I’ve considered that as a possibility, but to me it seems more likely Tiede was repeating publicity material he got from Kerry’s campaign—it’d seem strange for a reporter to just pull the number “188” out of thin air, for one thing. Tiede’s still around, hopefully he will comment on the circumstances of the article, or other articles will surface indicating whether or not other journalists covering Kerry reported similar claims.
Author Tiede, Tom. Title(s) Calley, soldier or killer? Publisher New York, Pinnacle Books, 1971.
I try to give even a despicable, self aggrandizing, seditious, back stabbing, lying, thing like Hanoi John the benefit of the doubt, there is another possible scenario:
Hanoi John is into full “War Hero” mode while having drinks with the reporter. He’s kicked back and reminisces. The reporter is gazing at him with admiration. With every drink and every “Oh Wow” from the reporter the stories get stretched even further. His self inflicted booboo at Camrahn Bay wasn’t the result of his ignorance but the result of intense enemy action. The self inflicted wound down in the Delta caused by a few grains of rice hitting his butt become an intense enemy action. More drinks, more exclamations of awe from the reporter ...