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[NavyChief]

I went back to the original post and added this to the PCF-51 timeline:

{edited} Breaking it down further into Chief's notes:

(1) 45 - 120 secs after mine detonates under PCF-3, PCF-51 takes evasive manuevers and all gunners open fire on river banks in anticipation of heavy ambush
(2) 30 - 60 secs to get to PCF-3 and jump aboard
(3) 80 - 300 secs to assess condition of 5 crew members (two were thrown overboard), and begin applying first aid to wounded
(4) 10 - 30 secs to try and shut down engines from pilot house or secondary helm position
(5) 10 - 60 secs to move to forward gunner and begin first aid
(6) 30 - 120 secs PCF-3 strikes sandbar and Thurlow is thrown from boat. Tries to recover and PCF-51 sees Thurlow in the water and comes forward to save him. Boat pulls up and gets ahold of Thurlow and pulls him into the boat.
(7) 30 - 120 secs Thurlow radios for MEDEVAC, gives situation report, describes condition of wounded crewmembers, requests Damage Control Team, giving coordinates of where all this is happening.
[8] 50 - 300 secs returns to PCF-3, administering first aid again. Makes the wounded comfortable as possible and goes below to assess damage to boat. Sees 5 inch crack in hull and a host of other problems that endanger the boat's survivability. Begins damage control procedures to save the boat.
(9) PCF-94 returns to pick up Rassmann and immediately goes to PCF-3 to assist.

Using extremely conservative times in my above, this would equate to between: 3 mins 45 secs to 18.5 minutes before Kerry shows up.

- Chief

[BMG Mike]

Chief, your work is making the press.

Chicago Sun-Times, by Thomas Lipscomb:

"Did Kerry write own report of disputed clash?"

I'd quite the article here, but it's a bit long. Read it at:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lip01.html



Stay the Course!

Mike
_________________
What's he done . . . since '71?

[ASPB]

And now the story is in the press. Is it happenstance that a certain (retired today) Navy CPO is the source of this article? Methinks the answer is yes. Contrats Chief! A big BZ

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lip01.html

Tom
_________________
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

[Tom Poole]

Hey Chief, I'm still catching up on what I missed this week and just ran across this:

[LiveFreeOrDie]

Though I am not a vet (my brother was in Vietnam), I have followed this thread with great interest. I must say I am mightily impressed with the work of NavyChief and the rest of you.

To all of you I say,


Contratulations!
Fantastic job!
Thank You!