No... not completely. Kerry recd 3 purple hearts, along with bronze and silver stars. This has all been extensively covered before. But please remember treating dr didn't give any time off from duty as a result of "injuries". Kerry also didn't spend one night in hosp for treatment. However, he was sent home after 4 mos because of 3 PH rule. I can understand a drafted enlisted man taking advantage of this opportunity. But as an officer... Kerry was expected to set an example for those under him. If I remember right, Lt Kerry was in a class all by himself with regards to going home under these circumstances.
Both star medals were under questionable and disputed situations. According to several sources, he was awarded the silver star for shooting wounded VC in the back as he ran away. That being said, I respect his service mainly because he reported and served. He was also apparently under fire at least 2-3 times.
It's all relative when you consider blumenthal, bush, kirk, et al.... I know a lot of wounded vets [myself included] but didn't [and still don't] know of anyone who recd multiple purple hearts and got a free pass home without at least some kind of significant hosp treatment and time given off from duty. He had the option to waive qualification for rule but chose to leave his command and "brothers". If I was in his situation... I probably would have done the same but I had no aspirations for political office... and hope that if i did... I wouldn't have painted myself as a hero based on this record of service.
Allow me to interject a few comments if you would . . . .
As far as Purple hearts go, time off-duty, hospitalization or seriousness of the wound isn't a determining factor. As far as that goes, a person can have a self-inflicted wound (under certain circumstances) that is minor on top of that, and properly receive a PH. Bob Dole's 1st PH was such a wound.
As for the Bronze Star incident, a small handful of the approximately 35 guys (2-3) present had anything to say that was pertinent to Kerry not receiving that award. There were quite a few others who have come forward to dispute what those 2-3 have said, including some who were on the same boat(s). And, as with all of Kerry's medals, no one on his boat has disputed what Kerry/the Navy has said about this incident. Not everyone on Kerry's boat that day was part of his crew.
As for the Silver Star incident, you have stated something right out of the Swift Boat Veterans for "truth" handbook -- in particular, a shameless lie peddled by their spokesman, John O'Neill. That's the lie about Kerry shooting the VC in the back (O'Neill usually adds that is was a "kid" Google - shot that kid in the back O'Neill - and you'll see countless time he has pushed this lie -- something that is not supported by a single person present that day). So, no one out of the 25 guys present that day has said he was shot in the back. Several (actually, only a few would have been a position to know this) have said he was
not shot in the back. It is a known fact (stated in the after-action report) that the VC was wounded. However, that didn't stop the guy from running, and certainly didn't prevent him from firing the loaded B-40 he was carrying. Would he have fired it? We don't know, as Kerry killed him before he had a chance.
I am one of the 25 guys present that day, and every time I hear this lie, well, let's just say I get a little perturbed.
One more thing . . . "He was also apparently under fire at least 2-3 times." Yes. Actually it was closer to 10-12 times, perhaps more.
Doug Reese
