Request help from Military FReepers: Third Wound Policy

Kerry Edwards website ^ | self

[christie]

I was updating my John F. Kerry Timeline and ran across this item on the Kerry-Edwards official web site (johnkerry.com).

John Kerry's Vietnam Service Timeline

March 17, 1969
The policy of Coastal Squadron One, the swift boat command, was to send home any individual who is wounded three times in action. After sustaining his third wound from enemy action in Vietnam, Kerry was granted relief under this policy.

Question for military freepers:

1. Is this a policy for the Navy or just the Coastal Squadrom One? Or just John Kerry?

2. What about the Army, Air Force, Marines, etc.

3. How many Vietnam vets were granted "relief" under this policy?

4. Kerry's website only mentions three wounds in action, not three purple hearts. Should be three purple hearts, right?

5. Where can we find the official policy or regulation?

[VietVet]

In 1969, in the 4th BN, 47th INF (part of the 2nd BDE, 9th INF DIV; the Mobile Riveine Force), any soldier receiving his 3rd Purple Heart, and/or getting within 90 days of his date to return home, was transfered out of the field (i.e. out of a line unit, or combat MOS) to an administrative job back at the Base Camp.

From my observation, this was necessary. When a soldier had been wounded 3 times, he became ... shall we say, very nervous. Sometimes took to drinking too much to calm down. Often was at least partially incapacitated due to his injuries.

The same thing was often true of men who had less than 3 months left to serve. We called this condition the "Double-Digit Fidgets." Caused men to do things such as wear their frag vest all the time, even sleep in it.

VietVet

[christie]

Your comments make sense. Thank you.

Sadly, Kerry seems to have trivialized the purple heart. Self-applying for medals for for self-inflicted scratches and spending the rest of his life claiming to be a hero . . . what can I say.

Four days, four months . . . must seem like an eternity when you are at war.

But those on the left who claim they want our soldiers home aren't concerned about "our soldiers." They want America to look bad. The hate America first crowd.

Thank you for your service.

[Kitanis]

Remember Everyone

Policies during that era can be much much different than today.

Many of the old WW II and Vietnam era policies are now gone or changed so much that todays military would never know what use to happen

[Qatar-6]

Christie

Not a Nam vet, currently active Army

There was a 3 wound policy

However the way Kerry used it was beyond the pale

What is far more interesting is the supposed Silver Star "with V device". That appears on the records Kerry has released.

Only the Bronze Star has a V device. Because the Bronze star can also be awarded for meritorious service

The V device on the Bronze star differentiates an award for a specific act of bravery from an award for meritorious service over a longer period

The Silver Star is for "Gallantry in action"

As such, every award of the SS is for an individual act of gallantry - no V decice is awarded.

Any awards clerk would know this

Makes you wonder who posted that in the records

All the best

Qatar-6

[Diver Dave]

I shared this info on another thread the other day, but here goes...

We had a Hospitalman 3rd Class (a Navy Corpsman) transferred to our ship after he had been wounded three times and receiving 3 Purple Heart Awards.

His wounds included gunshot wound, shrapnel wound, and the third from stepping on a punji stick while on patrol with a Fleet Marine Force unit.

Going on the theory of him pretty much using up his "luck" he was transferred to our ship - a Destroyer Tender. Our ship was moored in Subic Bay and Kaoshiung, Taiwan during our overseas deployments and the ships of the fleet came to our location for repairs, supplies and R&R periods.

Servicing the fleet was also part of the war effort. This situation took place in 66-67.

[Robert A Cook PE]

I have heard of this policy ONLY being used for ONE PERSON (John Kerry) at the specific suggestion of his fellow commanders in the Swift boat squadron.

In other words, NO OTHER (able-bodied) VIETNAM VET has EVER claimed that he was shipped home because of 3 Purple Hearts!

In other words, Kerry got out of Vietnam BECAUSE his fellow skippers (the Swifties he is now cursing!) deliberately conspired with his CO to get him as far away from the combat zone as possible as fast as possible!

I've looked up the Navy Reg involved as far back as I can, and I've NEVER found that clause in writing.

My opinion, it was an SouthEast Asian "urban legend" that the Swifties used to conn John Kerry into a way home. And his CO cooperated with the scam, because Kerry was spectacularly failing in the combat zone, and was becoming an increasing embarressment to his command, and to entire command in Vietnam with his constant complaints to higher staff - especially after several face-to-face meetings with Gen Abrams and Adm Zumwalt in Saigon.

[neverdem]

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=3539

[leadpenny]

Two full tours in Nam - no Purple Hearts. If it was a policy in the Army, I never heard about it.

[leadpenny]

I work with a retired Sub Skipper and he would agree with you. I just talked to him the other day about it and if I didn't know better I'd think you were he.

[christie]

Thanks all. I kind of had a suspicion that Kerry got special treatment, but more to get rid of him than because of his connections.

I pray for this country because if this person becomes our commander-in-chief . . . well, you all know. It's spitball defense.