SwiftVets.com

[jalexson]

It's not important whether or not there was any enemy fire during the rescue of PCF 3 or James Rassmann. Kerry had to pick up Rassmann who had fallen off his boat. He also had to help Rassmann the rest of the way onto the boat. I strongly suspect that the navy frowned on Swift Boats using Green Berets as "hood ornaments".

If Kerry was receiving fire he would have been receiving fire while waiting for Rassmann to get the rest of the way on the boat. Pulling Rassmann onto the boat allowed Kerry to move the boat away from the gunfire.


The presence of gunfire would make Kerry look worse for running away from PCF 3 and his passenger who had fallen off. The Washington Post has an interesting graphic on the incident.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/graphics/swiftboat_082104.html


I was never in the navy, but I suspect that the first thing an OIC should do after being hit by some type of "explosion" would be to check on the condition of his crew and passengers.
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"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoe making and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poor house."
-- Mark Twain

[Alpha924]

the presence of enemy fire is always a factor. The way I see it, the mine went off and #3 boat was disabled. kerry heard the explosion and it was all ahead full to get out of the area. (kind of every boat for its self) Rassmann who was on the side of the boat when kerry hit full power was thrown off by the surge of the boat. Then kerry realizing there was no enemy fire incoming turned around saw Rassmann in the water and hurried to pick him up before the other boat got there so he (Rassmann) wouldn't have to answer the question posed by another boat captain "how'd you land in the drink". kerry did it just to cover his ass for running scared. Then as many liers do he made up a story and filed a fake report. After all he was good at filing fake reports. he contiunes the lies today. The only reason he has gotten away with it is he was an officer. If he had been an enlisted man he would have been courtmarshalled for the stuff he did.

By the way I was in Combodia and never saw kerry there.
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Proud dad of a US Marine serving in Iraq

[bluecollarman]

Ok, Assume there was a was a heavy fire fight 5000 meters as Kerry Claimed. The 3 boat hits a mine and confimed incoming right? They supplied suppresive fire after the mine, that's good so far!

Now, tell me if you are a swiftie why no measures were taken to set up some kind of defensive perimeter while the 3 boat/crew is salvaged. Would this have been normal? No measures were taken that I can see in case of a counter attack. No witness, Kerry or Swifties remarks being told to look out to see if anyone was still around,


I would be ready to blast something. No..they just went about the business of salvaging the 3 boat and crew unconcerned about hostil fire. According to one account from Kerry's crew there was a Rocket or grenade during the whole episode.

How do they know these VC are gone for good? The bad guys could have been moving from back up the river for a better shot. The swifties were sitting ducks after all. Under fire for 3 miles? How many men would that take? What did kerry have shooting at him, a whole friggin' division?

I don't know about you but I would be covering my ass. I'd let the Nung boys do a little recon, they did do that for a living didn't they? 5000 meter fire zone? None of it makes much sense to me. Am I missing something? Maybe the Navy does it different. What was SOP when a swift boat came under attack? Protect the boat and then what? Somebody help me here?

[RStauch]

Your confusion comes from the one fact that nobody is recognizing. If there was a firefight, why did not one person on any of the 5 boats get shot? I don't remember hearing about a single bullet wound being treated.

The fact is, there wasn't a firefight. That is a bald-faced lie, and Kerry knows it. He is only upset now, because it is finally coming out, and he is embarrassed about it. It will cost him dearly on November 2, and that is without question the only matter that concerns him.
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Richard Stauch
Ft. Myers, FL

[one more captins mast]

5,000 METERS, SO YOU ARE MR. VC HOW YOU GONNA SET YOUR

MEN, SAY EVERY 50 METERS AND KERRY ETAL SAY FIRE COMMING

FROM BOTH SHORES, SO THAT IS 200 VC ,AND EVEN THE "HERO"

VC THEY HAD TO CARRY AMMO, SAY ANOTHER 50 . SO WE HAVE

"LEADER KERRY" KNOWING IT IS A HEAVY AMBUSH, AND HE

NOR ANY OF THE OTHERS , CALL IN FOR AIR SUPPORT, NOT ONE

CALL, NO RADIO,, TO HEADQTS,,,,,, HELP I'M JOHN KERRY AND

I'M BEING SHOT AT. JUST THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE.

OR WERE THEY "NOT TO REPORT" so that any local unit out on

the banks and walking around could get ambushed by this

"if he and Rass and the others are telling the truth" LARGE

VC ELEMENT.


IT IS JUST ALL HOG WASH AND BALDERDASH, WITH A LITTLE

S--T IN FOR TASTE.
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the strange mr aj

[sixdogteam]

You know, I'm worried that my head is going to explode with all this stuff about John Fonda Kerry's service. I don't care if he's a liar, whether or not he faked his after action reports to get medals, whether or not he fired some gook hooches and all that, I just don't care. What's germain to me is that he should have been shot by a firing squad for Treason for what he did when he got home, not be loved by 50% of the American people and honored with a chance to be Leader of the Free World--it's just another damn nail pounded into the hearts of Viet Nam vets...
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HHC 212th CAB MMAF RVN '70-'71

[neverforget]

His arm was hurt from the imaginary second mine explosion, so he had to stick it in his mouth, so he couldn't get the radio call out.

Sarcasm off/

[baltimore kid]

Did Kerry really say they received fire for 5000 meters?? Hell, that's a 3 mile-long ambush!! As a USMC 'Nam vet who wore a pair of socks for longer than Kerry's tour i say Ain't no way, man;numbah 10

[JN173]

[bluecollarman]

After action Reports are Posted here:
[url]http://www.sportsmenforkerryedwards.com/downloads/AfterActionSpotReportsMarch1969.pdf
[/url]