John Kerry's military decorations.

**techs** · July 27th, 2004, 04:53 PM

Just to set the record straight here are links to Kerrys actual service records.
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_...y_records.html

Here's a link to the After-action combat reports.
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_...t_reports.html

And since the reports are photocopies put in pdf form and the text is too long to hand type here's a limited summary:

Silver Star: The Silver Star citation makes clear that Kerry's wartime service was both extraordinary and risky. "With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets," the Kerry's silver star citation says, Kerry "again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only 10 feet from the Viet Cong rocket position and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. ... The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lt. Kerry in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission."

Bronze Star V: "The man was receiving sniper fire from both banks," according to Kerry's Bronze Star citation. "Lt. Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain (purple heart #3), with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard [a Green Beret who is identified only as "Rassman."]. Lt. Kerry then directed his boat to return and assist the other damaged craft and towed the boat to safety. Lt. Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service," Zumwalt's citation said.

Purple Heart #1: On Dec. 2, 1968, Kerry took a risky covert mission in which he essentially was supposed to "flush out" the enemy, using a little Boston Whaler named "Batman." The Batman crew encountered some Viet Cong, engaged in a firefight, and Kerry was wounded on his arm, earning his first Purple Heart.

Purple Heart #2: On Feb. 20, 1969, Kerry earned his second Purple Heart after sustaining a shrapnel wound in his left thigh.

Purple Heart #3: On March 13, 1969, a mine detonated near Kerry's boat, wounding Kerry in the right arm, according to the citation written by Zumwalt. Guerrillas started firing on the boats from the shoreline. Kerry then realized that he had lost overboard a Green Beret who is identified only as "Rassman

And what did you do in the National Guard President Bush?
I flew fighter jets. I had fun. (actual Bush quote)

**Zil** · July 27th, 2004, 05:25 PM

So let me ask you this:

Did you vote for Bob Dole in 1996?

**techs** · July 27th, 2004, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Zil

So let me ask you this:

Did you vote for Bob Dole in 1996?

No.
You may have noticed that the times I have referred to Sen. Dole it has always been with respect. Dole was a man worthy of respect. Not because he served in the military. He deserved respect because he showed respect. He never used the fact Clinton avoided service in VietNam as a tool to show he was not capable of being commander in chief. Dole ran a great campaign. He is a decent man.
My anger and the anger of many has been the Bush campaign going to great lengths to show respect for the troops and equating that with patriotism and the Republican party and his policies. At the same time he has ran a smear campaign against Kerry.
My anger has been that Bush has used the most deceitful methods of campaigning. Bush should have said "Senator Kerry is a true American hero on the battlefield. I believe I am the better politician for this country." Bush has been criticized for never admitting a mistake. This part of his character has led him and his minions to go to ANY length to destroy anyone who suggests otherwise.
During a time when troops are fighting and dying in Iraq the slanderous campaign against Kerry's war record is incredibly stupid, incredibly callous and incredibly divisive.
The fact that after six months of the most intensive scrutiny anyone could have that Kerry should even have to mention his record is the result of the continuing Bush smears. And the slander continues against him.
Ergo this post.

**imaeditedbysowulo** · July 27th, 2004, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by techs

Bush has been criticized for never admitting a mistake. This part of his character has led him and his minions to go to ANY length to destroy anyone who suggests otherwise.

Interesting choice of words.

**jaeger** · July 27th, 2004, 05:52 PM

Three wounds resulting in a total of two days off duty gets you a flight home from Vietnam... Lets not pretend either of em didn't use their connections to get off. Kerry just had crappier connections. He did earn his Silver and Bronze Stars, but do you really think the same youthful aggressiveness that an early twenties junior officer displayed in battle still makes up a critical portion of a fifty something career politician?

Hell, our last president was an actual draft dodger who didn't even bother with National Guard service. Too much hypocrisy on both sides. Republicans that were pissed about Clinton but aren't saying a damned thing about Bush and Democrats that couldn't care less about Clinton but use Bush's National Guard term as a mallet.

My bottom line: It was a dumbass war to get involved in mainly because the South Vietnamese were never truly united against the North. Once we did get into it, it was truly dumbass for politicians to maintain tight control. I would have felt justified in doing my damnedest to avoid Vietnam just because of the political control of the war.

**techs** · July 27th, 2004, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by jaeger

Three wounds resulting in a total of two days off duty gets you a flight home from Vietnam... Lets not pretend either of em didn't use their connections to get off. Kerry just had crappier connections. He did earn his Silver and Bronze Stars, but do you really think the same youthful aggressiveness that an early twenties junior officer displayed in battle still makes up a critical portion of a fifty something career politician?

