Purple Hearts: Three and Out

Insight ^ | April 12, 2004 | Stephen Crump

[kennedy]

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. He took Super-8 home movies there in which he staged heroics in full-battle dress, so that later he might use them for campaign ads. Kerry has made so much of his Vietnam medals which he once pretended to throw away that critics have begun to wonder why he has been so cagey about the dubious circumstances surrounding the Purple Hearts that got him out of Vietnam after only four months of combat service. Under the rules, a serviceman had to be awarded three Purple Hearts to apply to go home. Not one or two, but three. And, say critics, there's the rub.

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. The records for such treatment "must have been made a matter of official record," according to the military definition of the award.

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." Indeed. Kerry was stationed with Coastal Division 14 at Cam Ranh Bay. At that time he piloted a small foam-filled boat, known as a Boston Whaler, with two enlisted men in the darkness of early morning. The intent, apparently, was to patrol an area that was known for contraband trafficking, but it was an undocumented mission. 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. He was not incapacitated and continued with regular swiftboat-patrol duty. William Shachte, who oversaw this ad hoc mission, was quoted by the Boston Globe as saying Kerry's injury, from whatever source, "was not a serious wound at all."

But Kerry met with his immediate superior officer, Lt.Cmdr. Grant Hibbard, the next morning and requested a Purple Heart for his wound. Hibbard recalls that Kerry had a "minor scratch" on his arm and was holding in his hand what appeared to be a fragment of a U.S. M-79 grenade, the shrapnel that had caused the wound. "They didn't receive enemy fire," Hibbard tells Insight. Since this was an essential requirement for the award, the commander rejected Kerry's request. 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. In the hurried process of moving to a new command himself, Hibbard thinks he might have signed off on the award. If so, "it was to my chagrin," Hibbard remembers. 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. The Naval Historical Center keeps all documents connected to such awards to U.S. Navy and Marine personnel. These typewritten "casualty cards" list the date, location and prognosis of the wound for which the Purple Heart is given, and they are produced by the medical facility that provides treatment for the combat wound at the hands of the enemy. 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. The instruction states that, rather than being automatic, the reassignment would "be determined after consideration of his physical classification for duty and on an individual basis." 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 steel 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. Indeed, though a professional Navy officer, he never had heard of instruction 1300.39. 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." According to Galvin, it was Kerry who told him, "There's a rule that gets you out of here and I'm getting out. You ought to do the same." 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 swiftboats 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. Of the 12 who replied, none had heard of anyone doing so but John Kerry."

Less than a month after having claimed three wounds for which he lost no more than a total of two days of duty, Kerry reported as an aide to a navy yard admiral in Brooklyn, New York, leaving his crew in Vietnam. Two years later, preparing for a congressional race in a left-wing Massachusetts district - where the seat eventually was won by the even more radical Rev. Robert Drinan - Kerry was working with Maoists and other radicals in Vietnam Veterans Against the War, saying of those he left behind who were being killed and wounded for real that they were committing crimes "on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels."

Indeed, Kerry said, he knew men who in Vietnam "had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks and generally ravaged the countryside." 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."

[kennedy]

[syriacus]

Very nice article. Thanks for posting it.

[mondoman]

This is a GOOD post to save for future rebuttals when the NG card is played against Bush.

[brbethke]

I can't help but notice the *incredible* resemblance. What do you think? Kerry and Gomer, separated at birth?

[Pearls Before Swine]

This photo accentuates his resemblance to Gomer Pyle.

[Pearls Before Swine]

You certainly beat me to the punch, and with a photo, too!

[kennedy]

Shazaam!

Of course the resemblance is merely physical. Gomer was honest, loyal and a lot smarter.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

The more I read about Kerry the bigger turd he becomes.

[RAY]

I'm posting to save for later use. Thanks for the post!

[stylin19a]

Seems like a good Freep sign---> "Three and out".

[clyde260]

Yeah, In country for less than 4 months, and he has time to collect:

3 Purple Hearts
1 Bronze Star
1 Silver Star, time enough to observe all manner of atrocities perpetrated by his fellow G.I.'s, (but not enough time to report any of this), and all from a boat.

It's dumb enough to make my posterior really hurt!

[Mich0127]

purple hearts, yellow horseshoes, magic rainbows...Lucky Charms are marshmellowy delicious....because that is the equivalent of Kerry's Purple Hearts!

We should all send him a box of Lucky Charms..who knows what other medals he will find for his "service" in Vietnam in there!

