"How Kerry got his Decorations"
It is shameful the depth that some people will go continuing to try to destroy the reputations of decorated American Veterans.
Right here on this blog, I have a "swift-boater" who continues to try to drag down Senator Kerry's record.
Let's make something clear right now. Senator Kerry served in Vietnam. He was wounded in Vietnam. He was decorated in Vietnam. Those that criticize Senator Kerry have been silent when draft dodgers and deferment recipients declare war on lies and send more Americans to their unneeded deaths.
And when he came back to America, he testified to Congress about why Vietnam was the wrong war for America. He criticized what American soldiers did in Vietnam. We have plenty of evidence that atrocities occurred in Vietnam. Just as we know about atrocities in Iraq and elsewhere.
John Kerry had the courage to stand up to those who would advocate more Americans dying for a mistake. He has the courage today. And I support him for President for that reason.
The following article was published in Time in 2004:
Thank you John Kerry for Serving America!
America needs your leadership now as much as in 2004! Keep on Coming John!
We have got your back.
Bob
Right here on this blog, I have a "swift-boater" who continues to try to drag down Senator Kerry's record.
Let's make something clear right now. Senator Kerry served in Vietnam. He was wounded in Vietnam. He was decorated in Vietnam. Those that criticize Senator Kerry have been silent when draft dodgers and deferment recipients declare war on lies and send more Americans to their unneeded deaths.
And when he came back to America, he testified to Congress about why Vietnam was the wrong war for America. He criticized what American soldiers did in Vietnam. We have plenty of evidence that atrocities occurred in Vietnam. Just as we know about atrocities in Iraq and elsewhere.
John Kerry had the courage to stand up to those who would advocate more Americans dying for a mistake. He has the courage today. And I support him for President for that reason.
The following article was published in Time in 2004:
"Sunday, May 2, 2004
How Kerry Earned His Decorations
By MITCH FRANK
Kerry is one of the Senate's most decorated veterans — though he has far fewer medals than friend John McCain — and his record is impressive for an officer who spent just 10 months in Vietnam. Each of the medals below came with a matching ribbon. Kerry wore his ribbons when he testified before a Senate committee in 1971; the next day, joining hundreds of other vets, he lobbed them at the Capitol.
Silver Star
What is it for? Gallantry in action
Why did Kerry get it? Kerry led three swift boats up a canal on Feb. 28, 1969, and ordered a daring attack on Viet Cong positions. When his boat took rocket fire, Kerry directed his crew to head straight for the beach, taking the guerrilla with the rocket launcher by surprise. Kerry jumped ashore and killed him
Bronze Star
What is it for? Heroic or meritorious service
Why did Kerry get it? On the Bay Hap River on March 13, 1969, a mine exploded under Kerry's boat, driving shrapnel into his arm and knocking Green Beret Jim Rassmann overboard. Despite heavy fire, Kerry turned the boat around and pulled Rassmann back on board with his good arm
Purple Heart
What is it for? Being wounded in action
Why did Kerry get it? He earned three Purple Hearts (the second and third are represented by gold stars), all for shrapnel wounds. His arm was scratched during a night patrol in December 1968. His left thigh was hit during a V.C. attack in February 1969. The March 13 injury, his third, entitled him to return home, and he did
Combat Action Ribbon
What is it for? Ground combat while serving in the Navy
Why did Kerry get it? As the commander of a Navy swift boat, he went ashore several times in pursuit of Viet Cong
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
What is it for? Heroism of a unit in combat
Why did Kerry get it? For participating in Operation Swift Raider, a campaign of boat attacks on enemy strongholds and sanctuaries
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
What is it for? Heroism of a unit
Why did Kerry get it? For participating in the Rach Gia interdiction, river patrols aimed at stopping Viet Cong infiltration from Cambodia
National Defense Service Medal
What is it for? Honorable active-duty service
Why did Kerry get it? For his service on the U.S.S. Gridley, a guided-missile frigate, from 1967 to 1968
Vietnam Service Medal
What is it for? Six months service in the Vietnam conflict
Why did Kerry get it? For his tour on the Gridley, which supported an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
What is it for? Awarded by South Vietnam to U.S. units for valorous combat achievements
Why did Kerry get it? For service on the swift boats
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions
What is it for? Awarded by South Vietnam to U.S. units for meritorious civil-action service
Why did Kerry get it? For service on the swift boats
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
What is it for? Awarded by South Vietnam for six-months service in Vietnam
Why did Kerry get it? For his tour of duty aboard the Gridley."
Thank you John Kerry for Serving America!
America needs your leadership now as much as in 2004! Keep on Coming John!
We have got your back.
Bob
posted by BobsAdvice at 11:18 AM
8 Comments:
"Right here on this blog, I have a "swift-boater" who continues to try to drag down Senator Kerry's record"
I'm proud that you lump me in with these fine gentlemen. You mention their names as if to disparage them. What did they do wrong besides to tell the truth?
"Let's make something clear right now. Senator Kerry served in Vietnam. He was wounded in Vietnam"
Wounded? Never shed a drop of blood and didn't spend 1 night in a hospital. Wounded?
