SwiftVets.com

EODARMY · Seaman Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 168

Of all the findings by Tom Lipscomb the one that Kerry can’t maneuver around is the addition of two campaign stars to his Vietnam Service Medal. All the revised citations can be written off by his campaign as just Kerry’s attempt to get the citations accurate. We all see that we can go around and around with his campaign on some of these issues, but not the campaign stars. This is a clear cut example of Kerry embellishing his record! Below from Lipscomb:

Kerry's Web site also carries a DD215 form revising his DD214, issued March 12, 2001, which adds four bronze campaign stars to his Vietnam service medal. The campaign stars are issued for participation in any of the 17 Department of Defense named campaigns that extended from 1962 to the cease-fire in 1973.

However, according to the Navy spokesman, Kerry should only have two campaign stars: one for "Counteroffensive, Phase VI," and one for "Tet69, Counteroffensive."

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

And his sea-duty in support of the 7th Fleet aboard the Gridley didn't accrue any awards?

Cipher's got this nailed down somewhere.
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taz · Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 1:01 am Post subject:

is the D215 still on the website? it would not open for me although the link is there.

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

Yes it is - showing up just fine.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

drjohn

EODARMY · Seaman Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 168

I sure hope that Lipscomb took his sea duty into account! If he did, we got him!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASPB · Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 1:06 am Post subject:

Come on guys, he's entitled to 4 campaign stars. 2 on the Gridley and 2 while on Swifts.
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AF366TFW · Ensign Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Florida

The 2 additional campaign stars is a non-issue. The Gridley was on Yankee station in '68 and he is entitled to those 2 campaign stars.

One thing that does come to mind is was his DD-214 reissued when they did the DD-215? If so, why wasn't the Silver Star (with combat v) caught? Me thinks the original DD-214 needs to be seen.
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BL · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

If he is entitled to the 4 stars than somebody (ahem... Kerry himself) needs to provide the supporting documentation. If you look at all he has (and note his campaign and talking points folks say all records are released) he cannot account for two of these stars, surely there would be record of this.

AF366TFW · Ensign Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Florida

BL, the "supporting documentation" on the campaign stars is Kerry's DATES IN COUNTRY. That is all that is necessary. It's a non-issue.
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Aim High! The wife hates cleaning the floor!

EODARMY · Seaman Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 168

drjohn:

I'm not sure in reference to your question, but it could be that the DOD or Dept of the Navy may not have declared a campaign eligible until after he departed active duty. I have a similar situation with the War on Terrorism in that DOD has declared ribbons for the War on Terrorism but I have now retired and closed out my DD-214. I will have to go back in at sometime and add the additional ribbon.

EODARMY · Seaman Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 168

ASPB · Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 1:30 am Post subject:

lucky · Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 1:43 am Post subject: ok

I thought a DD-215 was just the form for a correction to a DD-214. afterwards one needs to send in the DD-215 and get a corrected DD-214.
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pwcarter · Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 2:06 am Post subject: Kerry's Vietnam Service Medals

I am the webmaster for the Gridley website, as well as a supporter of this site. Here is my analysis on the medal:

Interestingly, Kerry’s DD 214 shows the award and four bronze stars. He should have the award and one star for his GRIDLEY cruise and two more stars for his time in country, albeit his 3rd star was only for a day or two. That, however, is fair. Do you think he is counting his meeting with the North Vietnamese in Paris as his 4th star? He applied for all these amendments to his DD 214 in early 1970 when he was full bore in to his anti-war business.

Here are the periods: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/stream/faq45-25.htm.

It is my contention that he has one star too many.