Larry Thurlow respons to Kerry smears

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Larry Thurlow respons to Kerry smears
69
Thu, 08-19-2004 - 12:59pm
Statement By Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Member Larry Thurlow

I am convinced that the language used in my citation for a Bronze Star was language taken directly from John Kerry's report which falsely described the action on the Bay Hap River as action that saw small arms fire and automatic weapons fire from both banks of the river.

To this day, I can say without a doubt in my mind, along with other accounts from my shipmates-there was no hostile enemy fire directed at my boat or at any of the five boats operating on the river that day.



I submitted no paperwork for a medal nor did I file an after action report describing the incident. To my knowledge, John Kerry was the only officer who filed a report describing his version of the incidents that occurred on the river that day.



It was not until I had left the Navy-approximately three months after I left the service-that I was notified that I was to receive a citation for my actions on that day.



I believed then as I believe now that I received my Bronze Star for my efforts to rescue the injured crewmen from swift boat number three and to conduct damage control to prevent that boat from sinking.

My boat and several other swift boats went to the aid of our fellow swift boat sailors whose craft was adrift and taking on water. We provided immediate rescue and damage control to prevent boat three from sinking and to offer immediate protection and comfort to the injured crew.

After the mine exploded, leaving swift boat three dead in the water, John Kerry's boat, which was on the opposite side of the river, fled the scene.

US Army Special Forces officer Jim Rassmann, who was on Kerry's boat at the time, fell off the boat and into the water. Kerry's boat returned several minutes later-under no hail of enemy gunfire-to retrieve Rassmann from the river only seconds before another boat was going to pick him up.

Kerry campaign spokespersons have conflicting accounts of this incident-the latest one being that Kerry's boat did leave but only briefly and returned under withering enemy fire to rescue Mr. Rassmann. However, none of the other boats on the river that day reported enemy fire nor was anyone wounded by small arms action. The only damage on that day was done to boat three-a result of the underwater mine. None of the other swift boats received damage from enemy gunfire.

And in a new development, Kerry campaign officials are now finally acknowledging that while Kerry's boat left the scene, none of the other boats on the river ever left the damaged swift boat. This is a direct contradiction to previous accounts made by Jim Rassmann in the Oregonian newspaper and a direct contradiction to the "No Man Left Behind" theme during the Democratic National Convention.

These ever changing accounts of the Bay Hap River incident by Kerry campaign officials leave me asking one question.if no one ever left the scene of the Bay Hap River incident, how could anyone be left behind?




Edited 8/19/2004 1:14 pm ET ET by truemobile

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 10:54am
ITA
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 11:22am

Uh, you'll have to look long & hard in the archives to match anyone on the other side

Renee ~~~

Avatar for tmcgoughy
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 11:53am

"Uh, you'll have to look long & hard in the archives to match anyone on the other side

The first key to wisdom is constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.  -
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:30pm
Ugh.. can't we all stop with the snide remarks (myself included) to each

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:36pm
<

Kerry RAN, he fled the scene, HE IS A COWARD! It's finally admitted :-)>>

Some people should read shared information in its entirety before commenting, doncha think?

Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:41pm
So what? Kerry doesn't denounce Bush attack ads from Democrat sympathisers. And no liberals on this forum have denounced Bush attack ads either.

Kerry needs to act like a big boy and stop snivelling when the spotlight is on him.

Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:52pm
Given that the whole Viet Nam issue is moot, why isn't Kerry's senate record being brought up by the Kerry campaign? Why are they so obsessed about keeping the focus on Kerry's past? Could it be that his voting record is dismal?

Avatar for tmcgoughy
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:57pm

"...why isn't Kerry's senate record being brought up by the Kerry campaign? Why are they so obsessed about keeping the focus on Kerry's past? Could it be that his voting record is dismal?"


I don't know and frankly, I dont care.

The first key to wisdom is constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.  -
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 1:00pm

How right you are! Thanks for the reminder. ; )


I know what you mean about the issue oriented threads. They seem

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 1:03pm
I know, right?

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

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