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on September 10, 2016
I was appalled at the events that took place in Vietnam that involved John Kerry. It left me wondering why Kerry is not in prison.
on August 24, 2004
The information in this book is based on the recollections of veterans, including officers and enlisted men, of the SWIFT boat operations in Viet-Nam. Many of these men were decorated; some were highly decorated. The supporters of the revelations in this book include virtually all of the higher ranking officers in the chain of command above Lt. (jg) John F. Kerry. They are not political operatives; they are combat veterans. Their detractors have inflicted only superficial wounds in the many TV encounters; while the book overwhelmingly torpedoes the Kerry vessel.
As the appearances of SWIFT boat crewmen add up, it becomes increasingly clear that the opposition, in the form of their shill, and the journalist and pundit surrogates for the suddenly shy John F. Kerry, all rely on confusion, diversion, and evasion. These time tested tactics have proved successful in battle; but, only serve to obscure the story of Kerry. He and his minions have little to gain from the truth, and much to gain from distortion.
Little by little, the truth is confirmed by Kerry and his supporters. The Cambodia trip "seared in Kerry's memory," has been rewritten by our naval hero; he now admits he was "near" Cambodia, although none of his crew agree to even that. This is an essential point, as he claims it was a turning point in his anti-war conversion, and an indictment of President Richard Nixon's "illegal war." Of course, Nixon was not yet president; and liars need perfect memories.
The shrapnel Kerry had claimed as resulting from an exploding mine, qualifying him for a purple heart award (as it would have been from hostile fire) has been revealed to be, indeed, from a self-inflicted wound. This was confirmed by Kerry's enthusiastic supporter Jim Rassman, the former Green Beret who provided the emotional drama at the Democratic Convention, detailing how Kerry saved him from drowning. Since this was his third purple heart, it enabled Kerry to use an obscure provision to be re-assigned away from the war zone. But Lt. Rassman is on the record stating that the wound was caused by Kerry's own grenade, when Kerry and Rassman destroyed supplies of rice to prevent the Communist Viet Cong from access to it. And Kerry himself is quoted as causing his own wound in his official biography by Douglas Brinkley, taken from Kerry's own contemporaneous diaries.
The first purple heart request by Kerry was refused by his superior officer, Commander Grant Hibbard, as there was no report of enemy fire, and debriefings of the crew confirmed that. The medical officer who treated Kerry, Louis Letson, recalls the wound was superficial, treating it with a band-aid and bacitracin. But, the purple heart was later approved by the new commanding officer, based only on the word of Kerry. No one asserted there had been enemy fire. So, we have witnesses who clearly contradict Kerry regarding two purple hearts. If even one witness is correct, Kerry is less the hero memorialized on his own 8MM film, and is in fact a fraud. Furthermore, he won transfer from Viet-Nam fraudulently as well.
The Kerry apologists, just before attacking the president's service and insulting the SWIFT boat veterans, always falls back on "the records." The problem with reliance on the records, as a debating point, is that the records are alleged to be blatantly inaccurate. How can that which is in dispute prove a case? How indeed when ample witness evidence indicates that Kerry had the only typewriter; Kerry volunteered to write the after action reports on which awards were based; and the reports were written from the vantage point of Kerry's boat. He was the only naval officer aboard; therefore, he was the only one who could write the report. Until the disputes arose, sometimes years later, other officers were often unaware of the actual contents of the reports. Skipper Thurlow, for example, never knew he was awarded a bronze star until after he left the Navy. And Kerry knew how to game the system, by taking advantage of personnel turnover. Thus, awards turned down by his commander mysteriously were awarded after the arrival of a new commander. And, awards were rewritten with embellishment, as for example his silver Star Citation, rewritten by Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, over ten years later.
Many of the issues surrounding Kerry's service would become clear if he would authorize the release of ALL of his service and medical records. He has selectively released documents, but not, for example, the citation for his first purple heart.
