Centerfield

"I saw some war heroes ... John Kerry is not a war hero," said John O'Neill, a Houston lawyer who joined the Navy's Coastal Division 11 two months after the future senator left Vietnam. "He couldn't tie the shoes of some of the people in Coastal Division 11."

"I saw some TANG pilots ... George Bush is not a TANG pilot," said Hipocrite, a US Citizen who visited a Texas National Guard Base in 1997, over twenty years after the future president was "honorably" discharged. "He couldn't drink the booze of some of the people in the TANG."

Thanks for making the point about Bush and TANG pilots, Hipocrite.

Just some thoughts to open Pandora's Box.
What else do we know re O'Neill? What did he do over there? Was he a Purple Heart for getting some shrapnel in him with no apparent limp or any long-term damage? Speaking out against after serving was not same as being some rat in my view because I think other countries should fight for their own ____ wars and own freedom-- with benefit of supplies and military consultancy. Bearing arms to defend U.S. is another item entirely.

Alex

Alex:

Are you inferring that Kerry gained his three purple hearts in Vietnam erroneously? Are you saying he didn't deserve them and the military somehow screwed up and just handed them out?

Just wanting clarification, please.

No, Alex engaged in slime-and-deny - he's able to pretend that he didn't just slime every single person who served in Vietnam, even though he just did.

Overemotional babbling reaction to.

Alex

Alex:

I'd very much like you to clarify your post. Were you saying that Kerry didn't actually earn his Purple Hearts? Were you saying that the military somehow misconferred these to him?

Please post a clarification.

There is more nuance to what I had stated.
I did not negate that Kerry was a brave guy.
One way I judge people is: would I want to be fighting for my life with that person by my side?

Just meant maybe there should be a difference in awarding medals for different levels of injuries?
I have always resented the brass sitting wherever getting those medals and promotions. Know of some 'rear' admirals who never even saw any battle. Think should only be for heat of fire or battle.

Alex

Alex:

Thanks for the clarification.

It's my understanding that Kerry earned one of his Purple Hearts and his Silver Star during a battle where he was injured and saved another man's life while under fire in the MeKong Delta. I believe you can get all of the PDF files from Kerry's website which include the official military record from Kerry's superiors.

I can certainly understand why you might feel it's frivilous to just give out medals to guys who sat back and let others do the work and get shot.

Kerry is not one of those, according to the record.

The thing that I think gets largely lost in the argument over whether Kerry deserved the first Purple Heart or not is that the Purple Heart medal isn't for bravery or valor... it's simply for having been injured. It's very clever, and very dishonest, for the Bushies to attack the one Purple Heart citation and try to spin it into a question of valor while glibly avoiding any hint of questioning the Silver or Bronze Star citation - which are given for bravery and valor.