Posted on 08/08/2004 3:20:43 PM PDT by Jean S
During World War II, Dole served as a combat infantry officer with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. He was wounded twice and hospitalized for thirty-nine months. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He eventually lost almost all use of his right arm due to his war injuries.
Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Bob-Dole
Democrats tout the Silver and Bronze Stars won by both Kerry and Cleland in Vietnam. But they prefer not to mention that, despite losing two legs and an arm to a hand grenade, Cleland was never awarded even one Purple Heart. The reason, as columnists Ann Coulter and Mark Steyn were widely attacked for pointing out, is that Cleland’s horrible injuries did not happen in combat, as Kerry tries to suggest with his deceitfully-crafted phrase about Cleland leaving his limbs “on the battlefield.”
Source: http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14415
Kerry was awarded his first Purple Heart for an injury incurred during his first combat experience (on December 2, 1968). He was treated for a small piece of shrapnel in his arm and he immediately returned to duty. On February 20, 1969, he earned a second Purple Heart when his left thigh was hit with shrapnel and, again, he was treated and returned to duty. Eight days later, on February 28, 1969, Kerry's boat was hit by a B-40 rocket. After beaching his boat, Kerry chased down and killed a wounded Viet Cong, who had been shot in the leg by a crew-mate and was fleeing with another B-40 rocket. Kerry came back to the boat with the rocket and launcher. He was awarded the Silver Star medal for his actions. On March 13, 1969, Kerry's boat detonated a mine (as his position took heavy fire) and his arm was wounded. For his injury and rescuing U.S. Army Green Beret James Rassmann on the same occasion, Kerry was awarded a third Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Combat V. The last of his three injuries included a bruised arm and shrapnel in his posterior which, according to Kerry, cost him about two days of active service. Due to questions regarding the nature of his wounds, the Kerry Campaign released his military records.
Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_kerry/military_records.html
"Checked the purple heart records on Kerry's web page, NO medical reports showing what he was treated for or what wounds he sustained???"
I'd like to see photos of those "war wounds" of his. Well, except the one on his butt - yuk.
Max Clelands Military Service
Army ROTC; Stetson University
U.S. Army 1965-1968; Commisioned Second Lieutenant and promoted to Captain 1968
Airborne, Ft. Benning, Georgia
Aide de Camp, Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey
Volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1967
Wounded in grenade explosion April 8, 1968 (lost both legs and right arm)
Recovered from injuries "in various Army and Veterans Administration hospitals"
Awarded Bronze Star and Silver Star
Silver Star Medal Citation
Captain Cleland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 April 1968 … during an enemy attack near Khe Sanh.
When the battalion command post came under a heavy enemy rocket and mortar attack, Captain Cleland, disregarding his own safety, exposed himself to the rocket barrage as he left his covered position to administer first aid to his wounded comrades. He then assisted in moving the injured personnel to covered positions.
Continuing to expose himself, Captain Cleland organized his men into a work party to repair the battalion communications equipment, which had been damaged by enemy fire.
His gallant action is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Grenade Explosion Accident. In his own words,
On April 8, 1968, I volunteered for one last mission. The helicopter moved in low. The troops jumped out with M16 rifles in hand as we crouched low to the ground to avoid the helicopter blades. Then I saw the grenade. It was where the chopper had lifted off. It must be mine, I thought. Grenades had fallen off my web gear before. Shifting the M16 to my left hand and holding it behind me, I bent down to pick up the grenade. A blinding explosion threw me backwards.
No wonder they both belong to the Jackass party
What were promotions like in the Vietnam era? Is rising from Lt to Captain in about 2 1/2 to 3 years more to do about the time he served in the military, or the nature of the action he saw?
Did enlisted men do any better?
Nada, none, zero, zilch
Max got drunk and on his way home from the slop shute, dropped a live grenade and fragged himself. It is all in the documentary!
Missing of course in all of this is the military record of William Jefferson "Blythe" Clinton. I guess liberals have become hawks since 1992.
It sounds about right. You have to remember that he had ROTC time, which is reserve time. Probably went in the active Army as a First Lt, or very senior 2nd Lt. The Aide de camp assignment didn't hurt either. It is a position that really helps (or hurts) a young officer.
Enlisted promotions were pretty good,compared to todays military. You could make E-4 in 2 years, espically if you were a "lifer" instead of a draftee.
NOT TRUE, and I resent your slander on a hero!
Read last paragraph of post 22!
Damn people who insist on taking the few heros we have from VN, no matter what the politics. You should be ashamed.
I salute your service to our country.
I am a civillian and only 36, so this is all after my time and I never enlisted in the service. I don't know much about it so I am curious about it.
It really stuck out when I read Cleland's promotion in about 3+ years or so, during a war. My instinct was that it's hard to rise in officer rank at that level, and then becomes mostly politics after a certain point (Col?). I figured enlisted men could rise in rank quicker, but I am sure there is a certain point (some kind of Sgt?) where advancement is more for career types.
Just my instinct, which has been wrong before (my dad's fave saying about me is 'even a broken clock is right twice a day - so much for my instincts!). I appreciate your input, and anyone else's input, that can school me a bit on this. I appreciate it and again, thanks for posting.
Kerry's boat PCF 94 did not hit a land mine..a mine went off under PCF 3 -- some yards from Kerry's boat. The force of the explosion disabled PCF 3 and knocked several sailors, dazed, into the water. All boats, except one, closed to rescue the sailors and defend the disabled boat. That boat -- Kerry's boat -- fled the scene. After a short period, it was evident to all on the scene that there was no additional hostile fire. Thurlow began the daring rescue of disabled PCF 3, while Chenoweth began to pluck dazed survivors of PCF 3 from the water. Midway through the process, after it was apparent that there was no hostile fire, Kerry finally returned, picking up Rassman who was only a few yards from Chenoweth's boat which was also going to pick Rassman up.
ping
And Bob Dole NEVER used his gallant and appreciated service for political purposes, even when he ran for POTUS.
Thanks for the insight. Like I said, I am a civillian and find this kind of stuff interesting.
I figured in peacetime, advancement in is probably a combo of merit and time in the service, to a certain point. In wartime I had to figure advancement was quicker if you were at all competent, but still for practical purposes could not be that fast, for enlisted or officers. But like I have said, I'm just guessing here so I appreciate any info.
Thanks!
Interesting info:
In the Army, a purple heart give no promotion points. It is looked on as a hazard of the job, while a bronze star gets the soldier 8 promotion points, and a silver star is worth 12 points.
Checked the purple heart records on Kerry's web page, NO medical reports showing what he was treated for or what wounds he sustained???
SELECTIVE production od records. How surprizing !!!
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