Finally, it should be noted that generally, upper ranks of officers were only familiar with actions from the written reports, not actually witnessing events. They generally relied on the honesty of junior officers, each having been proclaimed by the U.S. Congress to be an "Officer and a Gentleman." On the other hand, other boat Officers in Charge had excellent views of skippers and crews in the group. And they deem Kerry "Unfit for Command."
As the appearances of SWIFT boat crewmen add up, it becomes increasingly clear that the opposition, in the form of their shill, and the journalist and pundit surrogates for the suddenly shy John F. Kerry, all rely on confusion, diversion, and evasion. These time tested tactics have proved successful in battle; but, only serve to obscure the story of Kerry. He and his minions have little to gain from the truth, and much to gain from distortion.
Little by little, the truth is confirmed by Kerry and his supporters. The Cambodia trip "seared in Kerry's memory," has been rewritten by our naval hero; he now admits he was "near" Cambodia, although none of his crew agree to even that. This is an essential point, as he claims it was a turning point in his anti-war conversion, and an indictment of President Richard Nixon's "illegal war." Of course, Nixon was not yet president; and liars need perfect memories.
The shrapnel Kerry had claimed as resulting from an exploding mine, qualifying him for a purple heart award (as it would have been from hostile fire) has been revealed to be, indeed, from a self-inflicted wound. This was confirmed by Kerry's enthusiastic supporter Jim Rassman, the former Green Beret who provided the emotional drama at the Democratic Convention, detailing how Kerry saved him from drowning. Since this was his third purple heart, it enabled Kerry to use an obscure provision to be re-assigned away from the war zone. But Lt. Rassman is on the record stating that the wound was caused by Kerry's own grenade, when Kerry and Rassman destroyed supplies of rice to prevent the Communist Viet Cong from access to it. And Kerry himself is quoted as causing his own wound in his official biography by Douglas Brinkley, taken from Kerry's own contemporaneous diaries.
The first purple heart request by Kerry was refused by his superior officer, Commander Grant Hibbard, as there was no report of enemy fire, and debriefings of the crew confirmed that. The medical officer who treated Kerry, Louis Letson, recalls the wound was superficial, treating it with a band-aid and bacitracin. But, the purple heart was later approved by the new commanding officer, based only on the word of Kerry. No one asserted there had been enemy fire. So, we have witnesses who clearly contradict Kerry regarding two purple hearts. If even one witness is correct, Kerry is less the hero memorialized on his own 8MM film, and is in fact a fraud. Furthermore, he won transfer from Viet-Nam fraudulently as well.
The Kerry apologists, just before attacking the president's service and insulting the SWIFT boat veterans, always falls back on "the records." The problem with reliance on the records, as a debating point, is that the records are alleged to be blatantly inaccurate. How can that which is in dispute prove a case? How indeed when ample witness evidence indicates that Kerry had the only typewriter; Kerry volunteered to write the after action reports on which awards were based; and the reports were written from the vantage point of Kerry's boat. He was the only naval officer aboard; therefore, he was the only one who could write the report. Until the disputes arose, sometimes years later, other officers were often unaware of the actual contents of the reports. Skipper Thurlow, for example, never knew he was awarded a bronze star until after he left the Navy. And Kerry knew how to game the system, by taking advantage of personnel turnover. Thus, awards turned down by his commander mysteriously were awarded after the arrival of a new commander. And, awards were rewritten with embellishment, as for example his silver Star Citation, rewritten by Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, over ten years later.
Many of the issues surrounding Kerry's service would become clear if he would authorize the release of ALL of his service and medical records. He has selectively released documents, but not, for example, the citation for his first purple heart.