[kylaka]

I think George Patton would like to have a word or two with this guy when he meets his maker. Matter of fact, it'd be a good idea if Kerry makes sure he has a helmet on when he dies.

[Dante3]

Kerry is obviously hiding something. It is time for the media to start asking him hard questions. Somehow I have great difficulty picturing Kerry as heroic -- not only because he is such a dork but his lying and flip-flopping that I associate with cowards.

[bushfamfan]

Yeah, he really puts Audie Murphy to shame! Kerry is a vile man. How humble of him to tell us all what a war hero he is. There is really something so devious about this pathetic man. Bob Dole and George HW Bush were war heroes. John Kerry is a traitor.

[kellynla]

Kerry is not only a bald faced liar, he is also a fraud!

I have never heard of anyone going to their superior officer "requesting" a Purple Heart! Ridiculous!
Kerry clearly had an agenda. He didn't want to go into the service to begin with; when he requested that the draft board give him a year to go to Europe. Then he finds out that if he receives 3 PH's he can return stateside. And then as soon as he hit Nam he comes up with these three PH's; that I have never heard of anyone receiving 3 PH's in less than 4 months and not spend one night in a hospital.

And for the good folks of Massachusetts not calling this clown on his service record for over 30 years is an outrage!

Semper Fi,
Kelly

Viet Nam Veterans Against John Kerry
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com

[kitkat]

BUMP and thanks

[ride the whirlwind]

...critics have begun to wonder why he has been so cagey about the dubious circumstances surrounding the Purple Hearts that got him out of Vietnam after only four months of combat service. Under the rules, a serviceman had to be awarded three Purple Hearts to apply to go home. Not one or two, but three. And, say critics, there's the rub.

I added my name to an on-line petition to demand that the Kerry campaign release his military records. This was a few weeks ago and have heard nothing more about it, and probably never will. The man reeks of deceit!

[Cicero]

Well the other strange thing about this story is that he sank a sampan and killed everyone aboard without making any attempt to stop them and see what they were up to.

Moreover, he was not acting under orders to do so, according to this writer. I can't help wondering whether he took advantage of a chance to sink an innocent, unarmed fishing boat and in order to gain one of his false Purple Hearts at no risk to his own precious hide.

I suppose how you interpret this would depend on the rules of engagement for that particular time and place. But it strikes me as very likely an atrocity or war crime. Undertaken at his own responsibility and without orders. No wonder his admiral thought he was a loose cannon who couldn't be trusted.

[onedoug]

Bump

[sauropod]

ty for posting this.

[GeoPie]

Bump for later read

[js1138]

Boston whaler

[js1138]

I was at Cam Ranh bay in December 1968. It would take a miracle to win a Purple Heart at that place and time.

[bayourod]

Kerry is the BEST!
He's the best the Democrats have to offer, and that's pathetic.

[stuartcr]

At least Kerry left CONUS, and was actually in-country.

[chadwimc]

I spoke with a sailor who ran around the Mekong Delta in the mid-sixties. He told me they had areas that *ANY* person moving in was subject to beig fired on.Kerry is a turd, tho'...

[ExpatCanuck]

At least Kerry left CONUS, and was actually in-country.

So it's perfectly okay with you if he made up injuries to earn medals while he was there? That's certainly what it sounds like.

[FreeAtlanta]

Do any of you know of any reports that show an of our actual casualties from the swift boat activities?

I am sure we lost some brave men in these boats, and I think Kerry's actions may very well have disgraced them. That is a real shame. I would like to see an Oliver North war stories episode on this, and have him interview all the men he can - including the above sailer who took 3 Purples and stayed with his men - then, talk about Kerry's brief tour.

Contact Ollie anyone? :-)

[stuartcr]

What it sounds like to you, and what I said, are two different things.

[Liberty Valance]

At least Kerry left CONUS, and was actually in-country.

...as was "Hanoi Jane" Fonda.

[oldironsides]

I was standing aside and watching Purple Hearts being awarded at my evac hospital in Vietnam numerous times. I never saw 2 or 3 Purple hearts given out for multiple wounds suffered by
casualties. They may have had a chest wound, lost a hand and eye but there was only only medal awarded. Kerry seems to be a major manipulator of military regulations and awards. He appears to be quite a nasty individual that rips up the real wounded with claims of baby killers while he swipes his medals off the table with a wink and nod at his commander. That is very ugly indeed.

