Hold the Mayo

February 22, 2004

Kerry's Questionalble Service Record

Another great link from Anika (I'm starting to notice a trend). This one speaks to a post I wrote questioning the almost universal genuflecting a the mere mention of John Kerry's military service.

I'll provide some clips, but you can read the whole thing here.

I was in the Delta shortly afterÂ John KerryÂ left. I know that area well.Â IÂ know the operations he was involved in well. I know the tactics and theÂ doctrine used, and I know the equipment.Â Although I was attached to CTF-116Â Â (PBRs) I spent a fair amount ofÂ time with CTF-115 (swift boats), Kerry'sÂ command.
Here are my problems and suspicions:
(1) Kerry was in-country less than four months and collected a Bronze Star,Â a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts. I never heard of anybody with anyÂ outfit I worked with (including SEAL One, the Sea Wolves, Riverines andÂ theÂ River Patrol Force) collecting that much hardwareÂ that fast, and for suchÂ pedestrian actions.
2)Â He collected three Purple Hearts but hasÂ no limp.Â All his injuries were so minor that he lost noÂ time from duty. Amazing luck. (...) You didn't have minor wounds, at least not often.Â Not three times in a row.Â Then he used the threeÂ Purple Hearts to request a trip home eight months before the end of hisÂ tour.Â Fishy.
(3)Â The details of the event for which he was given the Silver StarÂ make no sense at all.Â Supposedly, a B-40 was fired at the boat andÂ missed.Â Charlie jumps up with the launcher in his hand, the bow gunnerÂ knocks him down with the twin .50, Kerry beaches the boat, jumps off,Â shootsÂ Charlie, and retreives the launcher.Â If true, he did everything wrong

Kerry is now arguing that Republicans who did not serve in war have no right to question his Senate votes on military and defense issues. I think it high time everyone started questioning Kerry about not only his record in the Senate, but his record in the military as well.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 04:59 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment

1 This entry at Snopes suggests that Kerry's Purple Hearts were for honest (if unremarkable) injuries in the course of duty.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 23, 2004 06:18 PM (kOqZ6)

2 If you're really interested in past military "service", you could investigate Bush's during 72-73?

Posted by: eric at February 26, 2004 05:50 PM (CzvwG)

3 I have long questioned Kerry's heroic deeds in Viet Nam. Four months in-country and he comes out looking like Audy Murphy, I don't think so.
Some question the Presidents war record, don't bother he doesn't have one. He never claimed he did. I stand corrected He did enter a combat zone in time of war at great personal danger to assure the Troops he stood with them. While Kerry and the other Liberals in Washington were spreading discouragement to those fighting a war.

Posted by: Ken Hughes at March 07, 2004 02:24 PM (ZGdkc)

4 Why is it when liberals respond to articles they never use a real nanes. They go for one of those who-shot-john identifications.

Posted by: Ken Hughes at March 07, 2004 02:33 PM (ZGdkc)

5 How insane is this?
John Kerry's can point to the senator's Silver and Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts to underscore his service.
And what does George W. Bush have to rely on? A dental X-ray of his bicuspids?
Who would you want to have in the fox hole next to you -a candy ass who could not even show up for service in National Guard in Alababa or someone who who was on the Delta?

Posted by: Chad Theis at March 09, 2004 02:11 PM (Zzg4F)

6 Let Kerry produce the medical records for the three wounds he received in four months, without missing any duty, that qualified him for his purple hearts. When he is open and honest about his military record as President Bush, then we can compare apples to apples.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 09, 2004 02:19 PM (CSxVi)

7 Why can't you pussbags admit that Kerry is a hero and Bush is a draft dodger?

Posted by: Herber Roberts at March 09, 2004 03:56 PM (4onRb)

8 Give it a rest. Bush wimped out, Kerry fought.

Posted by: J. Albert Samson at March 09, 2004 03:57 PM (4onRb)

