From the testimony of the other Swift Boat OIC's, Rassmann was at the STERN of Kerry's boat, and fell overboard when Kerry took off at full throttle. The other Swift Boats opened up on the shores with suppressing fire; SOP in a situation like that. So three twin-.50's at full song would easily be mistaken for a two-way firefight to Rassmann, who was submerged.
No one argues that Kerry returned and pulled Rassmann out of the water, but Kerry wrote up his version of the story (for the medal) to imply that all other boats fled, and only HE was courageous enough to go back and rescue Rassmann under withering enemy fire. A total load of bullocks.
Kerry is a lying sack of S___.
Good morning.
Combine the roar of the suppresive fire from the boats that didn't flee with the roar of the damaged boat's racing engine (one engine was at full throttle, the other out of action) and the fact that Rassmann had just experienced a large explosion nearby and a rapid immersion in muddy water and you can see that Rassmann would have been too disoriented to know anything for sure. All he knew was that john kerry helped him get out of the water.
Michael Frazier