Posted on 09/13/2004 9:08:15 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
The spot report for John Kerry's Silver Star action has resurfaced at Bandit's Hideout, and it affirms the story told by the Swiftvets while contradicting the later two versions of his citation. Bandit, who has done yeoman work on Kerry's Viet Nam narrative, has posted scans of the two-page document from Newscentral.tv.
Fox News reports that this spot-action report was written by Kerry himself, ironically, since it supports the Swiftvet version of events for the engagement. I've transcribed the relevant portion here:
...While troops conducted sweep, PCF 94 and 23 movefauimkiver [sic] towards area from which Army advisor reported gunshots. PCF 43 remained at original ambush site to provide support for troops. PCF 94 and 23 proceeded to VQ 984831 and then turned to return to PCF 43 location. At VQ 984830 a B-40 rocket exploded in water close aboard PCF 94 blowing out window frame. Both units received heavy small arms fire and OTC aga [sic] called units to turn into fire and charge ambush site. PCF 43 was [redact] and moved immediately to assist. PCF 94 beached in center of ambush in front of small path when VC sprung [sic] up from bunker 10 feet from unit. Man ran with weapon towards hootch. Forward M-60 gunner wounded man in leg. OinC [Kerry] jumped ashore and gave pursuit while other units saturated area with fire and beached placing assault parties ashore. OinC of PCF 94 chased VC inland behind hootch and shot him while he fled capturing one B-40 rocket launcher with round in chamber. ... [description of other units' actions]
While PCF 43 provide [sic] mortar support, PCF 94 and 23 assault parties reconned to VQ 985835 where 3 VC where [sic] observed running from them out of firing range. Assault party could not five pursuit [sic] due to proximity of mortar rounds passing overhead.
Compare this narrative, written immediately after the action, with that given in the Hyland citation. The latter describes conditions that are non-existent in the spot report. For instance, the "numerically superior forces" description doesn't gibe with the information on the first page, which states that each PCF had 30 RFPF troops aboard. They disembarked at VQ984831 and PCF 43 stayed with them while 94 and 23 went upriver and returned to an adjacent spot (VQ984830) where they were ambushed. The only count of VC given were the one man Kerry killed, 3 KIA from an earlier ambush (which the 90 RFPF handled), and two VC who ran off out of firing range after Kerry ran behind the hootch.
This report also contradicts Kerry's contention that the VC was uninjured when he jumped off the boat and chased him down. The report makes clear that the forward gunner shot him with the M-60 in the leg before Kerry jumped out of the PCF. Despite his earlier denial, Kerry did run behind the hootch to kill the VC, out of sight of his crew.
In the Lehman citation, the dead VC behind the hootch disappears completely, although the "numerically superior forces" reappear, even though the only numbers given hardly match the contingents of the three PCFs in the area, let alone the RFPFs ashore in the adjacent area.
When you look at the action on the spot report, it reflects well on the young Lieutenant Kerry. Although it's difficult to see how this action should have resulted in a Silver Star, it would seem a commendation of some sort would be appropriate. It's all of the exaggeration, lies, and paperwork alterations after the fact that calls Kerry's character into serious question.
Do ya suppose the same arsehole typed up the Traitor's bogus Silver Star with a "V" commendation; typed up those bogus TANG memos on W...hmmmmmmmm
Ya know if a few more liberals had served in the armed services they would know how to type up something that resembles a legitimate armed service document. LMAO
bump
For my puny civilian brain, that was very taxing to read. But I don't doubt that Kerry embellished the account to aggrandized himself to the powers that be. I honor his service, but I question his capricious character.
btt
Especially the part about Sen. Harkin following immediately behind as Kerry leapt from the boat... /s
It looks like FOX, Baltimore is onto this story and has posted the document on line.
From NRO:
DEVELOPMENT ON KERRY'S NAVY DOCS [09/14 12:21 AM]
I have been informed of this site, reporting that the After Action reports for the incident that resulted in John Kerry's Silver Star from the U.S. Navy Archives and have posted it online. According to the commentary, they say that the after-action report was written by Kerry, and constitutes a key fact supporting the argument of the Swift Boat Vets for Truth.
The commentary is written by Mark Hyman, vice president for corporate relations for Sinclair, the nation’s largest operator of television stations.
Honestly, my first reaction is, one big earth-shattering story based on thirty-some year old documents at a time, folks.
And yes, the font on the After Action reports looks accurate.
important ping
You're absolutely correct Marine. These liberal pukes are out of their element when they dabble into the military affairs. I find it rather amusing that the more these arse wipes attempt to discredit the CIC's military service the more they betray themselves.
Sinclair is the company that ordered its ABC affiliates not to run the Nightline anti-war program that consisted of nothing but the names and photos of dead U.S. soldiers. They're also the company that ordered their ABC affiliates to permanently cancel "Politically Incorrect" after that jerkoff Bill Maher made his "We have been the cowards" comment right after 9/11.
If it turns out that Mark Hyman and Sinclair are responsible for breaking this story wide open, the moonbat left is going to be even more insane with rage than they would be just from the story alone!
hell yes bump/ping.......
wonder if CBS Dem's knew this and other stuff was coming and Rather gave his last effort to support them, by planting a story in the MSM to get people tired of news from 30 years ago.
just a thought.....maybe now they will swear to high heaven they are on equal footing to discredit these reports.
the MSM is not going to cover it...we net to FREEP talk shows, Drudge, and SWIFT VETS need to keep up the EXCELLent work!
just a thought...can't put anything past them.
Ok, but how do we know, aside from the reporters commentary, that these were written by Kerry?
That's really interesting detail and perhaps the reason that Jim Gerhaty of the Kerry Spot was givent the heads up. He now has an article from inside CBS, saying that morale over there is not good.
No wonder he won't sign the form!
ping
i use to be a adminer but 25 years later., can't tell anything from from block except it came a possible committee.
does anyone or know if the date matches the date swiftees have in their book (as i don't have it....I'd love to have one, especially after getting more involved with helping 'da man chieftain, making the swiftee decals.
no one in my backwoods carry it.)
or how does the date (remember date/n/time is in ZuLU time) match records that are Kerry's site?
just wondering
Whoa! Awesome find, dude. ;o)
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Then we have
5. SEALORDS 270
The missing page which is the first page of the 3 page message would have:
1.
2.
3.
4.
on it.
I may not be making this clear but this proves the first page of the message is missing. Why I ask?
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