SwiftVets.com

[MDunlap]

I need some help understanding something from a Swifty who was there at about the same time Kerry was. My question is simple. What did you do on a day to day basis. Did you patrol the river everyday, or was it only on assigned missions. If you were not on a mission did you stay in base. My reason for asking this is to evaluate numbers.

I am a police sergeant who works with squad numbers to evaluate how and if a person is working on patrol. I was looking at the report Costal Division Eleven Command History 1 January 1969 to 31 December 1969. The heading says Chronology of Highlights. It then lists everything done. I understand that Kerry’s boat was the 94. On Kerry’s web site, it lists only 15 missions that he went on. http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_kerry/combat_reports.html I could only find 12 missions on the Command History. Is this correct, or did you go on missions and if nothing happened you did not fill out any paper work?

How could anyone receive the medals he received in only 12 – 15 missions? That would be the same as an police officer getting into 4 shootings in less than 4 months on patrol. IT JUST DON’T HAPPEN.

Another question about mines. I keep reading about mines blowing up in front of and behind theses swiftboats. I thought a boat had to actually hit a mine before it blew up. That is the way they were designed, or I was told this. How does it actually happen?

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

Hello and welcome aboard!

You might want to check out our Research and Resources forum for many links and discussions that will give you an idea of what these guys did.

There's also a Search function at the top of each page and if it's having a good day and wants to be helpful, it will help you nail stuf down.

Thanks for joining us!
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Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother