[MJY1288]

I'm watching the rerun of Special report and they showed one of John Kerry's crew mates answering a question about this story. He said that Kerry's boat did leave the other boats and when they returned all the boats were firing everything they could at both shores, but he said NOTHING about taking fire. I am no expert at the S.O.P. for the kind of situation the Swift Boats were in, but it makes sense that they would lay down suppression fire 360 degrees around the crippled boat?

This could be why Rassman insist they were under fire. If I was in the water after striking a mine and suppression fire was being laid down from several other Swift Boats, I would swear to it too :-)

I will see if I can find the transcript of what the Kerry crew member said and post it!

[Texasforever]

I have been searching for a statement from Rassman where he said that he was actually hung up in the boat rigging and upside down when Kerry pulled him aboard.

[Steven W.]

Boats were in, but it makes sense that they would lay down suppression fire 360 degrees around the crippled boat

This is what the SwiftVets have said - after the PCF-3 boat hit a mine the two boats which stayed laid down a lot of fire as standard operating procedure. They received no return fire. After things calmed down Kerry came back. Rassman, by his own admission, repeatedly stayed under the water. All he knew is that men (on the two remaining boats) were firing.

[NavySEAL F-16]

they returned all the boats were firing everything they could at both shores, but he said NOTHING about taking fire.

This is backed up by:

THERE WERE NO BULLET HOLES IN SWIFT BOATS!