Can you handle the “truth” about Kerry’s Vietnam record?

How would you interpret the so called “truth” is extremely important...
Will you interpret it as “true meaning”.....
Or as “anything devoid of obscure errors” as others would have us believe....

The “true meaning” of all this Swiftboat stuff struck me just yesterday after I read chapter 3 out of “Unfit for Command”. If you go to the website of the Swiftboat Vets against Kerry you can have the website mailed to you the site for the pdf of this chapter.

No point in agonizing over the details. It comes down to this.

#1 – Kerry in their opinion “used the system” to get the required 3 Purple Hearts and whatever else was necessary in regulation land at that time to GET AN EARLY OUT. The 3 purple hearts were essential to the "quick get out" strategy...so herein lies the significance of the 1st Purple Heart.

#2 – Serving only 4 months instead of 12 is a huge gripe for them. “Most” stayed the 12 months. You’ll also recall recently they’ve been working the angle with McCain recently that he VOLUNTEERED to stay even after he had a chance to go home. Thus, it’s not enough to volunteer just once....it’s really required to volunteer multiple times to stay.

#3- Adding behemoth insult to injury, he then not only LEFT TOO SOON, but he then went on a rampage of denigrating the Vietnam War effort. Once again, no need to agonize over the details. Never mind that he was now a free citizen and could speak his mind.

So you see....the first Purple Heart is extremely key to this house that they’ve built which is founded on the principle that he exploited the military system to get an “early out”, showing his gutless character by not staying, then revealed his true motives all along that all he wanted to do was go and protest the war like all the other spineless wimps out there.

Get the picture?

Back to the truth....that is.....I mean the “real meaning” of all of this.

The above is simple convoluted logic. You can form a lose connection in THEORY between Kerry’s “leaving as soon as he possibly could” and his desire to protest the war. But even if you buy into such a theory....is this any sign of some character flaw? My theory is that there is much more fundamental evidence to support the notion that he wanted to simply “go on a new mission”....one of demonstrating against the war.

First toss away all the crap about who saw what, what’s on or off official records....the simple fact is....Kerry volunteered for duty, he went into battle and performed with courage. In the worse case scenario....he may have “worked within the system” to get out as fast as possible.

The “true meaning” I see in this, which I believe is based on observable facts, is as follows –

#1 – Kerry conducted himself in an entirely professional manner throughout this entire episode. He did not reveal in any way any “anti-war” attitudes or prejudices while serving, especially which would have compromised others he served with. Regardless of the theory of his “using the system”...he didn’t shirk his duty and all evidence points to the fact that if anything he displayed a rather aggressive and professional attitude. In the final analysis, Kerry must be viewed as "serving honorably". In fact, it should be highlighted that this aggressive and honorable attitude is exactly what was responsible for his gaining a RIGHT to leave in the first place. Be careful to note that those that have turned this into a convoluted mess may be particularly miffed by the fact that he did have the credentials to get an early out and how "efficiently" he did so.

#2 – On a scale of “using the system”, one has to conclude Kerry’s actions fall in the “low to non-existent range” of concern. You can compare your own stories and draw your own conclusions, but I’ve heard things ranging from Bob Dole getting a Purple Heart as a “please don’t feel too bad Bob that you threw a hand grenade and it bounced off a tree back at you”....to purple hearts being given for accidental injuries for those that worked in the motor pool. In the final analysis, Kerry actions fell well within the range of what was required to gain an early out.

#3 – Kerry’s decision to leave at the 4 month point has to be a non-issue. Separate this issue from its HINGING on the first Purple Heart, or any other insidious logic which attempts to prove he didn’t have the “credentials” to go or else has no honor or character. He is no less a man or in any way dishonorable for leaving because at this point the decision to leave was purely PERSONNAL. Once made, the person is simply choosing to discontinue military service. Be careful to note that anyone viewing this decision to leave as unfounded or improper is going completely out of bounds in terms of logic or what has anything to do with military protocol. Be careful to not that those who are now bashing him now believe that he not only didn't deserve to go at that point but that he should have stayed the entire 12 months regardless. As pathetic as that logic is....even if you think the first Purple Heart was flimsy at best, the odds were that Kerry would have had a chance to leave prior to 12 months, owing to his aggressive combat related behavior. The lesson in this is that he was aggressive in his overall actions, which contributed not only to his honorable service, but to the sequence of events which allowed the potential for him to get an early out! Isn’t that the way the system is set up!...ie…reward those that have such overall aggressive and honorable behavior!?!

#4 – Kerry expressed his anti war sentiments AFTER he left service. At this point, all games are off in terms of trying to discredit what he did in Nam or to link this behavior to dishonorable behavior while he was in Nam. This is the centerpiece of those who are griping. Most here have already figured this part of the equation out. We understand that what he did AFTER he left was probably the most potent form of patriotism imaginable at the time, especially after what he had just gone through.

In summary, I have a whole new appreciation for Kerry as a result of this episode. I see him first as one who went to Nam, saw the atrocities, but still kept his wits about him. One has to particularly appreciate the fact that he REASONED through the whole thing, even while being faced with what has been widely recognized as an unraveling mess. I personally believe he first wanted to go out of sheer loyalty and service to the country, but once he was there he saw that things were unraveled. He then formed a “resolve” to do what it took to do his business and get out. He worked “within the system” rather than “abusing the system” as others would have us believe. He was also duly rewarded by this very system.

All of this forms a blueprint for exactly why we need Kerry....NOW...THIS TIME....to do what is necessary to “work within the system” to resolve this current unraveling mess.

:kick:

Well argued, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

The point is that Kerry played by the rules, which reward initiative; the reason he got out early is that he busted his butt to do what the military required of all soldiers.

That is not only right, but honorable.

his head in battle, wondering if the next one will hit a vital part or if he'll get lucky and not get hit, he has no right to criticize purple hearts or other medals received by someone who has had that experience.
My father received a purple heart when a tank blew that he was in at the Battle of the Bulge. I was 60 years old before I heard how he got it. He had shrapnel all over in his back and the guy next to him got killed. I never have gotten the story of how he earned a bronze star. Maybe I will soon because he has finally started talking about the war. I hope so cause he is in his 80s now and I really would like to know.

was on a swift boat during his SECOND tour! He spent his first in theater on a ship and being that close to the danger, decided that wasn't enough and THEN VOLUNTEERED FOR SWIFT BOAT TRAINING AND DUTY. You're right, seems he was QUITE aggressive.

Yes he was aggressive in positive ways....

Swiftboats against him don't get this part of him......and through their concentrating on the bits and pieces they think they can bring down the man....and show that he's not "100% true blue"....well it just ain' gonna happen....

To sell the story in terms of his tour being a choreographed set of going from point A to point B to do exactly what it took to get out in 4 months is make believe.

You remember how the repukes despised Clinton to a large extent because of his intelligence, talent, and political savy...well we're dealing with a lot of the same problem here in terms of true envy of Kerry's talent and his overall success.

He had already put in one topur of duty "In Theatre" and volunteered to return but to a more hostile location. Volunteered being the key word. Kerry said "Send Me" Bush* said "No way I'm gunna go" Daddy Help