Kerry's C.O. Says First P.H. Was Not Authorized by Him

FOX NEWS ^ | 4/28/2004 | self

[kellynla]

John Kerry's commanding officer was just interviewed on Fox News. According to Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard when Kerry showed up in front of him requesting a Purple Heart, Hibbard saw that he had a "scratch"(Hibbard's word) on his forearm. And because, according to Hibbard, there was no report of enemy action on Kerry's patrol that day and the "scratch" did not receive medical attention from a medical officer, Hibbard declined Kerry's request for a Purple Heart.

[kellynla]

Just as I suspected, Kerry's PH appears to have been illegitimate.

Semper Fi, Kelly

[Believe_In_The_Singularity]

requesting a Purple Heart!

I'm speechless.

BITS

[jigsaw]

Start'n to look more and more like a Purple Hoax.

[kellynla]

For those who don't already know this, Hibbard was Kerry's C.O. for only 3 weeks. Kerry's next C.O. awarded Kerry a PH.

And for military regs for receiving a PH here is the link:
http://www.americal.org/awards/ph.htm

[Oeconomicus]

Here's a better link:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117285,00.html

[smiley]

....UN.freakin'.believeable....Kerry probably scratched himself on the forearm.....

[Pearls Before Swine]

To use an FR term, this could be hugh. I hope FOX doesn't drop it; the other media won't touch it unless it grows legs. I can see Chris Matthews with another set of "tough questions" already.

[mass55th]

Hibbard clearly stated that Kerry never reported his injury to his superior officer until after he had already gone to the infirmary. This is definitely against military policy, and even the policy we had to follow working in a para-military agency. The proper procedure would have been for him to report the injury to his superior and let him know he would be seeking medical attention. The fact that Hibbard was never told about any of this until after the fact is definitely a no-no. Hibbard is responsible for knowing what is going on in his command at all times. Kerry disrespected the chain of command by not following proper procedure.

[HardStarboard]

Pweaze Miter Lieutenant Commander, kin I hav a Pulpul Hert for me scwached finner? Pwety Pweaze?

All the while thinking, if I can just get three of these, I'll have my political career made.

[lilylangtree]

Then how did he get it? Who authorized it? Is there a transcript or place where we can hear it? This is great news and should disseminated ASAP.

[Republicus2001]

Purple Heart? Was Kerry in Vietnam? I did not know that.

[Semper Paratus]

Said earlier, Kerry's candidacy will be the Vietnam War's last casualty.

Better put some ice on it John.

[sharktrager]

This wasn't about politics. Enlisting was about politics.

The Purple Hearts were because his "safe" assignment was midified and became dangerous, and he wanted out. 3 Purple Hearts and I get to go home. The proof of this comes when we see he not only requested the Purple Hearts, he also pushed through the request to get out of Viet Nam.

[epluribus_2]

and if he has one fewer PH, then he does not have the three that allowed him to get the early out, ergo - he is a hypocrit AND a coward.

[mass55th]

"For those who don't already know this, Hibbard was Kerry's C.O. for only 3 weeks. Kerry's next C.O. awarded Kerry a PH. "

It just goes to show you to what lengths Kerry would go to get his way. When he couldn't get what he wanted from Hibbard, he went to the next Commander. He probably would have continued in his quest until he got the answer he wanted.

[kellynla]

"requesting"

Yep, in over 30 years, aside from television's MASH's Frank Burns "requesting" a PH, I have never heard of anyone "requesting" a Purple Heart. LOL

But then since Kerry apparently did not need medical attention or his medical records would have automatically authorized a PH if he had been wounded in an enemy confrontation.

The guy obviously knew of the "3 PH Get-out-of-Nam" rule so he was trying to get to that limit ASAP! And he apparently broke the record with 3 PH's in less than four months and without spending one night in a hospital. Now that's a feat that even Audie Murphy couldn't beat!

[BlessedByLiberty]

May I please use that, please....

Thank you!

[Petronski]

Hibbard declined Kerry's request for a Purple Heart.

Obscene.

[finnigan2]

Please link to the actual story - not the home page.
Thanks.

[kellynla]

Thanks for the link. I was just reporting the television interview of Hibbard.

[Gefreiter]

Ha ha- I remember that one! Frank Burns' Purple Heart request due to "shell fragment" in the eye- but it was an egg shell!

Good stuff.

[Petronski]

In case anyone wonders, I'm the one who added it to Breaking News. Perhaps it doesn't belong. I don't know.

[kellynla]

If you read the post, you'll see that I was relaying the information that had just been revealed on the television...gezzzzzz

[upchuck]

This story is dated Fri, April 16, 2004. That's a "lifetime" ago.

[kellynla]

Again, folks...my post is about the television interview with Hibbard today about 15 minutes ago...

