When they attack Kerry's service, they bring up the Purple Hearts

[Walt Starr]

The perfect counter is ALWAYS to bring up the Silver Star.

Here's some information about the Silver Star:

THE SILVER STAR


The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant a Medal of Honor or Navy Cross


(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.


The heroic act(s) performed must render the individual conspicious and well above the standard expected. Any accumulation of minor actions of heroism normally does not justify the award, but unusual or exception cases will be decided on their merits.

This thing is not given out unless it is verified. Kerry is a war hero. Trying to lessen that because his opponent went AWOL is a tragedy.

The Clinton campaign did nothing to belittle the service of Bob Dole. Dole was also a hero and the Clinton campaign never tried to diminish that fact.

The question to ask somebody when they start going about Kerry's service is to ask them, "Why do you hate war heroes?"

[gauguin57]

1. And you can also counter by saying

GEORGE W. BUSH HID UNDER HIS MOMMY'S SKIRT during Vietnam ... with his daddy getting Georgie (a C-student lame-ass) to the top of the list to get into the Texas National Guard "champagne unit" -- and then didn't even show up for part of his service.

How dare all those Republican chickenhawks even QUESTION Kerry's service. How DARE they?

[LuminousX]

18. For better to counter without mentioning Bush

Kerry can stand on his own, he does not need to use Bush as a foil.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. Maybe these assholes would like to review every Purple Heart

awarded to our veterans of the Iraq war.

Perhaps they only "support the troops" that meet THEIR criteria of meritorious service.

These "people" are subhuman hypocrits....I can't WAIT for someone to bring up that argument to me on a night out.

[Jack from Charlotte]

8. Do you award the Purple Heart to yourself?

That's the answer for all these unpatriotic, moronic attacks.

Don't like the circumstances re one of Kerry's 3 Purple Hearts? Go bitch at the guy who awarded it to Kerry. Find the Navy CO who made the decision to make the award.

Kerry didn't award it to himself.

[JohnLocke]

3. And only the FIRST Purple Heart.

They never mention the second and third Purple Heart or his Bronze and Silver Stars.

[JohnKleeb]

5. they seem to believe you just get a purple heart

Youre offered one, Kerry chose to accept it.

[JohnKleeb]

4. Its third to the medal of honor I believe

Theres the distinghised service cross then the silver star, and above the former is the congressional medal of honor. Also, I cant think of a single republican who has won a CMOH, I know two democrats, Dan Inoyve and Bob Kerrey. I agree with what youre saying here totally. We got a lot more medal than they do actually.

[sandnsea]

6. And Bronze Star

I think a Bronze Star anyway. He won a medal for turning the boat onto the bank and also pulling Rassmann out of the river. The campaign should just focus on the other medals.

[Jack from Charlotte]

11. Kerry won both the Bronze and the Silver........

Stars in 2 different actions..... One was the case where one of the guys on board was knocked off when a mine exploded under the boat. Jim Rassmann was the sailor who was knocked underwater.The boat was under fire from both banks and Kerry was wounded. The only way for Rasmannn to be saved was if his skipper, Kerry, turned the boat around and went back in to the fire and mine filled water, reached down with his bloody arm and pulled Rasmannn in.

The Silver Star was awarded when Kerry's boat was attacked by a VC on shore with a missile launcher. Had the boat taken off Kerry knew they'd have been a sitting duck for the VC to blow the boat up. Kerry beached the boat, grabbed a gun, ran onto the shore and killed the VC with the missile launcher.

Sort of John Wayne stuff except, of course, John Wayne was a draft dodger who George W. Bushed himself out of WWII.

[kentuck]

7. And commanding one of those boats on the Mekong River.....

you were a target at all times. You could be shot at from either bank. You could get shot 3 times in one day if you weren't careful... It's not unusual to get wounds in that type of environment. There was a procedure that had to be followed to get a Purple Heart...someone had to put in the paperwork and it had to be approved by your commanding officer. You did not get to request and approve your own Purple Hearts. And the Silver Star is second only to the Medal of Honor for gallantry in combat...

[arbusto_baboso]

9. Actually, the Navy Cross is 2nd...

in the Navy's "Pyramid of Honor". Silver Star is 3rd.