"Those that criticize Senator Kerry have been silent when draft dodgers and deferment recipients declare war on lies and send more Americans to their unneeded deaths"
Why do you Kerry lovers always have to bring up someone else when trying to defend him? If you want to start a different post to discuss others, let's do it. But please try to stick with Kerry here.
"He criticized what American soldiers did in Vietnam"
How did he know what American soldiers were doing in Nam? He wasn't out on the battlefields with them.
"John Kerry had the courage to stand up to those who would advocate more Americans dying for a mistake"
Kerry was a coward and traitor then and in my opinion he will continue to be until he can muster up enough courage to tell the truth.
Bob, the article you posted conveniently forgot to mention the "combat V" Kerry claimed he received with his silver star. Of course once he realized he got caught it was removed from his website.
Bob, are you into wine?
Michael,
You continue to spread what I believe to be are lies and smears. Please provide references to your assertions or I shall continue to believe that all you wish to do is smear the Senator.
How do you know the Swift Boaters were telling the truth? Are you involved directly with them? Do you receive funding from the Republican Party or other right-wing elements? Why do you fail to consider that the President, who I presume you support, was a draft-dodger? This isn't about blinders, this is about hypocrisy.
What are your political views?
Do you have any?
What do you think we ought to be doing in Iraq?
Bob
"Please provide references to your assertions or I shall continue to believe that all you wish to do is smear the Senator"
Oh I could provide articles from NRO, Newsmax, or other conservative websites but you won't believe them so let's just stick to common sense? For example, explain to us why it took Kerry over 5 years to get his honorable discharge?
"How do you know the Swift Boaters were telling the truth?"
How do you know they weren't. I continue to hear from the liberal pundits about what a bunch of liars they are but never offer up any proof or examples.
"Do you receive funding from the Republican Party or other right-wing elements?"
No I don't need their help!
"Why do you fail to consider that the President, who I presume you support, was a draft-dodger?"
Then you are calling me a draft dodger? I joined the reserves in the 60's to avoid being drafted into the Army and just like Kerry I didn't attend any meetings after my active duty was complete.
"What are your political views?"
I'm sure you realize I'm a Conservative.
"What do you think we ought to be doing in Iraq?"
Doing what the best military in the world should be doing, kicking ass! Because you liberals have the military looking over their shoulders to be careful that they don't hurt anyone's feelings. All we read about in the liberal press is what a failure our military is. Leave war to the experts. These men spend their entire lives learning the intricacies of war only to be second guessed by you liberals at every turn. If you would just let them do their jobs and SUPPORT them no matter what they do, then they will be home very soon. On the other hand I'm sure I can rely on you to continue hampering their efforts by questioning everything they do to win and live!
Michael writes: "Oh I could provide articles from NRO, Newsmax, or other conservative websites but..."
LOL. "Conservative websites"...yeah, *that's* evidence alright. Why not try to provide evidence from real, unbiased, credible sources? Like the United States Navy, which has verified *every single fact* Bob laid out regarding Kerry's record?
Darn "reality-based" world.
"Why not try to provide evidence from real, unbiased, credible sources? Like the United States Navy, which has verified *every single fact* Bob laid out regarding Kerry's record"
Earth to Todd! The US Navy is just reporting on what is in his records. They have NO idea what really happened almost 40 years ago. The trouble with you liberals is Kerry is the first military hero you could come up with but every time you do ( Murtha/Cleland) we shoot holes in it!
Michael said:
"Wounded? Never shed a drop of blood and didn't spend 1 night in a hospital. Wounded?"
Michael, do try to get your info someplace besides the Swift Boat Liars talking points.
Every single one of Kerry's wounds bled, according to eyewitness accounts, casualty reports, and/or medical records. In fact he received stitches for the wound that qualified him for his second PH, and he still carries the shrapnel in his thigh.
A great many Swift Boat personnel received PHs for wounds that didn't require hospitalization. Don't think so? Check out the casualty reports for SBV"t" member Robert Hildreth and two others for Feb. 20, 1969, when they had little bits of shrapnel removed by a corpsman, got a bandaid, and were sent straight back to duty. I wonder if any of Hildreth's wingnut pals say, "Wounded" ??!!
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Micahel said:
"Bob, the article you posted conveniently forgot to mention the 'combat V' Kerry claimed he received with his silver star. Of course once he realized he got caught it was removed from his website. "
You conveniently forgot that that was not anything Kerry "claimed," but was an entry on his DD214. It was a typo - by the military clerk who typed it. It was never "removed." The website eventually took down the links to his military records after the election, but not because anybody was "caught" doing anything.
As you should know, a Silver Star does not need a "V" device because it is an award that is made for heroism in combat. Thus, no one would be claiming that they served in combat when they hadn't.
Kerry never claimed to have received a Silver Star with a "V" device. It appears in none of his other official records, including his citation, nor in any of his biographical information, before or since the election.
Kerry posted his DD214 along with all his other military records at his website. Period.
By the way, you can still find those documents in plenty of places on the Internet. Try Findlaw.com, for instance.
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