SwiftVets.com

BL · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

OK folks here is the scoop,

Doing some research into Kerry's records, I noticed a correction was issued to John Kerry's DD214 (Discharge Form) on 03/12/2001. It is in the form of a DD215. If that isn't weird enough (personally never heard of anyone waiting that many years to get their DD214 edited/updated.), the DD215 recommends the following changes be made to the 214:

Delete: Vietnam Service Medal
Add: Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars

Now I don't know about you, but this seemed a litte fishy to me seeing how the 215 was done so recently (we are talking roughly 31 years and 11 days), so I checked his Vietnam service medal documentation and something does not add up. The documentation cites the awarded date of the Vietnam Service Medal and then has the supplemental for the stars for the medal, here is the interesting part and I hope you are still with me. The supplemental only authorizes two stars and I quote:

JN173

The bandit · Commander Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 349

I should follow the honorable Sen. Kerry's lead and do the same thing.

I should demand at least 10 Silver Star's that under Kerry Rules I am justified to claim. Then I should order a truck load of Bronze Stars that I am clearly entitled to under Kerry Rules. Wonder if all them scratches from them wait-a-minute vines qualify me for a few dozen PH's under Kerry Rules and a few fragments from this-and-that?

JN173 · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject:

BL · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

So it is a rather common occurance for the DOD to give you 2 extra stars without the accompanying documentation?

Why would Mr. Kerry not have the papers authorizing the extra two starts as he has all other paperwork associated with his Vietnam Service Medal. All the more reason for him to sign the SF180, to make sure this is legit and he did not earn two stars just because.

I don't think youre weird, though waiting 35 years certainly does sound odd as well. Wink

LewWaters · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 12:27 am Post subject:

Bronze stars on the VSM signify campaigns you were in. At least, thats what they meant in the Army. I fail to see how he could have been in four campaigns in the scant 4 months he was there. Even 2 is stretching it, as far as I'm concerned.
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Clark County Conservative

LewWaters · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 12:38 am Post subject:

Went and double checked to make sure I was correct. Laughing

There were a total of 17 campaign stars authorized. If you qualified for 5 stars, you wore a silver star on the VSM. The authorized periods for campaigns are;

1. Vietnam Advisory Campaign (15 March 1962- 7 March 1965)
2. Vietnam Defense Campaign (8 March-24 December 1965)
3. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (25 December 1965- 30 June 1966)
4. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (1 July 1966-31 May 1967) Phase II
5. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (1 June 1967-29 January 1968) Phase III
6. Tet Counteroffensive (30 January-l April 1968)
7. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (2 April-30 June 1968) Phase IV
8. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (1 July-l November 1969) Phase V
9. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (2 November 1968- 22 February 1969) Phase VI
10. Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 February-8 June 1969)
11. Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 June-31 October 1969)
12. Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 (1 November 1969-30 April 1970)
13. Sanctuary Counteroffensive (1 May-30 June 1970)
14. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (l July 1970-30 June1971) Phase VII
15. Consolidation I (1 Jul 1971 - 30 Nov 1971)
16. Consolidation II (1 Dec 1971 - 29 Mar 1972)
17. Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign (30 Mar 1972 - 28 Jan 1973)

If he claims 4 now, I'd like to know how.
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Clark County Conservative

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

He has three trips into enemy waters which qualified for the Vietnam Service Medal. (6 days, 8 days and 32 days, if I'm not mistaken)

If each one counts as a separate entitlement to a ribbon, then he is indeed entitled to wear the VSM ribbon with the three tiny bronze accessories, indicating four qualifications.

I don't think I've ever heard of it done quite that way, before, but maybe it's perfectly "legal" and appropriate.

I always thought that a WESTPAC during the specified time frames counted as one award.

Hell, some of those ships zig-zagged in and out of enemy waters enough that they'd have nothing but VSM's with gold stars all over them! Wink

_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

BL · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

Here is the answer to the question
http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn.htm

Lew Waters seems to be right on the money concerning the stars, from the website above, and I quote:

BL · Seaman Recruit Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 22

Considering John Kerry's Timeframe, these are possibly the only two he could have earned:

9. Vietnamese Counteroffensive (2 November 1968- 22 February 1969) Phase VI
10. Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 February-8 June 1969)

I don't believe he was in theatre for anything else, he got to Vietnam 17 November 1968, at CAH RANH BAY. He was gone by 19-20 March 1969, that is his Vietnam Service, anything before or after that should not count for a bronze star.

So, the question remains, where did he get two extra bronze stars, he would not have been within the area required to obtain them, would he have been?

DADESID · Seaman Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 157