Thurlow, the lead man for the Swiftboat Veterans against Kerry, lied.
Period.

War record counters Kerry critic's version
Doubt is cast on author who says Dem not under fire

Michael Dobbs, Washington Post
Thursday, August 19, 2004



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






Washington -- Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John
Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic
presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win
medals, contradict his own version of events.

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who
commanded a Navy swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly
disputed Kerry's claim that his boat came under fire during a mission
on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released
Wednesday to the Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act,
contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons
fire" directed at the five-boat flotilla.

Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him
for providing assistance to a damaged swift boat "despite enemy
bullets flying about him."

As one of five swift boat skippers who led the raid up the Bay Hap
River, Thurlow was a direct participant in the disputed events. He is
also a leading member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a public
advocacy group of Vietnam veterans that has aired a controversial
television advertisement attacking Kerry's war record.

In interviews and written reminiscences, Kerry has described how his
50- foot patrol boat came under fire from the banks of the Bay Hap
after a mine explosion disabled another U.S. patrol boat. According to
Kerry and members of his crew, the firing continued as an injured
Kerry leaned over the bow of his ship to rescue a Special Forces
officer who was blown overboard in a second explosion.

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."

"I never heard a shot," Thurlow said in his affidavit, which was
released by Swift Boats Veterans for Truth.

A document recommending Thurlow for the Bronze Star noted that all his
actions "took place under constant enemy small arms fire which LTJG
THURLOW completely ignored in providing immediate assistance" to the
disabled boat and its crew. The citation states that all other units
in the flotilla also came under fire.

JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry, lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


--
Save America - Defeat Bush!

In article ,
says...
On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

A document recommending Thurlow for the Bronze Star noted that all his
actions "took place under constant enemy small arms fire which LTJG
THURLOW completely ignored in providing immediate assistance" to the
disabled boat and its crew. The citation states that all other units
in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry, lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

Pay attention here teach. Thurlow's own citation for the bronze star
includes the information that there was small arms fire coming from the
banks of the river.

It agrees with Kerry's and Rassmann's account of the events of that day
and is in direct conflict with Thurlow's very recent affidavit saying
that there was no small arms fire, three decades later.

When will you admit to yourself these guys are nothing but partisans who
would rip the most patriotic of men apart in an effort to get their man
elected.

The point person is non other than Merrie Spaeth, the same gal who
commandeered the character assassination of John McCain in 2000 with the
aide of Karl Rove.

These are scummy people.

jps

jps wrote:

In article ,
says...
On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

A document recommending Thurlow for the Bronze Star noted that all his
actions "took place under constant enemy small arms fire which LTJG
THURLOW completely ignored in providing immediate assistance" to the
disabled boat and its crew. The citation states that all other units
in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry, lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

Pay attention here teach. Thurlow's own citation for the bronze star
includes the information that there was small arms fire coming from the
banks of the river.

It agrees with Kerry's and Rassmann's account of the events of that day
and is in direct conflict with Thurlow's very recent affidavit saying
that there was no small arms fire, three decades later.

When will you admit to yourself these guys are nothing but partisans who
would rip the most patriotic of men apart in an effort to get their man
elected.

The point person is non other than Merrie Spaeth, the same gal who
commandeered the character assassination of John McCain in 2000 with the
aide of Karl Rove.

These are scummy people.

jps

I heard a phone interview with Thurlow earlier today...he can't even
keep his stories straight when he relates them "first hand" hinmself.
Oh...and he claimed he had "no contact" with the GOP guttersnipes
producing the ****boat ads. Right...he had no idea they were videotaping
him for the ad.

Guy lives in Dumbfoch, Kansas. Upper part of the state, about 100 miles
or so from the Colorado border. Maybe he grow winter wheat. If he knows
how.


--
Save America - Defeat Bush!

Harry Krause wrote in message ...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry, lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


Hey, John, have you considered that the records are public, and NO,
Kerry didn't write the citation?

basskisser wrote:

Harry Krause wrote in message ...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry, lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


Hey, John, have you considered that the records are public, and NO,
Kerry didn't write the citation?


John is back to his coloring book and Crayolas.

--
Save America - Defeat Bush!

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
basskisser wrote:

Harry Krause wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry,
lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


Hey, John, have you considered that the records are public, and NO,
Kerry didn't write the citation?


John is back to his coloring book and Crayolas.

--


Krause and Basskisser. Two peas in a pod. They deserve each other.

Kerry may have just been confused by the stress of combat. He was confused
one Christmas when he was sent into Cambodia, by a President not in office.
I guess he is just suffering from Post Traumatic stuff.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry,
lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


--
Save America - Defeat Bush!

"jim--" wrote in message ...
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
basskisser wrote:

Harry Krause wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry,
lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


Hey, John, have you considered that the records are public, and NO,
Kerry didn't write the citation?


John is back to his coloring book and Crayolas.

--


Krause and Basskisser. Two peas in a pod. They deserve each other.


Jim-- and John H, two members of a circle jerk.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net...
Kerry may have just been confused by the stress of combat. He was confused
one Christmas when he was sent into Cambodia, by a President not in office.
I guess he is just suffering from Post Traumatic stuff.


Uh, Kerry didn't write the report for Thurlow, you senile old goat.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:

On 19 Aug 2004 08:28:59 -0700, (basskisser) wrote:

in the flotilla also came under fire.

Have you considered that the author of the citation, probably Kerry,
lied? Very
seldom does one write his own citation.

John H

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


Ahhh...our mustered out mustang comes out of his coma to once again
prove that military intelligence is an oxymoron.


--
Save America - Defeat Bush!