This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!
Posted on 08/13/2004 3:36:49 PM PDT by Jewels1091
Fox news just reported there are questions now about where Rassmann actually was. He said he was on Kerry's boat when it got ambushed, but Kerry's web site says Rassmann was on the boat behind his. Just more questions about kerry's seemingly faulty memory.
See post 20 for more documentation on Kerry's Rassman lie.
"Rasmussen's swift boat was following Kerry's, in a flotilla of 5 cruising a narrow canal. Rasmussen was eating a chocolate chip cookie in the pilothouse, when his craft was rocked by an explosion."
Rassmann, a former Green Beret, remembered sitting on the deck of the pilothouse of Kerry's boat, eating a chocolate-chip cookie, when an explosion under a nearby boat blew him into the Bay Hap River and caused Kerry to smash his arm.
Rassmann said he instinctively swam to the bottom of the river to avoid being run over by the escaping Swift boats. But every time he came up for air, the enemy shot at him. He swam for the north bank, expecting to be captured and probably executed.
After five or six dives, Rassmann said, he looked up and saw Kerry's boat coming back for him. He met the boat at the center of the river and then grabbed a heavy net made of rope hanging over the bow. He climbed the arch of the bow, but could not pull himself over the lip.
That, he said, is when Kerry came running.
"Kerry dropped to his hands and knees ... and pulled me aboard," Rassmann said. "The fighting continued until we got out of the kill zone, and we managed to get out to the Gulf of Siam."
In Aug. 10, 2004 Wall Street Journal editorial by Rassman:
"While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath."
"On March 13, 1969, Rassmann, a Green Beret, was traveling down the Bay Hap river in a boat behind Kerry’s when both were ambushed by exploding land mines and enemy fire coming from the shore. Kerry was hit in the arm, while a mine blew Rassmann’s boat out of the water. With enemy fire coming from both sides of the river and swift boats evacuating from the area, Kerry’s crew chose to turn their boat toward the ambush to save Rassmann."
+++++++ http://www.thehistorynet.com/ah/blkerryinvietnam/index2.html ...a mine exploded directly beneath Lieutenant James Rassman's PCF-3 near Kerry's port side. Rassman's Swift lifted about two feet up out of the water, engulfed in mud and spray, then settled, rocking so hard from side to side that the boat started zigzagging from the banks to the middle of the river. Everybody on board PCF-3 was wounded. "At the same moment, we came under a hail of small-arms fire from both banks," Kerry recorded in his journal. "I turned the boat into the fire on the left with the intention of trying to get the troops ashore on the outskirts of the ambush, but Sandusky, who was driving the boat and who had his eyes glued on the crippled 3 boat, pointed out to me how badly hit they had been. We veered back toward her then and tried to provide cover from the engaged side. Suddenly another explosion went off right beside us, and the concussion threw me violently against the bulkhead on the door, and I smashed my arm. At the same instant, Jim Rassman was blown overboard, although nobody knew it. " ++++++++Since Rassman says he is the one who put Kerry in for a citation (he wanted him to get a Silver Star, he says), this is account from the medal's write up came from him:
"While exiting the river, a mine detonated under another Inshore Patrol Craft and almost simultaneously, another mine detonated close aboard his Inshore Patrol Craft knocking a man into the water and wounding Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY in the right arm. In addition, all units began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire from the river banks. When Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY discovered he had a man overboard, he returned upriver to assist. The man in the water was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the box, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard."
But in other accounts even from Rassman, Kerry wasn't bleeding. He had bruised his arm. And as you know from the book, there was no report of enemy fire.
+++++++
Brinkley actually encompasses both accounts by having Rassman fall off both the boat that hit the mine (PCF-3) AND Kerry's boat, when a second mine detonates:
On the subject of Rassman's credibility. Here he is on his party affiliation: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,128269,00.html "Hannity & Colmes," August 5, 2004: [excerpt] ESTRICH: Mr. Rassman, can I ask you a question? You're not a Democrat, are you? RASSMAN: I turned Democrat in January. Previous to that, I had been a Republican for 33, 35 years. I didn't always vote Republican. But much of the time, I did.
Compare with: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005460 BY JIM RASSMANN Nobody asked me to join John's campaign. Why would they? I am a Republican, and for more than 30 years I have largely voted for Republicans.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:01 a.m. EDT
+++++++++
And speaking of credibility, in this eulogy it suddenly becomes Kerry's boat that got blown up:
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed
in the Record the text of the eulogy I gave for my friend, Thomas
M. Belodeau, on November 10, 1997.There was the time we were carrying Special Forces
up a river and a mine exploded under our boat sending it 2
feet into the air. We were receiving incoming rocket and small
arms fire and Tommy was returning fire with his M-60 machine gun
when it literally broke apart in his hands. He was left holding
the pieces unable to fire back while one of the Green Berets
walked along the edge of the boat to get Tommy another M-60. As he
was doing so, the boat made a high speed turn to starboard and the
Green Beret kept going--straight into the river. The entire time
while the boat went back to get the Green Beret, Tommy was without
a machine gun or a weapon of any kind, but all the time he was
hurling the greatest single string of Lowell-Chelmsford curses
ever heard at the Viet Cong. He literally had swear words with
tracers on them!
