Kerry's folly: Kerry should focus on himself, not Bush.

Kerry Camp Offers Some Military Records
By NEDRA PICKLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Amid questions about his military records, John Kerry's campaign on Tuesday provided documentation of Vietnam War injuries that included shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and buttocks that earned him three Purple Hearts.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on the Internet by day's end. Kerry said all his military records are available to the public during an appearance Sunday on NBC's ``Meet the Press.''

Meehan said the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested a copy of his record from the Navy last month and received roughly 150 pages last week. He said the campaign was in the process of scanning images of the documents Tuesday and they would be posted on Kerry's Web site.

Conservatives, talk radio and some newspapers editorials have questioned whether Kerry was deserving of the three Purple Hearts, fueling questions about his Navy service from 1966 to 1970 and the seriousness of his injuries.

He served two tours of duty, four months on the USS Gridley frigate off Vietnam's shore and nearly five months as a swiftboat commander in the Mekong Delta. He volunteered for the second tour and earned all his medals during the second stint.

Meehan gave The Associated Press 13 pages that included documentation for the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. The Boston Globe obtained some of the records last year for an extensive series on Kerry.

The documents also included declassified reports that explain Kerry's wounds that led to his Purple Heart awards. They show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under intense fire on Feb. 20, 1969, and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close to his boat on March 13, 1969.

The campaign could not locate a similar report for Kerry's original Purple Heart. As evidence that Kerry was wounded, Meehan showed The Associated Press a ``Sick Call Treatment Record'' from Kerry's personal files that included a medic's written note dated Dec. 9, 1968.

``Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty.''

Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. The documentation does not describe the severity of the injuries. A third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area.

Meehan said although Kerry could have asked to stay in Vietnam, it was the Navy's decision to request that he be reassigned. Kerry left the country in early April 1969.

Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman accused Kerry's campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign's position on Tuesday to release the records in ``due diligence'' is contrary to Kerry's comments on ``Meet the Press'' that the records would be made public immediately.

``Senator Kerry's record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters,'' Mehlman said.

Meehan responded, ``Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served.''

Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat.

According to the Pentagon, the Silver Star is awarded for ``gallantry in action against an opposing armed force'' and the Bronze Star is for ``heroic or meritorious achievement of service, not involving aerial flight in connection with operations against an opposing armed force. Bronze 'V' device worn to denote valor.''

The Purple Heart is ``awarded for wounds or death as a result of an act of any opposing armed force, as a result of an international terrorist attack or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force.''

On the Net:

http://www.johnkerry.com

Facsimilies of Kerry's Purple Heart citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/purplehearts.pdf

Facsimilies of Kerry's bronze and silver star citations are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/stars.pdf

Facsimilies of reports describing Kerry's wounds are available at:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/kerry/actionreports.pdf


04/20/04 18:05

The polls are quite clear. The majority of people disagree with Bush's handling of the economy.

The majority of people disagree with Bush's handling of Iraq.

The majority of people disagree with the direction this nation is headed.

Have candidates and/or sitting presidents always been expected to make this public information, or is this relatively new?