John Kerry AND HIS HERIOC MEDALS. (620 hits)
Category: NewsRating: -0.82 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Pearnbran Uber <pearnbran.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2004-10-31 12:18:56 EST
Democratic presidential nominee in waiting Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) frequently speaks of courage, brotherhood and responsibility when he mentions his brief service in Vietnam. Under the rules, a serviceman had to be awarded three Purple Hearts to apply to go home.
Kerry, who piloted Patrol Crafts Fast (PCFs) as a young Lt. (jg) in the Vietnam War, has always made much of those Purple Hearts. An award often pinned on the pillow of a combat warrior so badly wounded that he cannot sit up to receive it, the Purple Heart recognizes the sacrifices of combat when a soldier or officer has sustained a wound "from an outside force or agent" and received treatment from a medical officer.
According to Kerry's own description in Douglas Brinkley's Tour of Duty, the Dec. 2, 1968, mission behind what he has claimed to be his first Purple Heart was "a half-assed action that hardly qualified as combat." Kerry was stationed with Coastal Division 14 at Cam Ranh Bay. Upon approaching the objective point, the crew noticed a sampan crossing the river. As it pulled to shore, Kerry and his little team opened fire, destroying the boat and whatever its cargo might have been.
In the confusion, Kerry claims to have received a "stinging piece of heat" in the arm, the result of a tiny piece of shrapnel. The Boston Globe quoted William Shachte, who oversaw this ad hoc mission, as saying Kerry's injury, from whatever source, "was not a serious wound at all."
Nevertheless, Kerry met with his immediate superior officer, Lt.Cmdr. Grant Hibbard, the next morning and requested a Purple Heart for his wound. Hibbard does not remember that Kerry received medical attention of any kind and confirms that no one else on the mission suffered any injuries.
Shortly thereafter, Kerry was transferred to Coastal Division 11 at An Thoi. Apparently, Kerry petitioned to have his Purple Heart request reconsidered. Hibbard remembers getting correspondence from Kerry's new division, asking for his approval. Kerry's second commander, Lt.Cmdr. G.M. Elliott, says he has no recollection of such an event ever occurring.
There are no written records of Kerry's magical first Purple Heart on file at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, the nation's primary repository for such documentation. A Purple Heart normally is not requested but is awarded de facto for a wound inflicted by the enemy - a wound serious enough to require medical attention. There are two such cards for Kerry - for his slight wounds on Feb. 20 and March 13, 1969, but none for his December 1968 claim.
After receiving a Purple Heart for the March 13 scratch and bruise, Kerry sought an early pass out of combat duty, invoking the informal Navy "instruction" known as 1300.39. According to the Boston Globe, 1300.39 meant an officer could request a reassignment from his superior officer after receiving three Purple Hearts. Of the 138 servicemen and officers in Kerry's unit who received Purple Hearts during the time he was there, records indicate only two received more than two. These were Lt. (jg) Jim Galvin and a boatswain's mate named Stevens. When Insight reached Galvin, he said all three of his Purple Hearts were the result of shrapnel or glass shards. Such minor injuries were common on PCF boats with their glass windows and thin metal hulls, and, like Kerry's, Galvin's injuries were not serious enough to take him out of combat for more than a few days.
Unlike Kerry, Galvin elected to stay with his men. It was not until early April of 1969, when Galvin noticed that Kerry was preparing to leave the officers' barracks at An Thoi that he learned about "three Purple Hearts and you're out." Galvin remembers, "He seemed to take care of everything pretty quickly," because that was the last time Galvin saw Kerry in Vietnam.
The three-times wounded Galvin stayed with his men, transferred to Cam Ranh Bay to get them a respite from the dicey Mekong Delta, and eventually left the swift boats for destroyer school.
Insight: contacted many men who served in Coastal Division at the same time Kerry did to ask if any of them had heard of anyone leaving the combat zone by invoking three minor wounds. Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22, 1971, about these and other alleged war crimes, he called on the United States to pay "extensive reparations."
User Reviews
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-02-23 14:33:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
well, that tool is out of the picture now...ahhhhhhh
Submitted by mhknights22 (user info) at 2004-10-31 21:43:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Kerry is a pussy ass bitch who didnt deserve any of the medals he recieved... self infliction shouldnt count.
Submitted by Jo_of_the_golden_P (user info) at 2004-10-31 21:28:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for effort.
Bush still scares me.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2004-10-31 21:19:15 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
"Its in the News its under investigation" now thats the well-referenced investigation i love.
REPUBLICANS HATE VIETNAM VETS THAT FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-10-31 20:59:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The guy got shot with a rubber band and got a purple heart - three times. He threw out his medals (and any honor that he may have had). He openly protested a war while we still had men on the ground there calling them rapists and babykillers.
Submitted by professorfuckface (user info) at 2004-10-31 17:24:08 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
fucking idiot.
Submitted by ShatteredDreams (user info) at 2004-10-31 14:27:49 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Johnny K is gay.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2004-10-31 14:10:42 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You sir, are a fucking idiot.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-10-31 13:57:47 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
It's a good thing I care so much about Kerry's war record.............................
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................idiot
Submitted by nitty34 (user info) at 2004-10-31 13:43:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-10-31 13:25:30 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
This post isn't about Oil for Food, and neither is the election.
Don't believe Bush is big on uncovering corruption in the UN either. After it's practically an instrument of the US anyway.
Read in several reputable sources that terrorists want Bush because his policies, his wars, even just his face are great recruiting tools.
Submitted by Ingsoc (user info) at 2004-10-31 13:18:07 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
What the fuck is wrong
With your syntax
Are you robot or are you
Man
Submitted by great_angst (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:57:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Kerry got wounded, left the military, and became a Senator and presidential nominee ... and married a really really really rich bitch to boot. And he did all this without riding his father's coat-tails, building a legacy of professional and political corruption, or selling out to the Saudis.
You got wounded, returned to the military, and cut and pasted this.
http://www.insightmag.com/news/2004/04/27/Politics/Purple.Hearts.Three.And.Out-656749.shtml
Perhaps you should have left sooner.
Submitted by Brianthetruthspeaker (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:52:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Ok
Lets spell it out for you
The UN allowed Saddam to sell oil to the UN
For supposed food
Instead the Un (kofie Anon Son), and others from France and Germany
Took the oil money, allowed Saddams weapons program to grow for 10 years under Clinton. Now we have a bigger problem.
Its in the News its under investigation
Its not bull shit
However if Kerry has elected it will be dropped
This is not good for the USA or the world
Let me know if I used to many "Big words" for you.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:41:44 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Brianthetruthspeaker is a fucking idiot. Oil for food has nothing to do with the hatred everyone outside the US feels for Bush. I may not be thrilled about Kerry, but he's a damn sight better than that stupid pig-headed dipshit.
Submitted by Brianthetruthspeaker (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:41:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Wiggles why is it bullshit?
Its documented truth
I bet it just makes your head hurt to think what you been told is wrong
You should care
The guy is a Liar and a traitor
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:37:42 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
A) It's bullshit.
B) Who cares?
Submitted by Brianthetruthspeaker (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:31:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The Euros and the terrorists want Kerry
Also the United Nations
They know if Bush is elected that the oil for food program
Will show that the weapon inspectors were paid off
And that France and Germany willingly collaborated with saddam
Submitted by Pearnbran (user info) at 2004-10-31 12:25:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
How Dare I CHALLAGE Kerry?
I am a combat wounded Veteran
I almost Died and required over two years of physical therapy
To return to Active Duty And finish my 20 years of service