Koppel seemed to be trying to build a case that there were 20 or so VC shooting back, but they couldn't even hit the boats. I was never there, but everything I learned was that if swift boats came in with guns blazing, the last thing they would do is stick around and fight back. They would be too busy disappearing as fast as possible.
| NOTES | Zumwalt Original | Hyland Revision | Lehman Revision |
| HEADING: Aside from the differences in the issuing authority and minor punctuation, Kerry's middle name is shortened in the final revision to the initial "F." which more resembles Kerry's hero, John F. Kennedy. |
COMMANDER UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES VIETNAM The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to JOHN FORBES KERRY LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE for service as set forth in the following: CITATION |
COMMANDER IN CHIEF UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Lieutenant (junior grade) John Forbes KERRY United States Naval Reserve for service as set forth in the following: CITATION |
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) JOHN F. KERRY UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE for service as set forth in the following CITATION: |
| PLACE and TIME: The official reference to "Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces" in the original citation is reduced to just "regional", removing any notion they were "Popular." The words "junior grade" are shortened in the final revision to "jg" in most places for the Massachusetts junior Senator. |
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Officer in Charge of United States Navy Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of an operation in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 February 1969, Patrol Craft Fast 23, 43 and 94, in conjunction with Underwater Demolition Team 13 and Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces personnel, conducted an operation on the Ca Mau Peninsula as part of Operation SEA LORDS. | "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Coastal Division ELEVEN engaged in armed conflict with the Viet Cong insurgents in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 28 February 1969. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY was serving as Officer in Charge of Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of a three-boat unit engaged in inserting Vietnamese regional force troops on a reconnaissance in force mission. | For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Coastal Division ELEVEN engaged in armed conflict with the Viet Cong insurgents in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 28 February 1969. Lieutenant (jg) Kerry was serving as Officer in Charge of Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of a three-boat unit engaged in inserting Vietnamese regional force troops on a reconnaissance in force mission. |
| FIRST ACTION: "Small arms" is enhanced to "automatic weapons and small arms." (Had there been another revision, it would no doubt say "assault rifles.") The strength of the Swift force is approximately 18 crew, with 90 Vietnamese and demolition forces as passengers. The friendly force total is removed from the revisions and an enemy force total of 20 is added. This addition means that someone got information other than the original citation for the revisions. The removal of the number 90 (3 PCF units x 30) makes plausible the addition of "numerically superior" enemy added at the end of the revisions (20 VC vs. 18 crew). Also, in narrative one, the South Vietnamese troops did the ground sweep while one PCF stayed on station and two moved upstream. In narratives two and three the South Vietnamese troops play no part and credit for picking up the enemy weapons on shore is transfered to the crew gunners who should have still been posted at the 50 calibres providing cover for the ground troops and protecting the PCFs themselves. |
While transiting the Bay Hap River en route to an insertion point along the Dong Cung River, these craft with thirty Regional/Popular Force personnel embarked in each unit came under heavy enemy small arms fire from the river banks. The Officer in Tactical Command, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY directed his units to turn to the beach and charge the Viet Cong positions. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY expertly directed the fire of his craft at the fleeing enemy while simultaneously coordinating the insertion of the embarked troops. While the Regional and Popular Forces conducted an area sweep, Patrol Craft Fast 43 remained on station to provide fire support and | As the force approached the target area on the narrow Dong Cung River, all units came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from an entrenched enemy force less than fifty feet away. Unhesitatingly, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered his boat to attack as all units opened fire and beached directly in front of the enemy ambushers. This daring and courageous tactic surprised the enemy and succeeded in routing a score of enemy soldiers. The PCF gunners captured many enemy weapons in the battle that followed. | As the force approached the target area on the narrow Dong Cung River, all units came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from an entrenched enemy force less than fifty feet away. Unhesitatingly, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry ordered his boat to attack as all units opened fire and beached directly in front of the enemy ambushers. This daring and courageous tactic surprised the enemy and succeeded in routing a score of enemy soldiers. The PCF gunners captured many enemy weapons in the battle that followed. |
