As in the case of the Silver Star, it was Elliott who recommended
Kerry for the Bronze Star. According to the recommendation signed by
Elliott, a mine exploded under a boat accompanying Kerry's craft.
''Almost simultaneously, another mine detonated close aboard [Kerry's]
PCF-94, knocking First Lieutenant Rassman [sic] into the water and
wounding Lt. JG Kerry in the right arm."
Elliott then described how Kerry ''managed to pull Lt. Rassman aboard
despite the painful wound in his right arm." Elliott concluded that
Kerry had been ''calm, professional, and highly courageous in the face
of enemy fire."
Elliott, in the interview yesterday, said that based on the affidavits
of the veterans on other boats, he now thinks his assessment about the
Bronze Star and third Purple Heart may have been based on poor
information.
In one affidavit, for example, Van O'Dell, who said he had been in a
boat near Kerry on that day, declared that Kerry had ''lied" about
what happened on that day and said that Rassmann was not under enemy
fire when Kerry pulled him aboard.
Elliott, asked about the contradiction between his recommendation and
his new questioning of Kerry's third Purple Heart, responded, ''It
makes me look kind of silly, to be perfectly honest."
But he said: ''I simply have no reason for these guys to be lying, and
if they are lying in concert, it is one hell of a conspiracy. So, on
the basis of all of the information that has come out, I have chosen
to believe the other men. I absolutely do not know first hand."
Naval documents said that Kerry ''received shrapnel wounds in left
buttocks and contusions on right forearm when a mine detonated close
to PCF 94 while engaged in operations on river. Condition and
prognosis excellent. Result of hostile action."
Rassmann, reached by telephone yesterday, said he has never had any
question that Kerry deserved the Purple Heart. He said there were two
separate events: One was earlier in the day, when he and Kerry blew up
a rice cache, and the explosion caused some of the rice to hit Kerry,
and perhaps some weapon fragments as well. The second involved a mine
explosion as Kerry and Rassmann were on patrol. The explosion,
Rassmann said, knocked him overboard and threw Kerry against the pilot
house, injuring his arm.
Rassmann said that he has always believed that Kerry got the third
Purple Heart solely for the injury to his arm as a result of the
explosion in the water.
''If he got fragments in the buttocks due to the mine, that is new
information to me," Rassmann said.
''I would say there is confusion. Maybe they did lump it together. It
was my understanding he got it for the wound being thrown across the
pilot house."
Either way, Rassmann said, Kerry deserved the third Purple Heart
because such awards are given for injuries incurred in combat, and
Kerry's arm injury qualified. He also stood by his recollection that
he was under fire when rescued by Kerry.
wound from "rice in the face"? give the tard another medal pls ..
"under fire" "not under fire"
purple heart for a bruised foream or sharpnel in his butt??
don't you think the guy he pulled out of the water "under fire" would remember his his bud had taken a shot in the arse??
think it'd been something to laugh about if nothing else ...
skerry is a sham, con artist, double speak master through and through ...
