[secretagent]

The money question, for this incident, is whether or not there was ANY enemy fire, other than the mine. The Swifties say no. In that case, the Bronze Star was improvidently granted. Kerry and at least Rassmann go down together. Rassmann put Kerry in for this medal.

Perhaps the mine would count for the Bronze Star - the enemy put it there and it fired.

[Cboldt]

No, the mine would not count for the Bronze Star. The Bronze Star hinges on whether or not there was enemy fire (other than the mine), particulalry when Kerry reached out to assist Rassmann.

Other men were in the water, no Bronze Stars for them. Many of the veternas who were there assert that there was NO enemy fire, other than the mine (or mines).

The Purple Heart is not without dispute, but jimminy, if Kerry didn't set the record straight regarding enemy fire, when he becaame aware of the submission of a request for a Bronze Star, and then used that Bronze Star to advance his personal political fortune, it speaks volumes to his character. He has none.