[oldironsides]

I was standing aside and watching Purple Hearts being awarded at my evac hospital in Vietnam numerous times. I never saw 2 or 3 Purple hearts given out for multiple wounds suffered by
casualties. They may have had a chest wound, lost a hand and eye but there was only ONE medal awarded. Kerry seems to be a major manipulator of military regulations and awards. He appears to be quite a nasty individual that rips up the real wounded with claims of baby killers while he swipes his medals off the table with a wink and nod at his commander. That is very ugly indeed.

[stuartcr]

I don't believe she was in the military.

[Dante3]

Good idea. I don't know how to contact North. We can try to bring it also up in talk shows, letters to editors, etc.

[ohmage]

Two of the most shocking pictures of those times, imo, were traitor jane seated in an AA position looking for an American plane to shoot down and John Kerry leading a pack of alleged vietnam vets against the war in an anti-war march.

I think it was their coming out demonstration and it left me with a sick feeling that is renewed every time Kerry's name is heard.

[DustyMoment]

ROTFL!!!! Too Funny!! Great Post!

[Made In The USA]

Some gave all...

Some didn't.

[GailA]

My dad had 2 silver stars and 1 bronze star, he had 4 small (nicks) shrapnel scars on his face for which he didn't get a Purple Heart...we didn't even know about them until he was about to die of lung cancer. Most Vets I don't think walk around bragging about their medals.

[Hatteras]

"...At that time he piloted a small foam-filled boat, known as a Boston Whaler, with two enlisted men in the darkness of early morning."

Although Boston Whalers were around at that time, they didn't start producing boats for the military until 1983.

From their Website:

"Boston Whaler began producing military, law enforcement, fire/rescue and commercial work boats in 1983. To validate Boston Whaler's claim of unsurpassed unsinkability and strength, the United States Marine Corps fired more than 1000 rounds of .50 caliber and 7.62 millimeter ammunition into a 22 foot hull which remained afloat - seemingly unscathed except for the savage pattern of bullet holes."

I know, picky, picky, picky...

[jcb8199]

ping

[Yaelle]

Instead of giving Kerry flip-flop sandals at appearances, what about Band-Aids? They come in so many colors and styles. I would be proud to hand the Senator a goodly supply of Scooby-Doo, Sponge Bob, and Clifford glow-in-the-dark Band-Aids. Poor li'l Senator's got himself a boo-boo.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Applause for a great idea!

I want someone to ask Kerry who tipped him off to this regulation and whether he knew about it before he left for Viet Nam. Preplanned minor injuries? One does wonder.

Kerry cannot be allowed to run as a self-declared war hero casting aspersions on President Bush with the AWOL charge and not accept questions about his own service.

Furthermore, Kerry must not be allowed to get away with not explaining why he did not report the names and incidents of the war crimes he says he witness in front of Congress. He said his fellow troops were committing daily atrocities and that they were all murderers - he owes them no less that a complete repudiation of his charges.

[MEGoody]

"It would take a miracle to win a Purple Heart at that place and time."

Well, one would hope it would take a miracle ANYWHERE to get a purple heart for a scratch on the arm. Apparently, Kerry had no respect for the guys who really got hurt.

[zygoat]

"At least Kerry left CONUS, and was actually in-country."

As opposed to whom? Even Gore was "in country" for that matter.

[SGCOS]

...Kerry is obviously hiding something. It is time for the media to start asking him hard questions.

That made me laugh out loud.

[stuartcr]

As opposed to those that did not.

[There's millions of'em]

"But Kerry met with his immediate superior officer, Lt.Cmdr. Grant Hibbard, the next morning and requested a Purple Heart for his wound. Hibbard recalls that Kerry had a "minor scratch" on his arm and was holding in his hand what appeared to be a fragment of a U.S. M-79 grenade, the shrapnel that had caused the wound. "They didn't receive enemy fire," Hibbard tells Insight. Since this was an essential requirement for the award, the commander rejected Kerry's request. Hibbard does not remember that Kerry received medical attention of any kind and confirms that no one else on the mission suffered any injuries.

His subsequent appeal for the award should be in his official file, in the Army it was called a 201 file. I would love to know the basis for his appeal.

If this article is accurate, it raises several questions. Like where is the after action report of this "mission"? What was in the Sampan and what was the fate of its occupants?

[Docbarleypop]

My Great-Uncle received 3 purple hearts and was nominated for 2 more while serving in the south pacific in WWII. Two were in the same battle. He refused to be sent home after the 3rd (due to ripped sutures). His command tried to send him home not due to a 3 times rule, but because he had kids and a wife and everyone thought he didnt have much luck left. I cant imagine him putting himself in for an award but then again he was a real man and a real American.

[SkyPilot]

http://www.stolenvalor.com/