The River, The Mission, The Ambush

Washington Post ^ | 8-21-2004 | Thorp, Spirito, Kirkman

[XHogPilot]

The Mission, The River, The Ambush. On March 13, 1969, John F. Kerry participated in the mission that has become a centerpiece of his campaign for the presidency- and his account has been disputed by some fellow Swift boat veterans. The dispute focuses on when and how Kerry was injured on the mission, and whether the force of five Swift boats came under Vietcong fire after one was hit by a mine on the Bay Hap River. Here are the events of the mission and ambush, according to eyewitness accounts and U.S. Navy reports:

[XHogPilot]

Are there any discrepancies in this Washinton Post article? I think there is some discrepancy as to which boat Rasmussen started out on. How about the rest of Kerry's crew - Is is properly listed?

[Texasforever]

Dozens on the two other threads on the same article.

[dominic housatonic62]

Whovever they have listed in the gunners well, I believe is wrong. Should be Gardner. He said he was with kerry during kerrys entire vietnam trip.

[fire_eye]

The American voting public can be divided into two groups: those who are old enough to remember Vietnam, and those who aren't.

Those who aren't, are really, really, really, REAAAaalllly bored with Kerry for getting himself mired in something they wouldn't know how to care about even if they wanted to.

Those who are, can be divided into two groups: those who just want to forget about Vietnam, and those who don't.

Those who do, are really, really, really, REAAAaalllly peeved with Kerry for reminding them of something they just wish they could forget about.

Those who don't, can be divided into two groups: those who approve - for whatever reason or reasons - of Kerry's involvement in Vietnam, and those who don't.

Those who approve, are the only group of voters whom Kerry and the old media and everyone else (and that includes the Swift Boat veterans) are **NOT** alienating from Kerry by trying to turn the 2004 election into a referendum on Vietnam (and in the case of the Swift Boat veterans, I'm sure they're doing it deliberately, because the poisonous little toad has just delivered himself right into their hands).

Anyone care to guess on how the numbers fall out, w/r/t how many people are going "positive" on Kerry, based on the above breakdown, vs. how many are going "negative"????

Just keep it up, ketchup boy... nice move, standing up there and yelling VIETNAM VIETNAM VIETNAM VIETNAM!! over and over. Unfortunately for you, you sorry sack of schumer, you made the worst kind of enemy you could possibly have made, during and after Vietnam: American combat veterans. Then, instead of keeping your mouth shut and forcing them to go on the offensive and then just ignoring them, which *might* have allowed you to salvage your credibility with the electorate, you ran right out and started braying about your "Vietnam Service" - and ran right into the ambush. Now, your fellow veterans whom you betrayed, have got you right where they've wanted you for the last 30 years: exposed and surrounded. As the old Rumanian proverb goes, "Every bird dies by his tongue".

I'm really glad you opened your arrogant yuppie yap and screwed yourself. I love watching liberals squirming like rats, impaled on the truth.

[nopardons]

Nam is THE worst possible thing Kerry could have chosen to highlight;but he did. LOL

[Texasforever]

How many versions is Rassman going to tell on this. This is his version at the convention. Was he on Kerry's boat or not?

Spoke: Thursday, July 29
Jim Rassman

Rassman is joined by other Kerry crewmates on stage in Boston, July 29, 2004.  (Photo: AP )

Former Army Green Beret Jim Rassman joined a dozen other of John Kerry's Vietnam crewmates on the convention stage in the lead-up to the candidate's address.

Rassman told the convention he wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for Kerry. In a March 1969 ambush, Kerry led his swift boat through heavy fire on the waters of the Mekong Delta and pulled Rassman to safety after Rassman’s own swift boat was blown to pieces.

Kerry, who was wounded that day, earned a Bronze Star for valor.

Rassman, a registered Republican, called up John Kerry’s campaign before the Iowa caucuses to volunteer to help. He told delegates he'd seen Kerry's "bravery and leadership under fire," and that he would be "a great commander-in-chief

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Yeah but what else has Kerry got? Nothing.