[rwfromkansas]

Good grief.

Going to be checking into this one...

[xzins]

I'm confirming the thread. I just heard the guy say on FoxNews that he considered it just a scratch and did nothing about it.

I think he said something about Kerry maybe going on his own later to a dispensary. In other words, he has no idea who approved the PH.

He used the word "scratch." I think the direct quote is that "it was just a scratch."

[xzins]

See #27

[TheLurkerX]

My favorite part of the interview was when he said all his other men denied taking any enemy fire that day. So not only did Kerry get a PH for a scratch, he got it for a scratch he got without taking any enemy fire.

[kellynla]

Yep, I thought this whole business of Kerry receiving 3 PH's in less than four months without spending one night in a hospital sounded very fishy to me.

I don't Kerry will last through the DNC convention...
Now warming up in the bullpen...from NY...Senator Klintoon

[george wythe]

UN.freakin'.believeable....Kerry probably scratched himself on the forearm.....

It seems that Kerry had a masterplan to milk the Vietnam "experience" for political purposes since Day One.

Getting a purple heart for a scratch is using the system to get out early and continue his political ambitions. After three of these "injuries," he was free to quit early.

Whether the other two purple hearts are justified or not, I don't know. Nevertheless, I suspect that Kerry was committed to rack up three purple hearts, even if he had to injury himself.

[McGruff]

Thanks for the report from us stuck in a cubicle.

[spodefly]

The only kind of 'soldier' that would REQUEST a PH is one that has plans after their "soldiering" days are over and wants their C.V. packed with politically useful tidbits.

Veteran or not, Kerry is a poser and a fraud.

[cynicom]

Kerry knew about the three PHs and out policy. I go back a long way but have never heard of that policy before, from anyone, except Kerry.

[kcvl]

Kerry received his first "injury" just 24 hours after he arrived in Vietnam. It seems he had no intentions of staying any length of time. So he had to figure out a way to get the *ell out of their.

[randog]

John F. Kerry? More like John F. Klinger.

[No Blue States]

Kerry is so Lame.

Ollie North was on Hannity yesterday, He spoke of a young Marine who had *EARNED 3 Purple hearts in Iraq and was going back for some more.

[KevinDavis]

Hence the winner of the Frank Burns Purple Heart Award.

[new cruelty]

I wonder if this it what kerry has in mind as an 'exit' strategy for Iraq.

[Aquinasfan]

And because, according to Hibbard, there was no report of enemy action on Kerry's patrol that day and the "scratch" did not receive medical attention from a medical officer, Hibbard declined Kerry's request for a Purple Heart.

LOL! This is good.

[kellynla]

Well we all know that the proper procedure would have been for a Corpsman and/or a medcial officer to "patch" him up and his medical records would have noted the "wound" and how he received it and then there would have been no question...

I think we all now know what Kerry was all about...get 3 PH's and get out of Nam. ASAP!

And after seeing some of the troops who have been "seriously" wounded in Iraq "requesting" to be sent back to their units, now they are the REAL HEROES!

[annyokie]

Thanks for posting this, Kelly. I know you have a PH or two of your own.

Thanks again for your service.

[Mo1]

For those who don't already know this, Hibbard was Kerry's C.O. for only 3 weeks. Kerry's next C.O. awarded Kerry a PH.

A C.O. that wasn't there at the time of action/wound??

[kcvl]

Maybe that is why the campaign can't seem to find the paperwork for the first purple heart. It doesn't exist?

[mondoman]

the only link I find on Fox is from Brit Hume 4-16

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117285,00.html

[kellynla]

"Ollie North was on Hannity yesterday, He spoke of a young Marine who had *EARNED 3 Purple hearts in Iraq and was going back for some more"

Now that is a REAL HERO!

Semper Fi, Do or Die!

[BlessedByLiberty]

I know this isn't a nice theory, but here goes: a politically ambitious man wanted the spotlight desperately.

He needed a credible background to grab that spotlight with both hands. After being denied his requested deferment to study in Europe, he researches the ins and outs of military rules and discovers that 3 Purple Hearts and you're out.

He develops the Purple Hoax (thank you again for that!) and now the hoax is his very undoing. To sustain a hoax one needs support, however, the details are leaking out and the support is breaking down Like termites on old wet wood.

[not-alone]

I think he is worse than Clinton and that seemed impossible

[surrey]

My hairdresser,a Marine in Viet Nam,(yeah,yeah,I know)was shot twice. One bullet lodged in his leg and the other exited his thigh. His commanding officer told him to put in for a PH. He declined. His reason.."heck, when I saw guys with missing limbs I counted myself luck and frankly would have been embarrassed". By the way he's a real tough guy just happens to enjoy being a hairdresser.

[annyokie]

My husband refused to put in for his Purple Hearts for the same reason.