| SECOND ACTION: The original citation contains the most impressive account of personal heroism on the part of Lt.(jg) Kerry, the famous story of single-handedly chasing down and killing a VC and capturing a live rocket. This daring exploit is not in the revised citations. One has to wonder why? Without that element, is this really Silver Star material? The "numerically superior" enemy cannot be from the second action as the lone VC in the original citation is the only enemy mentioned. The request by Army advisors and the 800 yard distance are not mentioned in the original citation, further indicating independent sources for the revisions. |
Patrol Craft Fast 23 and 94 moved upstream to investigate an area from which gunshots were coming. Arriving at the area, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY's craft received a B-40 rocket close aboard. Once again Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered his units to charge the enemy positions and summoned Patrol Craft Fast 43 to the area to provide additional firepower. Patrol Craft Fast 94 then beached in the center of the enemy positions and an enemy soldier sprang up from his position not ten feet from Patrol Craft Fast 94 and fled. Without hesitation Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY leaped ashore, pursued the man behind a hootch and killed him, capturing a B-40 rocket launcher with a round in the chamber. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY then led an assault party and conducted a sweep of the area while the Patrol Craft Fast continued to provide fire support. After the enemy had been completely routed, all personnel returned to the Patrol Craft Fast to withdraw from the area. | On a request from U.S. Army advisors ashore, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered PCFs 94 and 23 further up river to suppress enemy sniper fire. After proceeding approximately eight hundred yards, the boats were again taken under fire from a heavily foliated area and a B-40 rocket exploded close aboard PCF 94. With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, he again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only ten feet from the VC rocket position, and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. Upon sweeping the area, an immediate search uncovered an enemy rest and supply area which was destroyed. | On a request from U.S. Army advisors ashore, he ordered PCFs 94 and 23 further up river to suppress enemy sniper fire. After proceeding approximately eight hundred yards, the boats were again taken underfire from a heavily foliated area and a B-40 rocket exploded close aboard PCF 94. With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, he again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only ten feet from the VC rocket position, and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. Upon sweeping the area, an immediate search uncovered an enemy rest and supply area which was destroyed. |
| THIRD ACTION: The third action is mentioned only in the original citation. There is no indication that any assessment was made of effectiveness of the fire in EKIA or materiel. |
While backing off the beach, these units again came under a hail of fire, this time from the opposite river bank. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY immediately coordinated the firepower of his units and suppressed the enemy fire. | [no mention] | [no mention] |
| FOURTH ACTION: The fourth action is mentioned only in the original citation. There is no indication that any assessment was made of effectiveness of the fire in EKIA or materiel. |
Later, after disembarking personnel and while exiting from the Bay Hap River, the Patrol Craft Fast were again taken under fire. Lieutanant (junior grade) KERRY immediately maneuvered his craft through several strafing runs which completely silenced the enemy. | [no mention] | [no mention] |
| OVERALL RESULTS: Only in the original citation is any mention made of enemy killed (11 total) or wounded (1). The revisions seem to wipe the scene of any blood and clear Lt.(jg) Kerry of killing anybody. It is a totally bloodless Silver Star according to the revisions and seems to have accomplished very little for the expenditure of ammo. |
As a result of this operation, ten Viet Cong were killed and one wounded with no friendly casualties. In addition, numerous sampans, structures and bunkers were destroyed as well as confiscationn of substantial quantities of combat essential supplies. | [no mention] | [no mention] |
| COMMENDATION: In the first revision, extraordinary personal courage is substituted for outstanding leadership even as his most personally courageous and only specific action was removed. In the second revision, "brave", "bold" and "great credit" are added to his appelations. |
Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY's devotion to duty, courage under fire, outstanding leadership, and exemplary professionalism directly contributed to the success of this operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." | The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." | The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lieutenant (jg) Kerry in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission. By his brave action, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit on himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." |
| SIGNATURE: At each revision, a more prestigious signature was obtained. |
For the President (sig. E R Zumwalt) E. R. ZUMWALT, Jr. Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam |
For the President (sig. John Hyland) JOHN HYLAND Admiral, U.S. Navy Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet |
For the President, (sig. John Lehman) Secretary of the Navy |
| SOURCES: | johnkerry.com (p.7-8) | johnkerry.com (p.1) | johnkerry.com (p.2) |