These are guys who have no reason at all to lie. The damage, whatever it amounts to, has been done, and Kerry is just going to have to eat it.
And he has nobody to blame but himself, because he's been parading around like Audie Murphy, making his war record his main issue. He would have never had this problem if he'd simply been appropriately modest about Vietnam, just mentioning his record in passing, and let others sing his praises for serving.
I think these Vets have a right to be heard and they are the true heros. They have nothing to gain from this and everything to lose. This is how the Dems play politics: no ideas, and if you criticize, smear the character of those opposing you.