On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 12:39:19 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 11:45:53 -0500, John H wrote:


I think the idea is more that the ownership of one or more Purple Hearts
does not make one a "war hero."

Perhaps, but a Bronze Star and a Silver Star usually meet that criteria.

A Bronze Star may be awarded for Valor (heroism) or Service. I believe
his Bronze Star was awarded for service, i.e. he did his time.

The Silver Star is a valor (heroism) award. The degree of valor
necessary for the award is a matter of the judgement of the
authorizing officer. Below is an extract from the given site:

http://www.chronwatch.com/content/co...y.asp?aid=6249

Extract: He then took command of a second swift boat, No. 94, which
operated in the Mekong Delta. Under his command they totaled 18
missions over a period of 48 days, a far cry from the many who
completed full tours of duty there, Oliver North and Sen. John McCain
among this group. It was with this assignment that he was awarded his
Silver Star for killing a Viet Cong soldier who was already pinned
down and wounded in a ''Hooch'' courtesy of Kerry’s .50 caliber
gunner. It was also on swift boat No. 94 where he received his third
Purple Heart for once again receiving a minor wound from a mine that
went off adjacent to his swift boat. Later, when asked about the
severity of the combat injuries Kerry himself said that one of them
cost him about two days of service, and that the other two did not
interrupt his duty. He classified himself as ''walking wounded.''

Does this make him a "war hero?" For sure, these awards have no
bearing on his presidential qualifications.


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!