All three of Kerry’s phony PHs were self-inflicted, especially the first one. And he used those PHs to spend just 4 and one-half months in Vietnam—getting an early out.
No he didnt use them to get out- he was TOSSED OUT after only 3 months (not 4.5) by his commanding officers because they deemed him “UNFIT FOR COMMAND”
Which means he was such a dumbass they did not want to put him in charge of people, and if you look at some @nd Lt.’s thats an awful low bar!
They figured he would get his own men killed (or they would frag him)