SwiftVets.com

[Interested]

I have been quickly reviewing the information about Kerry's 3rd PH which he was awarded for action on 13 March 1969.

In reviewing the spot reports on the Kerry campaign website from the 13th (written 0830hrs on the 14th as far I can understand...) the charlie and delta sections of the page containing Kerry's injury report state that the injury was obtained under enemy fire (charlie section) and that the injuries sustained at 1530hrs were "shrapnel wounds to left buttock and contusions to right forearm" when mine detonated under PCF-3 (delta section). italics are mine.

There is mention of 2 other mine explosions observed, but no specifics as to damage sustained or results of these two explosions. A damage report indicates damage to PCF-94, including the windows, engine RPM drop etc...There is no damage report available for PCF-3.

So here are my questions:

1. As I understand it, Kerry has admitted through his journal and thus through Brinkley's "Tour of Duty" that the damage to his boat occurred the day before, I have not read it so I do not know, and am loathe to spend the money to 'support' Kerry by buying the book. Is this the case?

2. I also understand that the shrapnel wound to Kerry's left buttock was due to being too close to the detonation of a grenade destroying a rice cache by either himself or someone in his party earlier in the day of the 13th. Is this true - as admitted by Kerry himself in his memoirs/book?

3. If either or both of these questions can be answered "yes", then is the spot report proveable to be falsely reported, knowingly fabricated and proven so through Kerry's own words?

4. I'm not in the military (although connected other ways - hence my interest...) but I would guess that it is a pretty serious offense for an officer to submit false reports. Can someone with more knowledge of the UCMJ confirm this? Even without the consequences of this particular report (medals...early release from duty...) this is a serious offense in and of itself, correct?

I'm trying to sort this out for myself, and have chosen to only use materials provided by Kerry himself as 'proof'. I feel If I can demonstrate holes in the information using only what Kerry has provided, presuming they are the records most advantageous to himself, then the questions are all the more valid and proveable to even someone who would otherwise dismiss the allegations out of hand.