Hell, our last president was an actual draft dodger who didn't even bother with National Guard service. Too much hypocrisy on both sides. Republicans that were pissed about Clinton but aren't saying a damned thing about Bush and Democrats that couldn't care less about Clinton but use Bush's National Guard term as a mallet.

My bottom line: It was a dumbass war to get involved in mainly because the South Vietnamese were never truly united against the North. Once we did get into it, it was truly dumbass for politicians to maintain tight control. I would have felt justified in doing my damnedest to avoid Vietnam just because of the political control of the war.

Kerry could have stayed home just as easy as Bush. He could have gotten a college deferrment like Cheney.
And because he took off only a couple of days could have been his desire to stay in the fight. Hey, shrapnel is shrapnel. He only got it because he was on the front lines.
Now your other point about whether a guy of twenty, etc. is right on the money. It agrees with my point about why Bush didn't just say "Senator Kerry is a true American hero on the battlefield. I believe I am the better politician for this country."
And that is why I said to orchestrate this smear campaign was "incredibly stupid, incredibly callous and incredibly divisive."
And that is what I think is wrong about Bush.

**WebHead** · July 27th, 2004, 06:05 PM

In less than 100 days I will vote to send John Kerry to the white house to work as president of the United States.

**techs** · July 27th, 2004, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by WebHead

In less than 100 days I will vote to send John Kerry to the white house to work as president of the United States.

"With great power, must also come great responsibility" - Uncle Ben

**silencio** · July 28th, 2004, 01:53 PM

I honestly can't make up my mind which group of people is more dangerous to the future of this country: (a) Islamic jihadist terrorists; or, (b) people who intend to vote for The Poodle for president. - Neal Boortz

**JaxSon** · July 28th, 2004, 02:19 PM

John Kerry --- War Hero?
What Vietnam Combat Vets (Really) Think About John Kerry

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry

Kerry's betrayal of American prisoners of war, his blatant disrespect for the families of our missing in action, Vietnam veterans, the military, his support for communist Vietnam and his waffling over the issue of use of force in Iraq proves he is a self promoting Chameleon Senator who cannot be relied on to protect the best interests of the United States.

Hanoi Hilton Tortuerers Cited Kerry's Speech

A former Vietnam POW is alleging that his Hanoi captors specifically cited Sen. John Kerry's 1971 anti-war testimony to Congress as they brutally tortured him to get him to turn on his fellow GIs.

Stop Hanoi John Kerry

As of May 17, 220 of the 229 Swift boat veterans contacted by the group have agreed to sign an open letter to Senator John F. Kerry that challenges his fitness to serve as America's Commander-in-Chief. Signers of the letter include the entire chain of command above Lt. John Kerry in Vietnam: Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard, Lt. Commander George Elliott, Captain Charles Plumly, Captain Adrian Lonsdale USCG, and Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman.

**techs** · July 28th, 2004, 02:31 PM

Yes, I post links to actual service records and JaxSon posts link to mentally disturbed hate sites.
Once again proving that the Bushies have NO respect for our service men and women. They are disposable heroes to people like JaxSon.
If you disagree with JaxSons policies he'd call Audio Murphy a coward.
Tune in tonite WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH HIM IN VIETNAM TELL THEIR STORIES. Bush can smear Kerry but he can't stop the truth.

**JaxSon** · July 28th, 2004, 02:40 PM

How about the mentally disturbed hate sites in your stupid signature?

HUH?!?

**techs** · July 28th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Ya-Know had the fairness to read the military citations and after action reports.
You quote not one person who was there nor one of the actual citations he was given my the military.
Just hope that the military doesn't wake up and see that Bushies will smear heroes without the slighest remorse.

**techs** · July 28th, 2004, 03:08 PM

And let me add.
If you want to stay alive who do you think it would be better to lead you into battle:
Bush or Kerry.
The answer:
Bush.
because Kerry would actually fight.
And Bush might forget to show up.

**Titchski** · July 28th, 2004, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by techs

And let me add.
If you want to stay alive who do you think it would be better to lead you into battle:
Bush or Kerry.
The answer:
Bush.
because Kerry would actually fight.
And Bush might forget to show up.

Neither of them. They've both got too much money to risk going themselves, so they'd probably outsource the role of whoever it is leading us into battle. Therefore, we'd end up with Apu from the SImpsons as our leader.

Vote APU in November, you know it makes sense

Cheers