Blogcritics: Comments on Kerry in Vietnam: Black Eye or Feather in his Cap?

Comment by Pat Schlegel

Tue, 17 Aug 2004 05:34:03 EDT

I read your article and I have something to ad to the Cambodia escapade. You are correct that Nixon was not President then, but it is also true that Nixon had not made the speech saying no Americans were in Cambodia until Nov. 1971. I also take issue with the medals etc. but will address one small aspect here. Generally when someone relays a personal story the basics of the story remain unchangedm especially when it was an event that could have ended your life. In the case of Jim Rasmussen, that is not the case. These are quotes that I have uncovered using the limited resources I have. Rassmann's river patrol of Swift boats had been blown out of the water in a barrage of fire from Viet Cong AK-47s and rocket launchers. He had come up for air, taking sniper fire from both banks, sure "my ticket was punched.'' http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/08/MNGKO4RLT71.DTL On March 13, 1969, Rassmann, a Green Beret, was traveling down the Bay Hap river in a boat behind Kerry's when both were ambushed by exploding land mines and enemy fire coming from the shore. Kerry was hit in the arm, while a mine blew Rassmann's boat out of the water. With enemy fire coming from both sides of the river and swift boats evacuating from the area, Kerry's crew chose to turn their boat toward the ambush to save Rassmann. http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0117d.html Rassmann, a first lieutenant in the Army special forces, was eating a chocolate chip cookie on Kerry's patrol boat as it pulled back from a fire fight when a nearby boat hit a mine. During the ensuing combat, Kerry's boat was rocked by another explosion, which injured Kerry and tossed Rassmann into the water. http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2004/07/22/76146.php While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath. http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005460 The group had already lost one soldier that day. As they sped down the river, one boat was blown out of the water, and then another. An explosion wounded Kerry in the arm and threw Rassmann into the river. Rassmann dove to the bottom to avoid being run over by the other boats. When he surfaced, he saw the convoy had gone ahead. Viet Cong snipers fired at him, and Rassmann submerged over and over to avoid being hit. The bullets came from both banks, and Rassmann had nowhere to go. He began thinking his time had come, but the fifth time he came up, he saw the convoy had turned around. Kerry had ordered the boats back to pick up the man overboard. http://www.htmlhelponline.com/kerry/news1.html

Comment by Brainster

Thu, 12 Aug 2004 21:29:04 EDT

Thanks for the link. I've been walking around in a daze for a week. :)

Comment by Hal Pawluk

Wed, 11 Aug 2004 20:02:25 EDT

MEM: in fact defending him against the inflammatory charges of... If that was a defense, please never ever step in to defend me. What you did in that post was a back-handed smear.

Comment by Shark

Wed, 11 Aug 2004 16:58:17 EDT

Kerry worships Satan

Comment by Mark Edward Manning

Wed, 11 Aug 2004 16:48:06 EDT

This is a strange phenomenon, as many of the Vets lining up against Kerry stand to lose a lot of credibility if they allege that he did not act bravely in Vietnam and that his Purple Heart awards were not so sincere. For me, this is especially intriguing as I have given Kerry the benefit of the doubt for his service, in fact defending him against the inflammatory charges of being a war criminal. Clearly there are those out there who do believe Kerry fought bravely in Vietnam and are crying for his head. Then again, I also know that Kerry couldn't separate himself from his "band of brothers" soon enough upon getting back from the war and his activities and Senate record since coming home from 'Nam should rightly outrage and offend Vietnam Veterans. I always doubted that all Vietnam Vets just love Kerry as much as Kerry supporters stipulate.

Comment by RJ

Tue, 10 Aug 2004 23:52:24 EDT

The mainstream media is strongly anti-Bush and pro-Kerry. This blatant lie by Kerry will be brushed aside as "minor" and "unimportant." Those that continue to bring it up will be accused of using "smear tactics against a genuine war hero." Etc. As I've said before, footage could come out tomorrow of Kerry butchering a pre-teen Vietnamese girl with a smile on his face, and the liberal press would immediately begin excusing it by talking of the "fog of war" and such. Sickening.