Wasn’t he on his mission for 1 or 2 years and it had always been a Mormon rite of passage, not just a made up draft dodging ploy? (No I’m not defending Mormonism). Cheney had deferments, I see no problem with legitimate ones.
I think Kerry went to Vietnam purposely to make himself into some kind of war hero for a future run for office. He had already spoke about running. When he couldn’t handle it he got out ASAP and latched on to an antiwar, lying group he led into congressional hearings.
It wasn't Mormonism I thought you were defending.