

"in order to shorten their service time"

If you are referring to Kerry's shortened tour in Nam, then that was because of the "3 PH's" rule that allowed him to rotate out of Nam.

My question all along has been how he was awarded 3 PH's in less than 4 months and not spend one night in a hospital.
I believe Kerry found out about the 3 PH rule and made up his mind to get 3 ASAP. Contrary to what some have said on this thread, I and none of my Marine Corps Viet Nam veteran friends had ever heard of the rule until Kerry came up with it. So I don't think it was widely publicized. But then if any grunts like me were lucky to have survived the first PH, we weren't exactly looking for another one, if you know what I mean. When we got hit, we usually got our behinds shot off and parts of our bodies were left on the ground! LOL "Charlie" didn't miss very often and if he did, he didn't miss by much. LOL

[kellynla]

"I didn't know war hero's actually requested purple hearts."

They don't, in fact, they usually turn them down...

[xzins]

As I understand the Silver STar there was a guy with an RPG that the 50 cal gunner SHOT. The guy disappears behind a hootch wounded. Kerry runs over behind the hootch and finishes him off. (Does he return with the RPG? War booty is verboten.)

In any case, Kerry gets a silver star for finishing off a wounded guy AND no one can tell if the guy was already dead or not because it was behind (or in) this hootch.

I agree....that smells like a week-old July fish washed up on Lake Erie's shore.

[Southack]

"If they pull a well-timed "Toricelli Switcheroo," who is their Lautenburg who can "save" the 'rats and win the Whitehouse? Hillary?"

She's lower on their short list than you might think simply because the 2004 election battle is about the Southern and Mid-Western states that GWB won back in 2000.

I'd list:

1. Senator Breaux
2. Senator Edwards
3. Former VP Gore
4. Former President Carter
5. Former Governor Dean
6. Senator Clinton

...as their potential Boston convention replacements if Senator Kerry steps out of the race.

Add Governor Richardson to that list and you've got a pretty good handle on who the potential VP candidate will be for them, too.

[cake_crumb]

"Sounds like Kerry went C.O. shopping for his PH"

LOL!

[cake_crumb]

"How the frik'n he|| did he get video footage of his short term vietnam stay?"

A question we're all asking. And must continue to ask. Along with "How did he find the time to film his exploits as war hero extraordinairre, get all those medals, type write copiously in his journal AND commit war crimes in the space of four, short months?"