9 Heber - I can't because neither of them are.

J. Not everyone who served was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to finish off a wounded soldier, gun down civilians, and collect 3 band-aid purple hearts."But while those who served are owed special recognition, that recognition should not come at the expense of others; nor does it require that others be victimized or criticized or said to have settled for a lesser standard."
John F. Kerry

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 09, 2004 04:05 PM (CSxVi)

10 As a member of the Riverines and River Patrol Force I am disappointed to find out that I shared the same river at the same time as John F'n Kerry. The real heros are those who came back to our ship with real wounds or in body bags. I would like to take a look at Kerry's purple heart citations. Rumor is that he wrote them. Mayby we can see them when his medical records are revealed. I guess if figures that Kerry, a slickster in the Clinton tradition, could cut and run from Viet Nan, bail on his crew, the Navy and would end up the most liberal and flip flop senitor in the nation.

Posted by: Gary Garner at March 26, 2004 08:13 AM (wsbfW)

11 to all you Kerry supporting ass clowns.. face up it, the head ass clown is embellishing his service record

one of you d*&K heads even said Bush was a coward for serving in the guard. Special Forces guard members and as well as conventional Guard members are dying in Afganhistan and Iraq while you sh1t heads are in America.

Kerry a hero? the real heros are the men who did not come home. Riverine and coastal warfare is an honorable service within our Naval community. but Kerry a hero for suffering minor shrapnel wounds? give me a break, the real heroes are the men hwo noe are in wheel chairs or have limps.. Kerry fought, if the truth be told his men fought and he just got the medals.. It is about time this country knows the truth about Kerry's real service record.

Posted by: Aidan B at April 03, 2004 12:24 PM (2/TFA)

12 Although I do not support John Kerry, I think before anyone throws stones, someone should talk to the crew that served with J>K> to verify his service record and his medals. Ask the people who were with him, did he deserve these awards.
Until this is established, I believe everyone should hold their opinions and that is what I have read so far. I am also a DAV having served in the Korean war.

Posted by: Joe S at April 09, 2004 09:21 AM (k7Qm+)

13 Rather than take the word of his crew, I would rather Kerry authorize the release of his complete military record, just as the Dems insisted Bush do.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at April 09, 2004 09:51 AM (4819r)

14 well people you need to see the photos of john kerry with hanoi jane at a unamerican rally against the viet nan war

Posted by: james lang at May 14, 2004 04:25 PM (l/GxI)

15 I love when the liberals criticize Bush for his "less than brave" service in the national guard when Bill Clinton, the knight in shining armor of the liberal world dodged the draft and ran to Britain to protest the American war on foreign soil. That Benedict Arnold mentality should have had him hanged in Times Square. Were were the liberals then? Where are they now. They had compasion then, they should have compasion now.

Posted by: Tim Grady at June 01, 2004 10:07 AM (eV6bJ)

16 Nice one Gary...so the only heroes are those who were unfortunate enough to be killed? So I suppose saving mens' lives, putting yourself in harms way when God knows, your family connections could have kept you out of country easily. Or perhaps volunteering for more dangerous missions because you felt it was your duty. People have been awarded Purple Hearts for less, it happens that way. But to say that John Kerry is not a hero or a real veteran is ridiculous. I just watched 8 of his "Band of Brothers" talk about how courageous this man was under fire, how he saved several of their lives. When was the last time somebody said that about President Bush?

Posted by: Chris at July 29, 2004 07:04 PM (2n9BG)

17 READ JOHN E.O'NEILL'S BOOK "UNFIT FOR COMMAND" THEN READ JOHN KERRY'S BOOK "TOUR OF DUTY" THEN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND READ THE RECORDS OF THE TIME AND PLACE BOTH TALK ABOUT THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A PROPER JUDGEMENT ABOUT J( ) KERRYS STORIES.

I DID AND FOUND THAT J( ) KERRY HAS NOT TOLD THE TRUTH.

Posted by: H.A.COSENTINO at August 17, 2004 05:00 PM (14DEA)

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