This is such old news, how could you not know it? They wrote a book which neglected to mention swift boat vet Larry Thurlow, like Kerry, earned a Bronze Star with combat 'V' for rescuing Lt. Rassman while under fire. Like his other medals, they tried to claim Kerry didn't earn his Bronze Star. Thurlow even swore in an affidavit they were not under fire -- then it was discovered, with no help from Thurlow, he too earned a Bronze Star for heroism
under fire. They lied.
Records Counter a Critic of Kerry
Why do you think the term, "swiftboat," has become a verb meaning to lie about someone's past record in order to discredit them?
Your link has three other sailors that were there that did not see or hear any gunfire.
"John Kerry lied to get his Bronze Star," says Van Odell, a gunner on PCF-23, one of the boats that came to the rescue of the stricken boat. "I know. I was there."
Last month, Thurlow swore in an affidavit that Kerry was "not under fire" when he fished Lt. James Rassmann out of the water. He described Kerry's Bronze Star citation, which says that all units involved came under "small arms and automatic weapons fire," as "totally fabricated."
Two other Swift boat skippers who were direct participants in the March 13, 1969, mine explosion on the Bay Hap, Jack Chenoweth and Richard Pees, have said they do not remember coming under "enemy fire."