Records Counter a Critic of Kerry

Washington Post ^ | 8/19/04 | Michael Dobbs

[Callahan]

Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who commanded a Navy Swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly disputed Kerry's claim that the Massachusetts Democrat's boat came under fire during a mission in Viet Cong-controlled territory on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire" directed at "all units" of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat "despite enemy bullets flying about him."

[1066AD]

I ordered it online from http://www.booksamillion.com today, said it will ship in a couple of days.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

THE FLOTILLA WAS NOT, REPEATE NOT, FIRED UPON

[NavySEAL F-16]

There would be write ups of the damage to the boats -- including bullet holes, and as I said earlier there were none.

I'm still waiting for my copy of the book, but I seem to recall that O'Neill talked about write-ups in one of his interiews.

[MistyCA]

Has anyone considered that Thurlow got his award because of the same report that Kerry filed to get his own? Actually, according to my husband who was in Vietnam, it was not uncommon for Officers to write up reports for each other and puff things up to get awards. Max Clelland's injury was apparently not combat related either. Kerry is probably not alone in getting awards that should not have been given if the truth had been known. But Kerry then used his awards to get out early and go home to slime the guys who were left behind. JMHO

[Steven W.]

you read the article! ;)

The fact the DemoncRATs are out right away with this, as it comes out, with their spin, demonstrates this is an orchestrated fiasco between the Kerry campaign and their supporters at the Washington Post!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

If military records are so useful for clearing things up, why doesn't the Post demand John Fraud Kerry's military personnel records?

[onyx eyes]

Lately, I have been thinking and wondering. WHY are we not scared for our life? When I heard somebody the other day on C-Span defend the media and say, "naw....its always been like this..." then I knew we have something to be afraid of. Have had this nagging feeling since Jan. 04. That somebody other than an american is pulling our strings....

[Ron in Acreage]

This doesn't change the fact that Kerrys scratches were self inflicted. Just like Max Cleland blew his own limbs off with his own grenade.

[HarryCaul]

"But Thurlow's military records..."

What records, specifically? His after action report? His commendation paperwork? What, exactly, references the enemy fire? Why are we not told, exactly? Space? There was space to sneak in the source of funding for the swiftboat ad. Why do we not learn exactly what the source of the enemy fire quotation is?

If it's the citation paperwork, well....duh! That's the whole premise of the citation. That's the whole thing under dispute.

I swear, "reporters" are so transparent.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

GOODIE, GOODIE...Now lets see all the reports from all the guys that were on kerry's boat. Are they supporting him because they were in kahoots with Kerry to spin the truth in the after action reports???

[1066AD]

For much of the episode, Kerry was not in a position to know firsthand what was happening on Thurlow's boat, as Kerry's boat had sped down the river after the mine exploded under another boat. He later returned to provide assistance to the stricken boat.

This is getting to be fun.. so Kerry did indeed speed away - and was it his acceleration that caused Rasmussen to fall overboard as some have said ?

[rolling_stone]

my guess is kerry or Rassman covered their butts by writting up Thurlow...

here is an interesting article someone might want to post if it hasn't been posted already:

http://www.rmf.net/cockburn07292004.html

Kerry's first mission as part of the Phoenix program was to ferry a Provincial Reconnaissance Unit of South Vietnamese soldiers, which would have been led by either a Green Beret or CIA officer. After off-loading the unit Kerry hid his Swift boat in a mangrove backwater. Two hours later a red flare told them that the PRU wanted an emergency "extraction". Kerry's boat picked up the PRU team, plus two prisoners. The leader of the PRU team told Kerry that while they were kidnapping the two villagers (one of them a young woman) from their hut, they'd seen four people in a sampan and promptly killed them. The two prisoners were "body-snatched" as part of a regular schedule of such seizures in the victims would be taken to An Thoi for interrogation and torture.

[Texasforever]

As I understand it doesn't both the silver and bronze star medal also attach a "V" for valor if it was awarded for being under fire at the time? I haven't seen the "V" mentioned for either of Kerry's medals.

[DaveMSmith]

I have had the same feeling.. since Jan 04.

I trust it's God.

[CedarDave]

Just like Max Cleland blew his own limbs off with his own grenade.

Was it his own grenade, or one dropped accidently by another soldier from a helo as Cleland was going on a beer run?

[NutCrackerBoy]

Amazon shipped UFC to me today by UPS
5-9 business days

[NavySEAL F-16]

I have and this is one of the points that O'Neill has tried to bring out when he's been able to talk.

By the time these awards are usually handed out, commands have changed, units have changed, you're probably at a different base. Thurlow could have easily thought this particular award was from a different encounter and that dates/locale had been confused.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

I have a feeling that this is ging to get REAL nasty, in all directions, and kerry is gonna be stuck RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of it while Bush whistels down the yellow brick road.

[rolling_stone]

If it's the citation paperwork, well....duh! That's the whole premise of the citation. That's the whole thing under dispute.

Excellent point if it was in his citation the post would have said so...!!!!

[cake_crumb]

"Damn. This is definitely the biggest hit the Swifties have taken so far. More than enough to get the rest of the MSM to continue to ignore the story. Interesting that the WP went to lengths to get Thurlow's records, but fail to mention that Kerry won't release the rest of his."

I agree. Damn. Why don't they get KERRY'S records? And what about Kerry's Christmas in Cambodia hoax(es), debunked 5 ways from Sunday??