John Kerry's military decorations

[Lefty48197]

I just thought you might want to see these. They appeared in USA Today a couple of days ago.
I'm not a military man, but I'd think that a General would be tempted to salute an enlisted soldier, if he had this set of awards.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. But what would an AWOL guardsman do

when he saw these awards?

Why he would question the recipient's length of service!

Sorry, dubya, but even ONE DAY in Vietnam trumps a dental appointment stateside.:think: :bounce: :bounce:

[Lefty48197]

2. I doubt Bush even earned the honorable discharge medal

and I know damn well, he didn't earn ANY of the others.

[the Kelly Gang]

3. I thought you might like to see George Bush's medals...here they are :

[Catch22Dem]

4. That graphic is incorrect

The purple heart should only have 2 stars on it if he won 3 awards. One ribbon for the original, and 2 stars for 2 subsequent awards.

Very good of them to put this together though. It's one thing to talk about it, it's another to actually see it.

[Jai4WKC08]

8. Incorrect for two reasons

I don't believe a "V" device is ever awarded for a Silver Star, since the "V" denotes valor, and the Silver Star is only awarded for valor. At least, I've never seen it that way, and I just tried to look it up on google and couldn't find any provision.

[Lefty48197]

9. The graphic was put together by Julie Snider of USA Today

The tagline appeared right below the box. The Kerry campaign probably provided her with a list of awards won, and then she put the graphic together for USA Today. The graphic was published on pg 9A on 27 Apr 2004.

[Lefty48197]

10. Here's a link to the navy website re: ribbons and devices

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ribbons/navy_ribbons.html
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ribbons/devices.html

The devices seem to say that you get the "V" if your award was for something done during combat. You can certainly earn a valor award for a non combat act, but I don't really know about their rules. Again, I don't think the graphic was put together by the Kerry campaign. I'm pretty sure that the purple heart does only have two devices for a 3 time award winner.
I remember Kerry being asked by one of the Senators in 1971, "Did you receive the purple heart?". "Yes sir", answered Kerry. "And does it have two wreaths on it". "Yes sir", replied Kerry again. "No further questions", was the Senator's response.

[freetobegay]

5. Lets be fair now, heres Bush's medals

Did you see them?

[unblock]

6. at the debates, perhaps kerry should show up in uniform, medals and all?

that would be a master stroke!

of course, this assumes there even will be any debates....

[bucknaked]

7. To steal a line from a flick... You... don't HAVE one of these, do you...

...Mr. Bush?

Ah... Clear and Present Danger. Clancy is one Irish asshole (as am I), as he's a diehard repub, but I love his work.

Anyway, compare the pics of goofball Bush in his then-obsolete F102 (his expression exclaims "this is neat!"), compared to our next Commander in Chief, Kerry, receiving his Medal.