That said, there aren't too many Silver Star awardees just kickin' around everywhere. You have to do something noteworthy to be considered for one.

[kentuck]

10. Thanks, I did not know that...

Being an Army man, I knew that the Silver Star was second to the Medal of Honor....

[JohnKleeb]

12. I thought the army's second was the distinguished service cross

Thanks too, I am just simply amazed at his record in this,

[arbusto_baboso]

13. I hate to be the "Correction Weenie" but

The Army's Distinguished Service Cross actually stands between the CMH and Silver Star in precedence.

I was Army myself, actually.

When did you serve?

[skygazer]

17. yet another "correction weenie"

Technically, it's not the "Congressional Medal of Honor" - it's simply the "Medal of Honor". It was instituted by and act of Congress which is why it's often called that.

Thank you for your service. :)

[arbusto_baboso]

19. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know

but years of habit are hard to break.

[kentuck]

20. I did not know what I had "known" for all these years?

:)

[arbusto_baboso]

23. No, biggee, Kentuck...

Our military now issues more damn decorations and service medals than the old British Empire or Soviet Union.

I was in two small skirmishes (comparatively speaking) in Panama and Desert Storm, but I've got more damn gongs on my Class A's than my grandfather, who slogged throgh North Africa, Italy and France for almost 3 years.

Hell, did you know the Army now has a ribbon it awards for passing basic?:wtf: That kind of thing devalues the whole concept of awards, in my opinion.

[Jack from Charlotte]

14. My Father-in-law won The Silver Star in VN and...........

what he did pales in comparison to either Kerry's Bronze Star or Silver Star. My Fater-in-law was a bird Col., however and from what I've heard high up officers got awards a lot easier than the other guys.

I've got the actual citations on Kerry somewhere around here. Maybe I should retype them and get them out on this board.

[Jack from Charlotte]

16. My Father-in-law won The Silver Star in VN and...........

what he did pales in comparison to either Kerry's Bronze Star or Silver Star. My Fater-in-law was a bird Col., however and from what I've heard high up officers got awards a lot easier than the other guys.

I've got the actual citations on Kerry somewhere around here. Maybe I should retype them and get them out on this board.

[Joanne98]

15. Some guy called in C_SPAN the other morning and said

"In Vietnam we has some guys who would go after medals as a way to get out (three purple hearts rule) and we called them" MEDAL FISHERS". Expect to hear this talking point again. Kerry got himself wounded on purpose to get out of the war. There's no difference between AWOL Bush and Purple Heart Kerry. They both did what they could to get out of Vietnam. Talk about a twisted concept. If they start this "medal fishers" crap we need to say,"You are insulting all veterans who got medals for heroism".

[w4rma]

21. Someone should have called up CSpan and responded to that caller. (nt)

[Jack from Charlotte]

24. Let me get this straight..........

Kerry was safely assinged to a ship that was off the coast of VN. He volunteered for Swift Boat Duty. Was sent to Swift Boat school and then to The Mekong Delta. What next? He then became afraid and decided he'd get out by getting some dumb CO to award him 3 Purple Hearts?

Only the TV networks would buy that BS.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Moreover, What Kind of Low Life. . .

. . .questions a war hero's credentials because he wasn't SHOT BADLY ENOUGH???

He didn't get the PH for a hangnail! He got SHOT! What, it doesn't count unless the bullet takes a major organ?

You have to be lower than low, and dumber than a rock to question whether someone who got 5 combat medals did enough to deserve them.

He was there, bullets were flying, and at least one hit the guy! Even questioning it is slimy.
The Professor

[FredScuttle]

22. I say "If a Purple Heart is so easy to get,"

"there's the recruiting office...why don't you get your ass shipped overseas and show me how easy it is to be wounded in combat"

[fob]

26. See post #24 - Remind them this all happened during Kerry's SECOND tour

freeper-type - "Kerry's purple heart blah blah blah..."
DUer response, "Oh you mean the ones he earned during his SECOND tour of duty along with the Bronze and Silver Star Medals" What did your boy earn during his SECOND tour of duty? What!?! He didn't even have a first tour? Cheney off then, busch*bag!