Finally, it should be noted that generally, upper ranks of officers were only familiar with actions from the written reports, not actually witnessing events. They generally relied on the honesty of junior officers, each having been proclaimed by the U.S. Congress to be an "Officer and a Gentleman." On the other hand, other boat Officers in Charge had excellent views of skippers and crews in the group. And they deem Kerry "Unfit for Command."
on August 20, 2004
Unless Kerry addresses the specific factual accusations in this book, we have every right to assume that the book is on target. Trying to get ads off the air or trying to get the publisher to withdraw the book without rebutting the accusations means the book is worthy of belief. Why do I say that?
First, the book is highly detailed and lawyer-like in its approach. It is obviously not written by madmen conspiracy theorists. And, most importantly, the accusers are not anonymous. They fearlessly attach their names and reputations to the book.
Second, the book's contention that Kerry never spent Christmas in Cambodia, in spite of Kerry's strong public affirmations in the past that he did, has already been proven correct. Apparently, the Kerry campaign has also corrected Kerry's prior version of how many boats fled when the famous Jim Rassmann was rescued. These changes in Kerry's accounts lend credibility to the book's other allegations.
Third, the accusers are risking their reputations in this book by attacking Kerry's war service in the first part of the book. They could have played it safe and attacked Kerry only for his documented and undeniable antiwar rhetoric as they do in part two of the book, but instead they have gone further and questioned his war record. There was no need to do so unless they strongly and sincerely believe the truth is on their side.
The book is persuasive because the motive here is clearly not preoccupation with electing one candidate over another. The motive here is personal. There is a sense of betrayal that seeps from every page.
Vietnam vets without Ivy League degrees or Washington connections get to give their side of the story. Only in America.
First, the book is highly detailed and lawyer-like in its approach. It is obviously not written by madmen conspiracy theorists. And, most importantly, the accusers are not anonymous. They fearlessly attach their names and reputations to the book.
Second, the book's contention that Kerry never spent Christmas in Cambodia, in spite of Kerry's strong public affirmations in the past that he did, has already been proven correct. Apparently, the Kerry campaign has also corrected Kerry's prior version of how many boats fled when the famous Jim Rassmann was rescued. These changes in Kerry's accounts lend credibility to the book's other allegations.
Third, the accusers are risking their reputations in this book by attacking Kerry's war service in the first part of the book. They could have played it safe and attacked Kerry only for his documented and undeniable antiwar rhetoric as they do in part two of the book, but instead they have gone further and questioned his war record. There was no need to do so unless they strongly and sincerely believe the truth is on their side.
The book is persuasive because the motive here is clearly not preoccupation with electing one candidate over another. The motive here is personal. There is a sense of betrayal that seeps from every page.
Vietnam vets without Ivy League degrees or Washington connections get to give their side of the story. Only in America.
on August 25, 2004
I guess free speech only applies to those on the Left. John Kerry and his legion of lawyers are not so subtly threatening the publishers of Unfit for Command with retaliation for daring to print a book! Yet the Left claims the conservatives are the ones out to burn books. Alleged reviewers want to shout down any discourse on Amazon.com. What is the "open minded" Left afraid of? The truth perhaps?
Where was the outrage when the hordes of copycat writers slandered President Bush over and over with unfounded allegations and innuendo? Where is the outrage over partisan hit pieces like Fahrenheit 9/11 being passed of as "documentaries"? Kerry cries foul every time anyone questions his activities during Vietnam, when he is the one who made it the centerpiece of his campaign! Kerry should be commended for his service in Vietnam but not be immune from critique. On the other hand Bush should not be castigated for serving honorably in the Texas Air National Guard, especially not by the same people who defended draft dodger Bill Clinton's cowardice as being in the past and irrelevant to his Presidential campaign.
I guess we are left with the following chronology of John Kerry's life: He was born, he served admirably in Vietnam, he ran for President. No one is permitted to look a little closer at his claims of heroism in Nam. No one is permitted to look at his activities in the communist anti-war movement after his brief stint. No one is allowed to review his overwhelmingly liberal voting record after decades in the Senate and compare what he says now with what he has done as a lawmaker. Heck, his latest radio ad in Ohio makes it sound like he is bragging about his part in creating the liberal bogeyman, the Patriot Act! We must take Kerry at face value, no matter what he says or how his message changes depending on what state he is in.
Read this book for yourself and compare the claims it makes with Kerry's. See which one rings true and decide for yourself. John Kerry can hide all he wants but the truth will come out. If his service in Vietnam is his sole qualification for President, then those who served alongside him and stayed when he went home should have the right to have their opinions heard. Ask yourself who you want as Commander-in-Chief in the war on terrorism, a President who fights a war like a war or a peacenik who hopes curling into the fetal position will get the Islamic terrorists to leave us alone.
Where was the outrage when the hordes of copycat writers slandered President Bush over and over with unfounded allegations and innuendo? Where is the outrage over partisan hit pieces like Fahrenheit 9/11 being passed of as "documentaries"? Kerry cries foul every time anyone questions his activities during Vietnam, when he is the one who made it the centerpiece of his campaign! Kerry should be commended for his service in Vietnam but not be immune from critique. On the other hand Bush should not be castigated for serving honorably in the Texas Air National Guard, especially not by the same people who defended draft dodger Bill Clinton's cowardice as being in the past and irrelevant to his Presidential campaign.
I guess we are left with the following chronology of John Kerry's life: He was born, he served admirably in Vietnam, he ran for President. No one is permitted to look a little closer at his claims of heroism in Nam. No one is permitted to look at his activities in the communist anti-war movement after his brief stint. No one is allowed to review his overwhelmingly liberal voting record after decades in the Senate and compare what he says now with what he has done as a lawmaker. Heck, his latest radio ad in Ohio makes it sound like he is bragging about his part in creating the liberal bogeyman, the Patriot Act! We must take Kerry at face value, no matter what he says or how his message changes depending on what state he is in.
Read this book for yourself and compare the claims it makes with Kerry's. See which one rings true and decide for yourself. John Kerry can hide all he wants but the truth will come out. If his service in Vietnam is his sole qualification for President, then those who served alongside him and stayed when he went home should have the right to have their opinions heard. Ask yourself who you want as Commander-in-Chief in the war on terrorism, a President who fights a war like a war or a peacenik who hopes curling into the fetal position will get the Islamic terrorists to leave us alone.
on August 16, 2004
I thought this book would be just propaganda based on some pre-release "reviews" I read, but having read it for myself, now I can see that it is extremely well documented. The book quotes NUMEROUS "Swiftees" who DID serve with John Kerry on his short 4-month tour of Nam.
I must say it is a real shocker. If 1% of it is true, then this guy should be in jail rather than running for president.
The book raises questions that can be answered by Kerry's release of his whole military record, which the book indicates has not been done. This was a surprise to me.
Recommendation: Undecided voters and partisans on BOTH sides would do well to actually read this book. The questions it raises and flat-out accusations it makes are worthy of an read and further objective investigation. As a former military officer, reading the numerous accounts of how Kerry turned and ran under fire, connived, lied, and shot himself in the ass with M-79 fragments to win his medals made my blood boil. Reading this makes you REALLY hope none of it is true and anxious for a detailed response instead of all the hyperbolic shouts of "lies, lies!". Ummm OK, sure, but what about the records, etc.
Perhaps most striking is the vehemence and passion that the authors and scores of Kerry's former service-mates bring to the discussion of John Kerry's nature and character. These people do not just object to him, they see him as the cause of lost lives, a major contributing factor to a lost war and uniquely un-fit and unable to command military forces. And while that may seem dramatic in summary, when laid out in stark detail a very powerful case is made - based on named references. So far, I have not seen any disputation of the facts therein. Only rhetoric. Even if you love the guy, it's worthy of a read. You may ask yourself why so many who did serve with him "under fire" would want to say these things. You may ask yourself, where is the detailed response to this? All of it? ANY of it?
Reading this is like reading old Stephen King. When he was still scary. Caution: read with the lights on. This is a real horror story. Anxiously awaiting to read the response to it.
I must say it is a real shocker. If 1% of it is true, then this guy should be in jail rather than running for president.
The book raises questions that can be answered by Kerry's release of his whole military record, which the book indicates has not been done. This was a surprise to me.
Recommendation: Undecided voters and partisans on BOTH sides would do well to actually read this book. The questions it raises and flat-out accusations it makes are worthy of an read and further objective investigation. As a former military officer, reading the numerous accounts of how Kerry turned and ran under fire, connived, lied, and shot himself in the ass with M-79 fragments to win his medals made my blood boil. Reading this makes you REALLY hope none of it is true and anxious for a detailed response instead of all the hyperbolic shouts of "lies, lies!". Ummm OK, sure, but what about the records, etc.
Perhaps most striking is the vehemence and passion that the authors and scores of Kerry's former service-mates bring to the discussion of John Kerry's nature and character. These people do not just object to him, they see him as the cause of lost lives, a major contributing factor to a lost war and uniquely un-fit and unable to command military forces. And while that may seem dramatic in summary, when laid out in stark detail a very powerful case is made - based on named references. So far, I have not seen any disputation of the facts therein. Only rhetoric. Even if you love the guy, it's worthy of a read. You may ask yourself why so many who did serve with him "under fire" would want to say these things. You may ask yourself, where is the detailed response to this? All of it? ANY of it?
Reading this is like reading old Stephen King. When he was still scary. Caution: read with the lights on. This is a real horror story. Anxiously awaiting to read the response to it.
on August 20, 2004
First let me say I am a Libertarian and am do not support either Bush Or Kerry. I read the Book objectively and found the evidence compelling and accurate. I suspect there is even more to be uncovered. Kerry could refute them if he would release his records for all to see. I commend the Veterns for having the courage to write the expose` and get the truth out to the people.
Kerry supporters have done nothing but respond with unfounded personal attacks that have been refuted in every case. The book is withstands careful examination and is a must read especially before you vote. They have the goods on Kerry. Ask yourself this: would you vote for PFC England if she ran for president in light of the abuses commited in Iraq? Well one has to ask the same question of John Kerry after exposing his own admissions of his personally commiting war crimes. Further it seems clear he lied about his medals and his service.
He then came back to dishonor his country by further lying to the Senate and then meeting with the enemy in France. There are FBI reports sugessting he may have been part of a plot against certain Senators at the time. Read the book. Given these facts, I think Senator Kerry has alot of explaining to do and should pass the torch of the race to someone who America can trust. Thank you swift boat Vets for telling the truth. I will be voting for a 3rd party candidate, Michael Badnarik.
Kerry supporters have done nothing but respond with unfounded personal attacks that have been refuted in every case. The book is withstands careful examination and is a must read especially before you vote. They have the goods on Kerry. Ask yourself this: would you vote for PFC England if she ran for president in light of the abuses commited in Iraq? Well one has to ask the same question of John Kerry after exposing his own admissions of his personally commiting war crimes. Further it seems clear he lied about his medals and his service.
He then came back to dishonor his country by further lying to the Senate and then meeting with the enemy in France. There are FBI reports sugessting he may have been part of a plot against certain Senators at the time. Read the book. Given these facts, I think Senator Kerry has alot of explaining to do and should pass the torch of the race to someone who America can trust. Thank you swift boat Vets for telling the truth. I will be voting for a 3rd party candidate, Michael Badnarik.
on December 21, 2014
The truth hurts, John. Many who served under his command and those who served as his commanders, commented on his behavior. Much first hand knowledge. Served only 90 days after training. Read how he obtained his Purple Hearts. Press was biased accessing these heroic accounts, didn't fit their agenda for "shaping" the news.
on August 21, 2004
I have always thought that Kerry was a liar, based on tales of my friends, who served in Vietnam. The degree of Kerry's mendacity, duplicity and outright fraud is breathtaking. I found it interesting that other Swiftees told Kerry about the "Three Purple Hearts and you're home rule" in order to get rid of him. The truly frightening stuff hasn't even been discussed in the media yet, namely Kerry's secret meetings with the North Vietnamese Communist in the early 70's, the fraud of the "VVAW" while still in the Naval Reserves or his place their War Museum Hall of Fame.
