SwiftVets.com

[Justathot]

I don't question anyone's awards now and I don't want anyone to stand in judgment, questioning mine. The same "courtesy" should be applied to John Kerry's awards.

Every vet who ever received an award should be upset about anyone suggesting that any award wasn't "earned", especially over 20 years after the fact.

To say otherwise is to put the entire awards process since awarding began in disarray for political gain. Not into that.

Anyone who wants to say that I didn't deserve my awards can quote me on this [edited by moderator]Any vet should feel the same way about ANYONE questioning whether or not they "deserved" their awards.

Moderator note: Please refrain from abusive language.

[roughfun]

I agree 100%. Unless I misunderstand it is that Kerry basically wrote himself up for stuff he didnt deserve. But Im beginning to realize what a slippery slope we have when no vet trusts another accomplishments. Theres enough real phony vets out there. Semper Fi.
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USMC 67-71. Two tours two PHs both from Hue City, Tet 68. Didnt have to ask for them they just gave them to me. Great site. Its an uphill battle but truth wins in the end. Semper Fi

[FF1047]

Knows full well that sometimes (not always) the citation has some embelishments. These embelishments to not change the basic facts involved. To act like all medals are being questioned here is just plain wishful DNC thinking. If I question you about your medals in a respectful way like, "How did you earn that Purple Heart ?", it does not mean that I assume your PH is bogus. Of course when your answer is "Bite Me" (much like Kerry's responses thus far) most people are inclined to think you are not actually proud of having earned them. Of course you didn't throw your preciously earned medals "over the fence", or did you ?
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JJC
USNA class of 1980

[Justathot]

[LewWaters]

justathot, I witnessed my First Sargeant and the Squadron Sargeant Major, in An Khe, trip over each other running out of the mess hall when the Air Force base, clear across the compound was being mortared. They both put each other in for and accepted PH's for skinned knees.

I was told I'd get a Purple Heart for jumping off a helicopter, during recovery, and spraining my ankle. I declined.

Your own medals are your business. Kerry, on the other hand, has made his 4 month tour and his medals central to his campaign. They are open for scrutiny as is any other claim by any candidate.

Speaking of medals, he sure wasn't too proud of them back in 1971 when he claimed to have thrown them over the Whitehouse fence, giving them back. Now, when it fills a perceived need, they have reappeared and are important to him. I'd like to think your own medals are treated with more respect than that, mine are.
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Clark County Conservative

[Justathot]

Who gets to decide?

Is there a sunset window past which awards can't be "respectfully questioned?

What's your plan?

Does it start with the GWOT and role back as long as a vet draws breath?

What's the plan...or is Kerry the only vet who should undergo this scrutiny?

[LewWaters]

Anyone running for a prominent public office is open to scrutiny, especially when he makes claims that he uses as central to his campaign.

The President's records have been picked over with a fine tooth comb, seeking evidence of the AWOL and desertion charges. When not found, idle speculation became the tactic. He has never made his service central to his abilities.

Kerry, on the other hand, has propped himself up by medals he claimed to have thrown away, out of disgust for them, testified to horrendous war crimes committed daily with the full sanction of higher ups, as a matter of policy, claimed that there were 200,000 Vietnamese being MURDERED each year by US Troops and now, all he can say is he is the main war hero and his language back then was "regrettable?"

Kerry brought this all on hisself. As Harry S. Truman said, "if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."

Kerry can't have it both ways. He asked in 1971, "how do you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?" Today, I ask, "how do declare yourself the main hero of that same mistake?"
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Clark County Conservative

[jalexson]

[ALMOUNT]

[DevilDon]

Hey Lew,
Thanks for clarifying things, maybe the next new poster would do well to read some posts before spouting off about people's discussions here. This has been said time and again here. I guess some just don't get it.

[Alpha924]

what kind of liberal BS is that.

If you served and did not submit your own recommendation for a citation for going above and beyond then you probably deserved it. I don’t care how many or what you got.

Most of us River Rats got at least a PH, and we did not write it up ourselves nor could the wound be covered by a band aid.

An honorable person would not have accepted one under those conditions. Not with crewmen loosing body parts, who could honestly consider accepting a PH like that? A COWARD COULD!

kerry is a disgrace and so are all of you that say “well we shouldn’t judge his actions or medals” BS you wimp, kiss my dead mates ass.

MGB
Rocket Alley 4/4/68
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Proud dad of a US Marine serving in Iraq

[Alpha924]

well Justathot, if you’re so sensitive about it perhaps someone should question your awards.

All’s fair you can question mine, heck I didn’t ask for them. They were presented because OTHERS, testified to my actions and recommended them.

Just in case you missed that part, I didn’t write my own citations. Guess I wasn’t as big a hero as kerry.

MGB
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Proud dad of a US Marine serving in Iraq

[Grampa]

The fact he Kerry has MULTIPLE citations signed BY 3 DIFFERENT Approving authorities for a SS that are all different is enough to make my military BS detector go redline. That he pursued purple heart decorations after his own CO told him to forget it show he was looking to pad his record.

Now we know why he was: He is now using them as a central reason to be elected President and CINC because he is SO heroic. If he obtained his medals by fraud, he needs to be EXPOSED. HE doesnt deserve to be Pres if he lied to get medals.
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Iraqi Freedom 2003-2004. We won't take any of that 1960s crap when We come home!

[nakona]