Reply #43: 3 purple hearts..and he wasn't really there??

[flaminbats]

On March 13, 1969 was honored with a bronze star. Usually earning a bronze star means you did more than enough for your country in war, and you can return home.

Admiral Zumwalt himself signed Kerry's Bronze Star citation, which read:

For heroic achievement while serving with Coastal Division ELEVEN engage in armed conflict with Viet Cong communist aggressors in An Xuwan Provence, Republic of Vietnam on 13 March, 1969. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY while serving as an Officer-in-Charge of Inshore Patrol Craft 94, one of five boats conducting a SEA LORDS operation in the Bay Hap River. While exiting the river, a mine detonated under another Inshore Patrol Craft and almost simultaneously, another mine detonated wounding Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY in the right arm. In addition all units began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire from the riverbanks. When Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY discovered he had a man overboard, he returned upriver to assist. The man in the water was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety he pulled the man aboard. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY his boat to return and assist the other damaged boat to safety Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY's calmness professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY is authorized to wear the Combat V

unlike Bush, Kerry has nothing to hide as far as his service record is concerned!