SwiftVets.com

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Here is where he claims to have a Silver Star "V" (which doesn't exist in the US Navy). Look on the second page for the list of medals.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD214.pdf


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http://www.nationalreview.com/kerry/kerry200408271553.asp

KERRY ON BOORDA

The current dispute over Kerry’s medals is a good time to recall the tragic suicide of the Navy's Admiral Mike Boorda in 1996.

Kate O’Beirne summarized it well:

“In 1996, a left-wing news service raised questions about two small "V" clips that the chief of Naval operations wore over two of the medals on his chest full of them. The clips are awarded for valor under fire, and there was some doubt about whether Boorda's two tours in Vietnam aboard combat ships qualified him for the awards, although the Washington Post reported that a 1965 Navy manual appeared to support Boorda's right to wear the clips. Unlike Kerry, the awards did not provide grounds for Boorda to shorten his tours of duty.
Hours before he was scheduled to meet with Newsweek reporters to discuss the controversy, the admiral went to his home at the Navy Yard and shot himself in the chest. The CNO had been in command of the Navy during a troubled period and his leadership was being criticized by its senior officers. Still, among the notes he left was one to "the sailors" expressing his fear that the controversy over his decorations might harm the Navy. Boorda had lied about his age to join the Navy and was the first CNO to rise through the enlisted ranks.”

What did John Kerry have to say at the time about the matter? Let us consult the Boston Herald of May 18, 1996:

Veterans said yesterday that although they would take offense at someone falsely wearing a "V" combat pin, they couldn't see how this could drive Navy Adm. Jeremy Michael Boorda to suicide.
“Is it wrong? Yes, it is very wrong. Sufficient to question his leadership position? The answer is yes, which he clearly understood,” said Sen. John Kerry, a Navy combat veteran who served in Vietnam.

Citing uncertainty of whether Boorda deliberately wore the pins improperly, Kerry added: “If he made a mistake, in my judgment it wasn't worth his life, so I'm very sad about it.”

And let us consult the Boston Globe for the same day:

“The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment,” said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a "V" pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.
“In a sense, there's nothing that says more about your career than when you fought, where you fought and how you fought,” Kerry said.

“If you wind up being less than what you’re pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you.”

Of Boorda and his apparent violation, Kerry said: “When you are the chief of them all, it has to weigh even more heavily.”

Kerry‘s records refer to a "Silver Star with combat V." The Chicago Sun-Times has reported a U.S. Navy spokesman said, "Kerry's record is incorrect. The Navy has never issued a 'combat V' to anyone for a Silver Star." Naval regulations do not allow for the use of a "combat V" for the Silver Star, the third-highest decoration the Navy awards. None of the other services has ever granted a Silver Star "combat V," either.

If John Kerry has been touting a “V” that the Navy says he does not deserve, these quotes are going to be flung back in his face.

UPDATE: A retired Navy veteran who reads the Kerry Spot observes, "The fact that "with Combat V" to the Silver Star Medal appears on his DD214 is an unnecessary embellishment. One I might add the member is responsible for. Every member discharged from the service is asked to review their DD214 for accuracy. It's your last chance to get the record straight."

So on the one hand, the "V" is deserved in the sense that Kerry demonstrated valor when he got the Silver Star. On the other hand, the Navy doesn't give out Silver Stars with Vs, because it would be redundant — it would be like an award for valor under fire, marked with an extra v to mark... even more valor under fire.
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B Co. 2/5th, 1st Cav 71-72 RVN (11B) also
D Co. 1/12th, 1st Cav 1972 RVN (11B)
Battle of Kontum 1972 Easter Offensive
www.thebattleofkontum.com

[stylin19]

kinda off topic, but look at section 32 "remarks" on the DD-214.
It looks like "someone" tried to overtype "XXX" the word "no" in the "NO DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE....etc)

yet the 2nd page, sec. 30 remarks restates "NO DISCHARGE...."

maybe I'm just going slap-happy looking at these records.
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U.S.M.C. - 1969-1971
RVN- 1970-1971

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Yes, I see that. I don't know what that implies. Maybe he was given a discharge and he signed back up? Need somebody with more expertise to look at that.
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B Co. 2/5th, 1st Cav 71-72 RVN (11B) also
D Co. 1/12th, 1st Cav 1972 RVN (11B)
Battle of Kontum 1972 Easter Offensive
www.thebattleofkontum.com

[BMG Mike]

"And let us consult the Boston Globe for the same day:

“The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment,” said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a "V" pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.
“In a sense, there's nothing that says more about your career than when you fought, where you fought and how you fought,” Kerry said.

“If you wind up being less than what you’re pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you.”
"

It is puzzling why the Globe would not include the "Silver Star , and Bronze Star with V pin"

I think Kerry is going to have to face the truth of the last quoted sentence.

Mike

[leftknee]

Drudge reports at
www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lips27.html
Chicago Sun-Times. Reports problems with the "V" , also the DD215 changes made in 2001 adding 4 "Bronze Stars" to the Viet Nam Service Medal indicating he served in 5 campaigns. Says it was impossible. All this stuff is on the Kerry website, or at least it was until now.
There has been a massive reconstruction of the military records going back for years. This article also talks about the 3 different versions of the Silver Star Citation. This has been going on for years. Probably the reason he has not been present for Senate Intelligence Committe meetings.
The main point should be that either Kerry is to stupid to get these things done right or he hires helpers who are to stupid to get it done right. AND he is not smart eneough to check them. Remember his staff saying he was the Vice Chair of the Senate Intell. Cmte., when it was really BOB KerrEy.
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The major drawback of hindsite is that while the outcomes of actions considered and taken are readily apparent, the outcomes of actions considered and rejected are never known.