Kerry campaign provides military records

AP | 4/20/04 | NEDRA PICKLER

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid questions about his military records, John Kerry's campaign on Tuesday provided documentation of Vietnam War injuries that included shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and buttocks that earned him three Purple Hearts.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on Kerry's Web site by day's end. Kerry said all his military records are available to the public during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meehan said the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested a copy of his record from the Navy last month and received roughly 150 pages last week.

Conservatives, talk radio and some newspapers editorials have questioned whether Kerry was deserving of the three Purple Hearts, fueling questions about his Navy service from 1966 to 1970 and the seriousness of his injuries.

He served two tours of duty, four months on the USS Gridley frigate off Vietnam's shore and nearly five months as a swiftboat commander in the Mekong Delta. He volunteered for the second tour and earned all his medals during the second stint.

Meehan gave The Associated Press 13 pages that included documentation for the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. The Boston Globe obtained some of the records last year for an extensive series on Kerry.

The documents also included declassified reports that briefly explain the injuries that led to Kerry's Purple Heart awards. They show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under intense fire on Feb. 20, 1969, and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttock and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close to his boat on March 13, 1969.

The campaign could not locate a similar report for Kerry's original Purple Heart. As evidence that Kerry was wounded, Meehan showed The Associated Press a "Sick Call Treatment Record" from Kerry's personal files that included a brief written note dated Dec. 3, 1968, and stamped from the naval support facility at Cam Ranh Bay.

"Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty," it said. The note is followed by a signature that appears to say "JCCarreon" and some illegible letters that Meehan said probably designate the medical official's rank.

Meehan said the campaign would allow a reporter to see the record at the campaign's headquarters, but not take a copy. He said it would not be made available to the public because Kerry considers it a private medical record.

Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. The documentation does not describe the severity of the injuries. A third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area.

Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager, accused Kerry's campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign's position on Tuesday to release the records in "due diligence" is contrary to Kerry's comments on "Meet the Press" that the records would be made public immediately.

"Senator Kerry's record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters," Mehlman said.

Meehan responded, "Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served."

Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat. Bush released hundreds of pages of his Vietnam-era military records in February to counter Democrats' suggestions that he shirked his duty in the Texas Air National Guard.

The White House said the documents comprise his entire military record. The records did not provide evidence that Bush was in Alabama during a period when Democrats have questioned whether he reported for service.

Kerry on Friday questioned Republicans who avoided the war and now criticize him on national security, but he didn't mention Bush.

"I fought under that flag and I saw that flag draped over the coffins of friends," Kerry said. "I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid the chance to serve when they had the chance."

The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who are wounded or killed by enemy forces. The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action, and the Bronze Star is for heroic achievement.

Kerry received the Bronze Star for his actions after being wounded by the mine, which led to the third Purple Heart. According to his citation, one of Kerry's boatmates was thrown overboard and Kerry pulled him to safety with "his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety." Kerry and the man, retired Los Angeles police officer Jim Rassmann, had an emotional public reunion in January, two days before Kerry would win the Iowa caucuses.

___

On the Net:

http://www.johnkerry.com

Facsimiles of Kerry's Purple Heart citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/purplehearts.pdf

Facsimiles of Kerry's bronze and silver star citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/stars.pdf

Facsimiles of reports describing Kerry's wounds are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/actionreports.pdf

[MamaLucci]

Source of the 12-4-2002 Kerry quote:

Click

[MJY1288]

It's amazing what length the left will go to in order to run cover for their leaders. Just John Kerry's recent voting record in the Senate would sack any Republican. The press in this country must figure that if Al-Jazeera can get away with it, why not them?

[MJY1288]

It's amazing what length the left will go to in order to run cover for their leaders. Just John Kerry's recent voting record in the Senate would sack any Republican. The press in this country must figure that if Al-Jazeera can get away with it, why not them?

[sharkhawk]

Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

So the Navy reassigned F'n Kerry. I'm not a huge Vietnam historian but were there so many willing officers to go to Vietnam, that they reassigned "herioc" officers stateside. Now, I really want to see those evaluations.

[OMalley]

okay, this may not be the brightest question, but im curious about the Ph's. I thought this was something you were given, not requested. what kind of person requests a purple heart, 3 for that matter?
This guy just makes me sick, my son has had more boo-boos then this moron.

[mass55th]

"...so I guess LOTS Americans are fools. (particularly the women voters, who swooned over Clinton and now Kerry)"

And it goes to show that all their taste is in their mouths.

[Howlin]

Kerry Hits Back at White House, Defends Patriotism
Yahoo! News ^ | 4/16/04 | John Whitesides - Reuters


Posted on 04/16/2004 6:24:12 PM EDT by NormsRevenge


PITTSBURGH (Reuters) -

Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry (news - web sites), lashing out at the White House's "twisted sense of ethics and morality," accused Republicans on Friday of distorting his record and attacking his patriotism.


Kerry, at an outdoor rally on the University of Pittsburgh campus, used an American flag and the national anthem to fire back at Republicans who charge he is weak on defense for voting against some weapons systems and an $87 billion bill to pay for operations in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites).


Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, pointed out Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and political adviser Karl Rove did not serve in the military.


"I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance," the Massachusetts senator said. "I'm not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism."


"I've seen how these people in the White House today, in their twisted sense of ethics and morality, don't think twice about challenging John McCain and what happened to him as a prisoner of war," he said in reference to attacks by President Bush (news - web sites) in 2000 on his Republican primary rival McCain, an Arizona senator.


Kerry, who has tried to make his military experience a centerpiece of his campaign, is in a tight battle with Bush for the White House more than seven months before the November election.


Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman, said Kerry's judgment in his voting record on defense and security was in question, not his patriotism.


"The fundamental difference in this election will be between President Bush's steady leadership in the war on terror and John Kerry's consistent political opportunism on the war on terror," Schmidt said.


Kerry has come under heavy attack from Bush and Republicans, who have launched tens of millions of dollars of advertising trying to paint him as a waffling, traditional tax-and-spend Democrat.


QUOTES STAR SPANGLED BANNER


"They don't think twice about trying to pretend to America that I somehow don't care about the defense of our nation," Kerry said, paraphrasing wording in the Star Spangled Banner including reference to "political bombs" bursting in the air.


"When I look up, that flag is still there and it belongs to all Americans," he said, pointing to a flag near the stage. "Not to them, not to a party. It belongs to us."


Kerry told the crowd of more than 5,000 that "asking questions about the direction of our country is patriotism."


The Bush campaign said on Thursday that it is cutting back its advertising by two-thirds, which Kerry said was designed to "distort" his record. Kerry told reporters he believed he had withstood the early Republican charge.


"They're out 50 million bucks and they got nothing for it," Kerry told reporters on his campaign plane on Thursday night.


The rally in Pittsburgh, which featured a performance by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, concluded a week-long tour of college campuses where Kerry plugged his programs to make college more affordable.


He appeared in Pittsburgh on the same day the powerful pro-gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, opened its annual convention in town. More than 50,000 gun-lovers packed the downtown convention center to sample what organizers billed as "Four Acres of Guns and Gear."



Cheney will make the keynote speech at the convention on Saturday, but Kerry did not mention the gun issue during his appearance.

The NRA has not made an endorsement yet but is certain to back Bush in November over Kerry, who supports the federal ban on assault weapons and a waiting period and background checks for the purchase of handguns.

[jwalsh07]

That is a totally different record from the one he has from his time in Vietnam. The 2 can be separated & evaluated on their own.

Pre and post Vietnam can be separated as issues but they won't be by men who reaped the hate sown by John Kerry. It is why his fellow travelers are speaking out about his military record.

It really has nothing to do with Bush, the folks pushing this are Kerry's contemporaries and they will do what they see as the honorable thing. Exposing a potential CIC as somebody who left his men behind some 34 years ago on a political quest.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Saturday, April 17, 2004: Kerry assails Cheney, Rove on war credentials

By Dan Balz / The Washington Post

Greg Wahl-Stephens / Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Friday he is tired of having his commitment to national security questioned by Republicans who never served in the military and singled out Vice President Dick Cheney and White House senior adviser Karl Rove by name, saying they “went out of their way to avoid” service during the Vietnam War.

