The Silver Star story finally told - Kerry disobeys procedure and attacks

[Dems Will Win]

Baptism by Fire
Crew Members Recall Incident That Earned John Kerry a Silver Star
By Jake Tapper
ABCNEWS.com

June 24, 2004— Sen. John Kerry talks about his four months in Vietnam — it's a centerpiece of his presidential campaign — but there's one thing he won't talk about: the day he killed a Vietcong soldier at close range and earned a Silver Star.

"It's a key part of him," said a Kerry friend. "It was a pivotal moment in his life. But he doesn't talk about it."

Added another source close to Kerry, "it's the reason he gets so angry when his patriotism is challenged. It was a traumatic experience that's still with him, and he went through it for his country." It affects the way Kerry lives his life every day, the source said, since "he knows he very well would not be alive today had he not taken the life of another man never ever met."

-snip-

The man was still running down a path when they got to the bank. Kerry, Belodeau and Michael McDarris, in hot pursuit, saw the Vietcong soldier. Short recalled: "The guy was getting ready to stand up with a rocket on his shoulder, coming up. And Mr. Kerry took him out … he would have been about a 30-yard shot. Which, we were dead in the water up on the bank, point blank. If he missed us, he would have to, you know — there's no way he could miss us. He could've thrown a rock and taken me out."

-snip-

More: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Nightline/Politics/kerry_medal_040624.html

What does this say to you about Kerry and how he would strategize in the Osama Bin Laden capture?

[aquart]

1. You can always tell the real vets from the fake.

The real ones hate to talk about what they did.

We only found out THIS YEAR that my uncle was at Anzio.

[Lefty48197]

2. It's true. The worse they've seen, the less they talk.

That's the ugly side of war, and that's why we need a President that will only send troops off to battle when it's absolutely necessary, not to fight a family feud.

[shraby]

3. My father was at the Battle of the Bulge

I am now 61 and just finding out what he did in the war when I was about 2 years old. He would always just say that the Germans shelled by day and ran at night, or vice versa. I couldn't even find out where he was during the war. He'd just say he didn't know.

He earned a bronze star and purple heart, I know how he got the purple heart..his tank was hit and he had shrapnel in him..it's still working out of his body, but I still don't know how he got the bronze star.

[bleedingheart]

19. My dad took most of his war stories to the grave because they were

too painful.

He lived through hell with the Army in Guadalcanal and Luzon.

[snoochie]

4. It makes me sick how repubs try to act like he wasn't a 'real' soldier

I wonder if any of the pukes doing that ever saw any action themselves.



This man asked to be sent to Vietnam... he clearly risked his life. These moran pukes act like he got some scratches for his medals... how the hell can they even talk this way, when they're voting for a man pissant who had his daddy bump him ahead of other MEN who had to go serve their country in Vietnam.

They have no right. NO right.

:grr:

[rucky]

5. why do they hate America?

I hope Kerry finds the courage to talk about it, but totally understand why he won't. It seems that some people need a wake-up call to the horrors of war.

[Zorra]

6. Bu$h uses his economically privileged birth and political connections

to get out of serving in Vietnam, and is in the ANG while Kerry is getting shot at and saving his buddies.

Then Bu$h goes AWOL and is not prosecuted by the military because he is rich and politically connected.

Who would be a better Commander-in-Chief?

I'd pick the brave one.

[kaitykaity]

7. My favorite nutball conservowacko keeps calling

Kerry a war criminal.

I'm trying to understand that. A man who has seen combat
won't send kids INTO combat unless he ABSOLUTELY HAS TO.
That's man is John Kerry.

This nutjob is a veteran. I don't get how he could be so
blind.

[snoochie]

8. A veteran of which war?

What capacity did he serve in?

I really don't understand how anyone who shares the experience of having a gun or rocket or whatever pointed at you and your fellow soliders can think that way.

Then again, some people are just republican because their parents are/were, so their reaction is not one based in logic.

[kaitykaity]

9. 'Nam.

You know, I never thought to ask him that. Or if I did,
I don't remember what he said. I don't doubt him, though.
He's knows enough about the military that I know he's not
faking it.

We've been arguing since after the 2000 election. It's more
an exercise in swatting flies for me. He sends me these
book-length emails and I end up reading four sentences before
I've got something to destroy his argument and can stop
reading.

A year or so ago he told me he was bored with me and it was
goodbye, but it wasn't three months later he started in on
me again.

Who knows?

[oneighty]

13. Hmmm

"He knows enough about the military that I know he is not faking it."

Ask to see his discharge papers-his DD214.

Whole lota fakers out there. Knowledge of the military is not good enough.

180

[donco6]

14. I think most of that has to do with their hatred of Fonda

That often comes up with that particular breed of Vietnam vet (e.g., the Rolling Thunder folks).

Wouldn't matter what Kerry did - he was once within 100 yards of Jane Fonda, therefore he's a "war criminal."

[bobbieinok]

18. maybe he mixes JKerry up with Bob Kerrey

there was stuff published about Bob maybe involved in something like Mai Lai


it was not true as I recall but a BIG STORY

and I suspected at the time the story was out there to be confused with JFKerry

[kaitykaity]

20. Great point!

I'll use that on him at an opportune moment.

:)

[fishface]

10. The Swift Boat morons are trying their damndest to smear him.

The wingnutz are all over the web posting garbage from those assholes. Never thought I'd see the day when a vet would support a chickenhawk that's screwing them like the village idiot is! (Is there a smiley face that shows abject disgust?? )

[Zorra]

11. kick

[southernleftylady]

12. as my fil said "oh he never saw a battle" WTF??? kick n/t

[Dems Will Win]

15. kick

[Dems Will Win]

16. He didn't flip-flop there.

Kerry didn't go:

"Should I shoot him?

Maybe I shouldn't--he's probably a nice guy..."

No--he raised his gun and shot the guy and saved the boat!

Tell that to the next person that brings up the phony flip-flop issue!

[k in IA]

17. That is what I always think of when people say his is indecisive.