Several points are in contrast to what Kerry and others ACTUALLY said:
1) Kerry was 'terribly wounded' in the Bronze Star incident.
Never heard Kerry or anyone except O'Neill claim that. Lie #1.
2) Kerry was 'bleeding heavily'. Again, only O'Neill claims that Kerry or someone said that. Lie #2.
3) Kerry's third Purple Heart was based on the rice shrapnel. Very probably, the incident that Rassmann described to the Globe that resulted in Kerry's self-inflicted wound also produced the very wound Kerry used to claim his third and final Purple Heart.
Indeed, Kerry's report for that day mentions the rice he destroyed. He dishonestly transferred the time and cause of the injury to coincide with the Swift Boat action later in the day and claimed the cause of the injury was the mine exploding during that later action.
Wrong. Kerry did not state in the report that the shrapnel was from the firefight. Lie #3
4) Whatever the facts of the March 13 incident, it seems incontrovertible that: (1) Kerry lied in the Bronze Star citation about having any arm wound other than a minor bruise; and (2) Kerry fraudulently secured a Purple Heart by falsely attributing his self-inflicted buttocks wound to the mine explosion hitting PCF 3 or to any other hostile action.
Wrong. Kerry's Third Purple Heart was for the injury suffered in the mine explosion. Lie #4.
5) Kerry, however, portrays himself towing the disabled PCF 3 to safety after saving it. Another lie: The damage control on PCF 3 was done by Thurlow. [Thurlow was awarded the Bronze Star as a result of his actions.]
Kerry's boat DID tow PCF 3 to safety, AFTER Thurlow's damage control. The two are not mutually exclusive. Lie #5.
6) Kerry's PCF 94, returning to the scene after its flight, reached Rassmann about 20 yards ahead of Chenoweth's boat. Kerry did the decent thing by going to pick up Rassmann, justifiably earning his gratitude. However, the claim that Kerry returned to a hostile fire zone is a lie, according to Chenoweth, Thurlow and others.
Thurlow's own Bronze Star citation clearly cites enemy fire. Are we expected to believe that Thurlow never read the citation, and/or never questioned it? Revisionist memory by people out to lie about Kerry. Lie #6.
7) The repeated statements that Kerry was "sent home" by the Navy ignore the fact that Kerry requested to be sent home, invoking a regulation of which most Swiftees were unaware.
Wrong. The rule was, you're automatically sent home after the third Purple Heart. You have to request to STAY, not go. Kerry did not request to stay. Lie #7.
I'm sure there's more, since O'Neill is so adept at lying and distorting. |