[nopardons]

As many as it takes,obviously. He'll repeat whatever Kerry tells him to say,with as much conviction as they tell him it'll take to convince the MSM.

[rolling_stone]

notice the description on the graphic on #6 in this one it says mine detonated by vc in foxhole on the other threads it just says detonated by boat...so which is correct, or are they adding the guy in the foxhole to try and make an enemy present? Mines could be detonated by contact or remotely..but since it was the first boat through most likely by contact IMO...which description was later?

[rolling_stone]

looks like this was the first graphic on this thread...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1196266/posts


I guess they figured out it sounded better if the mine was detonated by an "enemy" in a "foxhole" ...

[XHogPilot]

Ping

Great graphic of March 13, '69 Swift boat action posted in today's Washington Post. Can you see any errors?

[Casloy]

The truth about Kerry's Vietnam experiences are important simply because the truth needs to be told. There is no doubt there are a lot of holes in his story and that he is drastically inflating or outright lying about his experiences. But, there is an equally important element. Kerry's campaign is in serious trouble. Regardless of where this story is a month from now, he has wasted valuable time and resources on this issue. Instead of attacking Bush he is defending himself. This is a total loser for Kerry no matter how this issue ends up.

[Texasforever]

See my post #6. Rasman said that he was other boat that was "blown to bits". If that is true then Kerry could not have rescued him. However; if Kerry bugged out and Rassman was actually on Kerry's boat then the second "explosion" is cover for the fact that Kerry put the pedal to the medal and threw Rassman overboard. That graphic does NOT support any of the known facts other than Kerry getting out of Dodge until he realized that there was no ambush.

[JasonC]

Bet there wasn't any "subsequent explosion" unIDed. Bet the guy who went in the drink was just walking on a narrow part of the boat on the side away from the mine explosion when it happened, and that is what sent him overboard. Kerry's arm bump, same story. As for the reports of a.w. and s.a. fire, all the crews undoubtedly fired at both banks instantly to suppress any ambush. But they may well have been the only ones firing. (Certainly there is no report anyone else was hit). As for the "remote detonation" story, it is just a guess, and simply hitting a mine is at least as likely.

[fhayek]

ping to myself for reading tomorrow

[nopardons]

Exactly and since he has only a finite amount of money to spend,the more his campaign wastes now,the less he'll have when he needs it.Oh yes,and the 527s will NOT be able to help him any,in the final 60 days...no matter WHAT they do.

[tobyhill]

This proves one thing regardless what happened to Kerry's Boat, he was running and would have kept going if not for Rassy being overboard.

[rolling_stone]

Kerry has previously said Rassman was on another boat, Rassman has said he was on Kerry's boat. The second mine was IMO cover for hightailing it..elswhere it is reported Kerry hit his own wake and slipped on shell casings on the deck falling and injuring his arm (bruise) I believe Kerry with Sandusky at the wheel took off when the first mine blew..

I want to know if Alston was on Kerrys boat..he did receive a bronze star but I don't know for what event/day.

Langhoefer who now claims to have heard enemy fire and that he saw Kerry dive in after Razma was on the PCF 43 he also received a bronze star..was it for the same incident? Does his citation say while under fire?

We know Rood received a bronze star his citation includes other action, probably from earlier in the day.


Kerry has now cast doubt on some very heroic men's actions by his own embellishment. Clearly all these men were regularly in harm's way. If it was me I would feel resntment for someone who bugged out in 4 months..then again if he got me out of there early I might feel some debtof gratitude...

[spokeshave]

How did they know that the mine was triggered from the foxhole....?

If we assume it was well set up...why wasn't another mine used in the second channel around the fishing weir...the one John F'n "flip-flop fop" Kerry took. ....?....the VC in the foxhole could have detonated them both...or even another foxhole on the other side.

[Texasforever]

Also why wasn't both mines in the fishing weir exits like the first one. Both boats would have blocked any exit out of the "ambush".