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tiptie · Lt.Jg. Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Colorado

This may have been covered in another thread. It is just possible that Jim Rassmann is just confused about the direction of the gunfire?

Thurlow said:

hanna · Rear Admiral Joined: 07 Aug 2004 Posts: 701

If there was all this "hostile" gunfire Kerry claims, why was no one shot?

LewWaters · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:37 am Post subject:

Until I see otherwise about Rassman, I'm giving him the benefit of doubt. By his words, he dove to the bottom and couldn't see what was happening. However, his claim of a second mine going off throwing him off Kerry's boat seems suspect, since everyone else said there was only one mine.

Let's keep in mind, though, we aren't here to attack Rassman. He did serve honorably and was not a crewmember of Kerry's. Let's keep our main focus on Kerry.
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ASPB · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:40 am Post subject:

Lew,

Rassman should not be attacked for what he did then but he damn well should be be attacked for the changing and shifting stories in the last 6 months.

Tom
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On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

Curt · Lt.Jg. Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 129 Location: Eastern NC

The only hard thing about that Lew, is that Rassman has made himself a target. I truly understand what you are saying, but the likely hood of him not taking any hits in this is unrealistic. I think Rassman is a good person, but I dont understand how he can stand beside Kerry. Unless there is some future promises or that he is already on the payroll. I am not trying to be disrespectful by this, just honest.

Curt

cipher · Vice Admiral Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 902

It's possible, however, according to several of his accounts, he was underwater to avoid getting run over, and he was in the water for the longest period of time, being the last one picked up after the -3 boat was disabled.

And the boats were ALL there for about an hour and a half, rigging the -3 boat for towing and such. It's possible Rassman was confused, or scared, or shocky from the blast.

It's not about Rassman, it never has been. He's just one of the guys who happened to be there when the mine went off and he ended up in the water and pulled out by Kerry.

Rassman did put Kerry in for the Silver Star, but the recommendation was downgraded. There's a lot of controversy about just what happened when, and who was where. Which is why the eyewitness testimony of SO MANY others that were there at the time is so important. NO ONE else can recall any incoming fire, and none of the damage reports record any bullet holes for that action.

If you go prowl the Research & Resources section, you can read much more about what happened.

Welcome aboad, tiptie (any relation to the eBay "supersniper" by the same name?)
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llano · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:49 am Post subject:

This is the same Rassman who said he was the only one in the water. Totally not true.
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LewWaters · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:50 am Post subject:

The left would love to see us attacking Rassman, who may have performed real heroics there. DU is constantly looking here for ammunition for Kerry to use as well as for themselves.

Rassman is in the public eye and his story can be questioned, however, going after him instead of Kerry just works against the Swiftvets.

We don't like the way the left went after Thurlow, understandably. Tit for tat isn't going to expose Kerry, unless we stumble across something definte.

Rassman isn't off limits, but we don't need to deflect attention to him and away from Kerry.
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producehawk · PO1 Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 463

He still knows how kerry got wounded that day with the grenade in the rice. So on some level he is not telling the truth. However, I could cut him some slack on not knowing where the gunfire was coming from. Kerry probably told him it was the enemy and he bought it.

Curt · Lt.Jg. Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 129 Location: Eastern NC

No problem with that Lew and I can respect it.

Curt

tiptie · Lt.Jg. Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Colorado

cipher................Same person.

OT........Supersniper is me........
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ASPB · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 1:01 am Post subject:

Wing Wiper · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 1:23 am Post subject:

Rassman had exactly how much time on Swiftboats? Being Army SF, I doubt it was much. Kerry pulls him out of the water, tells him he went over from a "mine blast" instead of "when I went full-throttle", he might honestly still buy that.
First time he came up for air, there's a hailstorm of fire from the boats, brush and dirt flying on both banks, he's eye-level with the water, dives back down for cover. He's not a credible witness to most of what happened due to his position, but he may actually believe a lot of what he's saying.
He should admit he couldn't see much publically before he ends up getting roasted along with Kerry. That would take a lot of guts at this point. Just my thoughts.

cipher · Vice Admiral Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 902

Bostonian · Seaman Apprentice Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 81

I think Rassman is entirely sincere, and there's no reason to go after the guy.

It makes sense that he would mistake the suppression fire for hostile fire. And that's the story he's believed for a long time. He wasn't around afterwards to compare notes with the other sailors. And Kerry did pull him out of the water, for which he was glad & grateful.

Someone else would have pulled him out, but he's grateful to the guy who did.

And again, after hearing the suppression fire, he thought he was in a lot more danger than he probably actually was, and I'm sure it left a deep impression on him.

But if he has any doubts about it now, he's got nowhere to go. Leave the guy out of it, that's what I say.