My experience in VN supports that there were a lot of awards made that were inflated. Especially in the officer ranks. But, this was the prevailing mindset at the time. PHs were handed out like aspirin.
I think if Kerry had falsified his reports that were used to support the recommendations for his awards, someone would have come forward by now and reported the facts.
It is well established that Kerry volunteered for VN (twice, I believe) and he chose to serve in a combat unit. By all accounts he performed well. If he didn't, only the men in his unit would really know and I havn't heard of any of them criticizing his performance.
There doesn't seem to be any basis for suggesting his war record is anything other than extremely positve. His behavior after he returned is reprehensible to me, but the libs and the media love it.
Seems like his financial ties to NVA and his record in the Senate are where the dead bodies are likely to be found.
Kerry scares me, because I think the media will soon elevate him to real hero status soon.
btwdik
Unless someone presents compelling evidence that Kerry himself did something improper with regards to his medals, I think the subject should be dropped.
I feel the same way, in spite of how much I loathe him for his actions AFTER the war. Jane Fonda is the worst, but he comes right along behind her.
I agree that questioning the reason Kerry got his medals is both wrong and counter productive. The case is clearly made by the Green Beret who has come forward regarding the one action where that man's life was saved by Kerry that the awards themselves are unasailable.
However, it is valid, and I think important, that he is flashing those medals as his basic resume for being a "hero" who is therefore immune to any criticism for statements he makes about the Iraq war. I think the letter about his actions post Vietnam and particularly his testimony (linked earlier) are glaring indictments of his patriotism and show that he has betrayed the other soldiers who served and died in that conflict, and in fact in any conflict in defense of this country and of freedom. He has gone far beyond patriotic opposition to actively aiding and comforting the enemy in time of war. He's doing it again now. He has further used his office to influence foreign policy with those enemies in such a way that his family has improperly benefited.
I think his medals will become badges declaring his personal shame not signs affirming his bravery. We should praise the actions of a young person in dangerous conditions but condemn the uses that he has made of those medals since.