[Truth and Unfit for Command: A Review]

Primary Sources:

John Kerry's Vietnam Medals

Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), George Washington, April 1796 [National Gallery of Art]

Vietnam Service Medal

John F. Kerry qualified for four campaign stars in two tours of duty:

U.S.S. Gridley operations: enroute and in Subic Bay, Gulf of Tonkin [9 February–9 May 1968] [REVIEW]

Coastal Squadron One operations: Cam Ranh Bay, Cat Lo, An Thoi [17 November 1968–26 March 1969]

Kerry was in charge of PCF-44 from 6 December 1968 to 21 January 1969 and in charge of PCF-94 from 30 January to 25 March 1969. For compilations of after-action "spot" reports and press releases involving these boats for these dates, see:

For declassified information about these operations, see:

Presidential Unit Citation

Task Force 115 SWIFT boat operations, 6 December 1968–31 March 1969

Silver Star

Sealords mission 270, 28 February 1969 [MAP] [REVIEW]

4 officers and at least 15 crew members present on three boats:

  1. PCF-23 OinC LTJG William B. Rood,† Benjamin M. Cueva, Richard J. Lamberson,† Larry C. Lee, Jerry R. Leeds, Kenneth Martin
  2. PCF-43 OinC LTJG Donald G. Droz,† Robert E. Hornberger, Lloyd E. Jones, Wayne D. Langhofer,† Stephen A. Miller, Michael S. Modansky
  3. PCF-94 OinC LTJG John Kerry, Thomas Belodeau,† Michael Medeiros,† Del Sandusky, Fred Short, Eugene Thorson, LTJG Charles R. Gibson

U.S. Army advisory team members (aboard PCF-23): Bill Hirschler,† Mike Miggins,† Doug Reese
U.S. Navy demolition team members (aboard PCF-94): LTJG Peter N. Upton, Hinson, Mitchell

† Awarded Bronze Star for this mission.

Bronze Star with Combat "V"

Sealords mission 358, 13 March 1969 [MAP] [REVIEW]

5 officers and at least 25 crew members present on five boats:

  1. PCF-3 OinC LTJG Richard W. Pees, Fred L. Arp, Earl N. Hollister, Kenneth F. Tryner, Leslie L. Vorphal, Walter Wolfe
  2. PCF-43 OinC LTJG Donald G. Droz, Robert E. Hornberger, Lloyd E. Jones, Wayne D. Langhofer, Stephen A. Miller, Michael S. Modansky
  3. PCF-51 OinC LTJG Larry R. Thurlow,‡ Robert E. Lambert,‡
  4. PCF-23, manned by PCF-93 crew, OinC LTJG Chenoweth, Van H. O'Dell,
  5. PCF-94 OinC LTJG John Kerry,‡ Del Sandusky, David Alston, Thomas Belodeau, Michael Medeiros, Eugene Thorson

‡ Awarded Bronze Star for this mission.

Purple Heart 1

2 December 1968 [REVIEW]

Purple Heart 2

Sealords mission 324, 20 February 1969 [MAP] [REVIEW]

Purple Heart 3

Sealords mission 358, 13 March 1969 [REVIEW]


[Truth and Unfit for Command: A Review]

© Eric Rasmussen, 2004

hello.rasmus@gmail.com