In unusually pointed and personal language, Kerry condemned his rivals, who are airing a television commercial that questions the judgment of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on national security issues and attacks him for voting against the $87 billion authorization funding for Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m tired of these Republicans who spend so much time denigrating Democrats and other peoples’ commitment to the defense of our nation,” Kerry said at a rally on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. “I’m tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance. I went (to Vietnam). I’m not going listen to them talk to me about patriotism.”

[Howlin]

Just for you

[jwalsh07]

So the Navy reassigned F'n Kerry. I'm not a huge Vietnam historian but were there so many willing officers to go to Vietnam, that they reassigned "herioc" officers stateside. Now, I really want to see those evaluations.

All spin, the way the reg was written left it up to the sailor to request an early out.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Kerry's statements on his first injury contradict each other"

In addition :

Boston Globe, 4/14/04 "Kerry Faces Questions Over Purple Heart : "

"People in the office were saying ' I don't think we got any fire ' and there is a guy holding a little piece of shrapnel in his palm."
"Hibbard said he couldn't be certain whether Kerry actually came under fire .. and that's why he continued to question him."
Kerry showed up in Lt Col Hibbard's office holding a teeny piece of his shrapnel in his palm and demanding a PH.
How sick is that ?

Two men serving alongside Kerry were Willaim Zaladonis and Patrick Runyon.
Neither one remembered Kerry being injured.
Which is typical of all of Kerry's war exploits-no one, absolutely no one,ever recalls the same details that Kerry does.

It looks like,at a minimum, Kerry faked his first PH.
Kerry should have faced a Naval Board of Inquiry.
I wonder if the Navy will have the stones to relook at Kerry's PH and medals.
They owe it to every Salty to do so.

[watchin]

Let me see if I understand your perspective ...

• Bush went through three weeks of AWOL slander, and submitted 300 pages of documents to the liberal media for their inspection.
• Kerry brags about dubious honors, but should not be questioned.

You don't work for Kerry's campaign by any chance?

[concerned about politics]

From his military records - purple hearts for scratches - my guess is the military couldn't stand his whining and belly aching any more and wanted to get rid of him. That could be why they got rid of him in 4 months. 3 scratches and he thinks he knows what it feels like to almost die ? Who could stand to be around a guy like that for more than 4 months?

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

My distant cousin, Lt. William Henry Pohlman, was shot in the left hand on the Union line at Gettysburg during Pickett's charge. He wrapped it in some cloth and kept fighting. Later, he was shot in the right hand and could hold neither gun nor sword. However, he stayed on the front line until the fighting ended, when his men urged him to seek medical help. He walked down to the hospital, where they dressed his wounds and made him lie down. He died nine days later after, I am sure, incredible agony, never complaining. He had been training to be a missionary before the war started, like his father. My great-grandfather was named for him (William Henry Colman).

[sissyjane]

>>It's time for the veteran's to spit on him."
And by God, after what he has done to them, he certainly deserves it. He trampled decent and honorable men, besmirched every last one of them, scrambling to get his OWN ass in a position for the riches and recognition a political career would bring him. A truly despicable human being<<

I'm not a Vet,
I'm a stay at home Mom of three, and a grandmother of one, but BY GOD this Crap will not stand!! I hope that those of you who are Vets can do something to stop this human piece of filth from becoming commander in chief. I'm soo P!ss%d that my grammer and spelling are gone!!!!

[woofie]

What does Kerry's dentist know?

[Howlin]

Don't forget he said

"I know what it's like to be on an aircraft carrier."

And what on EARTH does this mean?

"I know what it's like to try to choose between friend and foe in a foreign country when you're carrying out the policy of your nation,"

[familyofman]

"Just for you"

It wouldn't open & I'm sure it's meaningful.

[Carolinamom]

I'm not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism.

False logic........called Straw man.