SwiftVets.com

[1stgpsf]

One of my contacts (steve sherman) emailed me that Jim Rassman received a Purple Heart for the same action as Kerry's Bronze Star. I quote "For reasons I don't understand, the sequence of 5th Special Forces Group award recommendation files dealing with Rassman are missing. He received a purple heart for action that day, but not an award for valor. I cannot determine who treated his wounds, probably the doctor aboard the USCGC Spencer........" Did the navy cut orders for Rassman's Purple Heart through the same channels as Kerry's Purple Heart? That information is important if they cross-recommended each other. Does any one know anything?
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SF was the best years of my life.

[gkdechow]

He probably got water in this nose or rice in his ass.

[Wing Wiper]

He was Army SF, the Army would have had to write up and approve the medal. I never saw this information discussed before. Maybe Kerry wounded him in the rice explosion, too? Interesting.

[HardCorps]

The after action for the incident states in paragraph 7. (C) WIA list all wounded :

7.(C)

Lt. WQees (Pees) a typo (Medivac)
Ens. Tryner (Medivac)
GMG3 Hollister (Medivac)
RD3 Vorphal (Medevac)
Lt. Kerry Hshrapnel wound left buttock and contusion rt. forearm(Minor)
GMG3 Wolfe (Minor)
EN3 Arp (Minor)
1 VN MSF (Mung SF) KIA earlier that day (MEDEVAC)

8. (U) FINAL

It also states all WIA were taken by PCF 43 to USCGC Spencer DOR treatment. NO RASSMAN (unless he got hypothermia later)

-notice in Kerry's Bronze star citation it states" while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard ..." The Casrep says his arm has a contusion (bruise) and the wound is from his left buttock ( self inflicted hours earlier by his grenade). No bleeding from his arm in the medical report.
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-USMC - Always Faithful
-Platoon Cmdr - Somalia
-ANGLICO FAC - Iraqi Freedom