Something I've wanted to chime in on this whole matter:
Based on what little I know about swift boat operations (the close proximity they operate together) and the operational pictures I've seen (
http://brownwater-navy.com/vietnam/BoatsSwift.htm for example),
saying the swift boat veterans weren't "with" Kerry because they weren't "on" the same boat, is like saying that as a grunt, I wasn't "with" my platoon leader because I was "in" a different squad!