This book makes clear: Kerry should be in Leavenworth (Sharing a cell with his patron Hanoi Jane Fonda.)or repaying the Navy the eight months of service he scammed them out of; not the Democratic Presidential Nominee. I hope this is the subject of the "Swiftees" third ad.
This is a must read for anyone who cares about this country.
This book makes clear: Kerry should be in Leavenworth (Sharing a cell with his patron Hanoi Jane Fonda.)or repaying the Navy the eight months of service he scammed them out of; not the Democratic Presidential Nominee. I hope this is the subject of the "Swiftees" third ad.
This is a must read for anyone who cares about this country.
on August 21, 2004
I found this book very informative. How could over 250 veterans that lived and served with him be wrong on John Kerry's performance in Vietnam, it's tough to get 250 people to agree on anything. Clearly one does not have to be under the command of John Kerry or on his boat to know him, these boats traveled in packs and all the people manning them lived together.
What I got from this book was that John Kerry attempted to avoid military service by pursuing a deferment to attend school overseas and when denied the deferement he found a branch of the service that he thought would minimize his exposure to military action; the Naval Reserves.
His first tour of duty was on the USS Gridley which spent a total of 5 weeks off shore of Vietnam, hardly qualifying as a tour of duty in Vietnam.
The second tour was for approximatley 4 mo. of which one month was spent in training at a secure facility out of harms way. This book left me serious doubts about any medals that John Kerry received, especially the purple hearts in which the book clearly points out that several could have been self inflicted by firing grenades too close to himself. The wounds were very small from fragments treated with an antibiotic and a bandaid. According to the book John Kerry never missed a day of duty due to a wound unlike other serviceman that spent months or years recovering from their wounds.
It would appear from this book that John Kerry knew about a little used Naval regulation that would allow a person with 3 purple hearts to request reassignment from an active fighting area; one could draw the conclusion that getting 3 purple hearts was intentional.
On several occasions the book points out that John Kerry left his boat when he was in command which was against Navy regulations.
For me, this book raises serious doubts about the John Kerry Vietnam experience that only releasing his military records could possibly clear up which he has refused to do so far.
What I got from this book was that John Kerry attempted to avoid military service by pursuing a deferment to attend school overseas and when denied the deferement he found a branch of the service that he thought would minimize his exposure to military action; the Naval Reserves.
His first tour of duty was on the USS Gridley which spent a total of 5 weeks off shore of Vietnam, hardly qualifying as a tour of duty in Vietnam.
The second tour was for approximatley 4 mo. of which one month was spent in training at a secure facility out of harms way. This book left me serious doubts about any medals that John Kerry received, especially the purple hearts in which the book clearly points out that several could have been self inflicted by firing grenades too close to himself. The wounds were very small from fragments treated with an antibiotic and a bandaid. According to the book John Kerry never missed a day of duty due to a wound unlike other serviceman that spent months or years recovering from their wounds.
It would appear from this book that John Kerry knew about a little used Naval regulation that would allow a person with 3 purple hearts to request reassignment from an active fighting area; one could draw the conclusion that getting 3 purple hearts was intentional.
On several occasions the book points out that John Kerry left his boat when he was in command which was against Navy regulations.
For me, this book raises serious doubts about the John Kerry Vietnam experience that only releasing his military records could possibly clear up which he has refused to do so far.
