the bush administration are trying to throw dirt at senator kerry’s military record.
with that in mind i wanted to reprint this article from todays associated press. needless to say it infuriates me that bush and his administration(none of whom apart from colin powell served in combat duty)would question the military record of someone like senator kerry who served valiantly and was wounded three times in battle:
kerry’s military records show a highly praised officer by the associated press
published: april 21, 2004
washington — records of john kerry’s vietnam war service released wednesday show a highly praised naval officer with an ivy league education.
with republicans questioning his service in vietnam, the democratic candidate for president posted more than 120 pages of military records on his campaign web site. several describe him as a gutsy commander undertaking a dangerous assignment in vietnam and detail some of the actions that won three purple hearts, a bronze star and a silver star.
kerry’s most harrowing experience came during the nearly five months when he commanded a swiftboat along vietnam’s mekong delta. the future massachusetts senator was commended for gallantry, heroism and valor during the tour, which was cut short when kerry was wounded three times and sent back to the united states.
throughout his four years of active duty, kerry’s superiors gave him glowing evaluations, citing his maturity, intelligence and immaculate appearance. he was recommended for early promotion, and when he left the navy in 1970 to run for congress, his commanding officer said it was the navy’s loss.
the lowest marks kerry earned were the equivalent of average — in military bearing, reliability and initiative. but narrative comments from his commanding officers said he was diplomatic, charismatic, decisive and well liked by his men.
“”intelligent, mature and rich in educational background and experience, ens kerry is one of the finest young officers i have ever met and without question one of the most promising,”” wrote capt. allen slifer, kerry’s supervisor aboard the uss gridley, where he served his first tour in vietnam but was far removed from combat as an electrical officer.
kerry’s education included swiss boarding school, and he won speaking and debating awards and was class orator at yale university’s commencement. he lettered in varsity soccer and lacrosse, fenced, had a private pilot’s license and had experience sailing and ocean racing.
kerry traveled throughout europe in his youth and spoke fluent french and some german. his supervising officer later commended him for taking it upon himself to learn vietnamese.
kerry cited his sailing experience before the navy when he volunteered to command a swiftboat, a 50 foot-long craft that could operate at high speeds in the rough waters of vietnam’s rivers and tributaries.
some critics have questioned whether kerry’s injuries were severe enough to warrant his reassignment to the united states. the records briefly describe shrapnel wounds to his arm and thigh for the first two purple hearts, but they don’t detail the severity of the wounds.
according to a naval instruction document provided by kerry’s campaign, anyone serving in vietnam who was wounded three times, regardless of the nature of the wound or treatment required, “”will not be ordered to service in vietnam and contiguous waters.””
on feb. 28, 1969, kerry’s craft and two other boats came under heavy fire from the riverbanks. kerry ordered his units to turn into the ambush and sent men ashore to charge the enemy. according to the records, an enemy soldier holding a loaded rocket launcher sprang up within 10 feet of kerry’s boat and fled. kerry leapt ashore, ran down the man and killed him.
kerry and his men chased or killed all the enemy soldiers in the area, captured enemy weapons and then returned to the boat only to come under fire from the opposite bank as they began to pu