KERRY BACKTRACKS ON PURPLE HEART

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ^ | August 24, 2004 | Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

[Nick Danger]

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

KERRY CAMPAIGN BACKTRACKS ON FIRST PURPLE HEART AWARD

Campaign Says May Have Been Self-Inflicted

Washington—In a reversal of their staunch defense of John Kerry's military service record, Kerry campaign officials were quoted by Fox News saying that it was indeed possible that John Kerry's first Purple Heart commendation was the result of an, unintentional, self-inflicted wound."

"GARRETT: And questions keep coming. For example, Kerry received a Purple Heart for wounds suffered on December 2, 1968. But in Kerry's own journal written nine days later, he writes he and his crew, quote, "hadn't been shot at yet," unquote. Kerry's campaign has said it is possible this first Purple Heart was awarded for an unintentional self-inflicted wound -- Brit." (Special Report with Brit Hume Aug.23, 2004)

A recent television ad from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth featured Doctor Lewis Letson who treated Kerry for his minor injury and Grant Hibbard who served as John Kerry's direct commander on the mission where he claimed his medal. Both men say Kerry did not deserve the medal given the fact that Kerry received a very minor wound requiring no more than band-aid treatment and because the wound was not a direct result of hostile fire, a requirement for a Purple Heart commendation.

"When Grant Hibbard and Doctor Letson appeared in our ad, they were attacked and vilified by the Kerry campaign but now we see news reports saying the Kerry campaign is now sheepishly acknowledging that what we said was true," said Admiral Hoffmann, founder of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. "John Kerry's own journal reinforces the fact that neither Kerry nor his crew had seen hostile enemy action. John Kerry's first Purple Heart medal is based on fiction."

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is calling on the Kerry campaign to apologize to Grant Hibbard and Doctor Letson as the men did nothing more than come forward to speak the truth about the situation involving John Kerry's first Purple Heart medal.

This is not the only incident in which Kerry campaign officials have changed their story concerning Kerry's prestigious war medals. The incident on the Bay Hap River in which Kerry received his third Purple Heart and Bronze Star has also been the subject of considerable waffling by Kerry officials. 

During the Democratic National Convention, Kerry used the Bay Hap River incident to suggest that he alone returned to rescue Jim Rassmann—a Special Forces solider—who was on Kerry's boat and was tossed into the river.  Kerry described this incident to the American people as "No man left behind."

However Kerry officials were forced to acknowledge that Kerry's boat actually left the scene when another swift boat—operating on the other side of the river—was damaged by an underwater mine.  Kerry officials now admit that Kerry's boat returned after several minutes to pull Rassmann from the water while three other swift boats remained on site to render assistance to the injured crew of the one damaged boat.  Campaign officials once claimed that Kerry returned to the scene under withering hostile fire to rescue Rassmann after all the other swift boats left.  But other accounts from eyewitnesses of that day confirm that the other boats stayed on site and that Kerry returned to the scene, facing no enemy fire, only seconds before another swift boat was preparing to retrieve Mr. Rassmann from the water.

"John Kerry's stories are falling apart," added Hoffmann. His statements don't even match up with his own journal entries.  We are going to continue telling the truth about John Kerry's military service record so that the American people can make their own decisions about John Kerry's qualifications to be the next Commander in Chief."

Direct media inquiries to media@swiftvets.com

[RottiBiz]

From p.36 "Unfit For Command" (First Purple Heart).

"The truth is that at the time of this incident Kerry was an officer in command (OinC) under training, aboard the skimmer using the call sign 'Robin' on the operation, with now-Rear Admiral William Schachte using the call sign 'Batman,' who was also on the skimmer. After Kerry's M-16 jammed, Kerry picked up an M-79 grenade launcher and fired a grenade too close, causing a tiny piece of shrapnel (one to two centimeters) to barely stick in his arm. Schachte berated Kerry for almost putting someone's eye out. There was no hostile fire of any kind, nor did Kerry on the way back mention to PCF OinC Mike Voss, who commanded the PCF that had towed the skimmer, that he was wounded. There was no report of any hostile fire that day (as would be required), nor do the records at Cam Ranh Bay reveal any such hostile fire. No other records reflect any hostile fire. There is also no casualty report, as would have been required had there actually been a casualty."

[dennisw]

And Kerry is shooting off his mouth today about telling the truth. This guy really needs an intervention by someone in the mental health community.

He's doing what worked great for him in liberal Massachusetts. If it doesn't fly in the United States that's his tuff luck. The guy has always been an arrogant a$$hole, a wise guy, a loner, a loose cannon, a freelancer, his fellow Vietnam Swifties had his number. That's why they've gone public this year

[USA_Soccer]

Bump

[BIGLOOK]

Forget the boat. US Navy assets were wasted during his time in VN and any such assignment of assets under Kerry's charge would compound the previous error. Kerry should patrol using his own beach toys; his boogie board, surf board or his ski-doo. And his rank should be displayed prominently by that daisy ding-a-ling he wore while campaigning. As to armor...well he'll have reconsider his Senate vote.

[arglebarglewastestime]

From your lips to God's ears. Nevertheless, it likely won't happen, and we can take nothing for granted. Bill Clinton said and did similar things, e.g., draft dodging, protesting the Vietnam War, etc. and was elected twice. It will be necessary to work very hard to defeat Kerry. Focus on that.

[jimboster]

I haven't seen this anywhere else- not even on the Fox site. Has anyone actually seen this reported anywhere?

[eccentric]

When I saw the pic, I was expecting sKerry's face in The Scream.

[eccentric]

Schachte berated Kerry for almost putting someone's eye out.

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

[blackie]

"Kerry Lied and Good Men Died!"

[blackie]

Roger that ~ Bump!

[Libloather]

In a reversal of their staunch defense of John Kerry's military service record...

Where can it go from here? Only two Purple Hearts DOESN'T get you out of combat early. He goes to Paris and meets with the commies - while still in the Navy? False testimony in front of a Senate panel? Are there time limitations on these charges?

Protesting the protester is fun...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Iraq Prisoner Scandal BACK in the news on FOX
More "bad news" from Iraq
Then Kerry attacks on Bush

NO MENTION OF THIS AT ALL

If this was Bush all hell would break loose.

[Cboldt]

*bump*

The press seems to overlook the simple facts set out by the Swiftees.

[sharktrager]

Please un-ping me.

thanks

[JLO]

Ya Meek, that photo says a 1,000 words. Guess folks who couldn't picture that scenario in their mind's eye should see something like this.

[MeekOneGOP]

If this was Bush all hell would break loose.

Oh, yeah. No doubt about that !

Click here to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

[Liz]

Surprisingly, ABC-TV report said Kerry can't walk away from the SBV charges since he's made his Viet service the centerpiece of his campaign...............

In other words, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

[Burlem]

Chris Matthews called Michelle Maulkin and John O'Neill liars regarding the self inflicted wound, now that Kerry admits it, when will Mathews apologize? hint: I won't hold my breath

[AHerald]

If this was Bush all hell would break loose.

I don't think it'd be an overstatement to say that if this was Bush there'd be calls for him to resign.

[Cboldt]

I sent O'Reilly an email today suggesting that, if he was the great investigative reporter he made himself out to be, he would take the time to check the facts instead of give Kerry a free ride.

In O'Reilly's mind, by expressing that in an e-mail, he considers YOU to be a right-wing kook.