Congressional Record: January 28, 1998 (Senate) Page S186-S187
Sheesh, seems Kerry's got some ducks he needs put in a row.
Oh my, that was a long time ago memories fade, was Kerry in Viet Nam?
If he wasn't on the same boat then, by rat definition, they did not serve together.
Fair is fair.
Who was the man in Theresa's boat...?
I wonder whether Rassmann has been promised some position in a Kerry Administration as the reason for his continuing defense of Kerry.
Hey!! If Rassman wasn't on Kerry's boat, HE DIDN'T SERVE WITH KERRY!!!
'least that's what the Dem's say. (giggle)
He wasn't on the boat before he was on the boat.
Wow, Kerry is a big, big liar about everything.
Beat me by a minute Gun.
"great minds"?
ROFLOL !!!! I don't know but I think Carville and Lanny Davis were.
In "Tour of Duty," Douglass Brinkley includes excerpts from Kerry's war journal. It seems Kerry's story and Rassman's WSJ Op-Ed differ on a significant fact.
In Brinkley's book, which relies on excerpts from Kerry's war journal, Rassman isn't on Kerry Swift Boat. Brinkley says Rassman fell of PCF-35, while Kerry was OIC of PCF-94 on that day.
On Kerry's campaign website, a press release maintains the Brinkley line:
January 17, 2004
Kerry Reunites with Fellow Veteran in Iowa Veteran says Kerry saved his life in combat; has not seen him since 1969
For Immediate Release
Des Moines, IA - Former Lieutenant John Kerry was reunited today with fellow Vietnam veteran Jim Rassmann, who says Kerry saved his life during combat.
On March 13, 1969, Rassmann, a Green Beret, was traveling down the Bay Hap river in a boat behind Kerry’s when both were ambushed by exploding land mines and enemy fire coming from the shore. Kerry was hit in the arm, while a mine blew Rassmann’s boat out of the water. With enemy fire coming from both sides of the river and swift boats evacuating from the area, Kerry’s crew chose to turn their boat toward the ambush to save Rassmann.
“We were still under fire, and he was wounded at the time…,” recalled Rassmann. And with his boat’s gunners providing suppressing fire, Kerry extended his wounded arm into the water and the two lieutenants locked arms.
Kerry and Rassmann have not seen each other since 1969. Yesterday, Jim Rassmann called John Kerry’s campaign headquarters and said: “I saw that John is in another tough fight, and I want to lend a hand.”
Rassmann, a retired Los Angeles county sheriff who now lives in Florence, Oregon, flew to Iowa this morning to reunite with Kerry. Kerry, with fellow veterans around him, said he was moved by Rassmann’s decision to come to Iowa.
“I remember the day and the moment we last met; the lingering bond between us comes from the shared experience of our service,” Kerry said. “I told Jim what I tell the thousands of veterans I have met in Iowa: As president, I will never—ever—forget your service.” Kerry added.
For Kerry’s bravery, Rassmann recommended that he be recognized, and Kerry was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V. The citation that followed the award read as follows:
“The man was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lt. Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain, with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard.
Lt. Kerry then directed his boat to return and assist the other damaged craft and towed the boat to safety. Lt. Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service.”
Rassman, in response to the Swift Boats for truth, penned an Op-Ed for the WSJ. Rassman like the anti-Kerry Swifties place Rassman on Kerry's boat:
On March 13, 1969, John Kerry's courage and leadership saved my life.
While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath.
Interesting, no?
He was on Kerry's boat in january...Not on Christmas Eve! And he was on the bottom of the river but he saw the WHOLE thing!! And Kerry had a really bad injury t his arm, but a band-aid was used to fix it! geesh.
The fact that Rassman was on Kerry's boat bolsters Oneil and the rest of the Swifties claim that Rassman was on Kerry's boat, and only fell overboard because Kerry fled the scene.
This scenario seems like the most likely.
When Chrissy Matthews asked O'Neill, are you saying Rassmann is a liar? O'Neill said YES.
I guess O'Neill was truthful once again.
STUNED....... Just STUNED I say.
Maybe rassman's BEEBER blew a fuse in all the confusion of the moment.....
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