Sunday, April 4, 2004 11:37 p.m. EDT

B.G. Burkett: Navy Commanders to Cast Doubt on Kerry's War Record

Several Navy officers who supervised Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry when he commanded a swift boat in Vietnam are preparing to publicly question his war record - including the circumstances under which he was awarded three Purple Hearts - a noted Vietnam War historian revealed on Sunday.

Burkett, whose 1999 book, "Stolen Valor," is considered to be the definitive history of of falsified Vietnam War claims, told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg that Kerry's former commanders would allege that the top Democrat's Purple Hearts were awarded for "self-reported injuries that were virtually nonexistent."

"He never got a day of treatment, he never spent a day in a medical facility," Burkett said. "These were all self-reported wounds, which you're going to hear from some swift boat guys in the future as to the nature of those wounds."

Burkett said he had personally spoken to the Navy commanders who were preparing to go public about Kerry's decorations.

"You're going to get quite a showing [of those speaking out]," Burkett told Malzberg. "I don't know [the number] yet. They're trying to get it to be unanimous of every swift boat guy who ever served."

As to the timetable for the upcoming revelations, Burkett said that Kerry's superior officers "were still discussing that."

"You've got some major rallys being planned against John Kerry by Vietnam veterans on the mall, at the convention - this type of thing," he said. "And we're going to make America aware of John Kerry's military record."

This is one thing dubya doesn't have to worry about. X

I guess your right X.. because Bush isn't a liar and flip flop artist

I was wondering how long this would take. Were other people on his boat wounded? Did they each get 3 purple hearts and go home? Inquiring minds want to know.

EI

i have heard that before and it might very well be true.

if so, the choice would be between a fake hero and a guy who went awol.

only in america, in it's waning days.

Bush isn't a liar? I've got news for you,all politicians lie. The POTUS included. X

True, they all lie. And they all spend too much. It is an unfortunate choice of the lesser of two evils. I was at this evil store the other day? Rent to own evil things? And some guy came in and leased two really evil products. He was the lessor of two evils...

Wasn't he looking at weevils? I thought he took the smaller one.

Well at least I got a response about the lying but not about Kerry being a flip flop artist.. I guess that is indefensable.Also with all the Bashing of Bush I have yet to see anyone tell us what would Kerry do differently and why his plan is better?

What is his stance on the issues that matter. The war, the economy, foriegn policy. Nobody seems to know or question him on these issues they just let him and his band of screamers tell us how bad Bush is.

Please Rick, X and anyone else. Dont tell me why Bush is bad. Tell me why Kerry is good and tell me please tell me why he would be a better choice.

BTW I just heard today that the mulla leader of Hesbolah is supporting the overthrow of Bush as president so I guess Kerry's retoric is having an affect

I'm with EI on this one. Dirt about Dubya's past is just that - dirt from the past. Tell me what Kerry's PLAN is and why Kerry's PLAN is better than Dubya's plan.

EI

i wish i could tell you why kerry is better, but i can't. i prefered dean.

i can't conceive (had a vasectomy) of any administration that could be more self serving then the current one.

4 more years and this country may be gone.

the bill of rights is being stripped away.

the christian coalition is trying to dictate our laws.

cheney is running this country as though the usa was a subsidiary of halliburton.

i know renewing the draft has been floating around for many years, but if bush is elected, it will become activated. military enlistments and reenlistments are down and we are running out of troops. rest assured, as always, the sons of the wealthy will be in guard units that will not be sent to fight.

you may not remember, but there was a time when a court order was required to tap phone lines.

a person's medical records were not subject to inspection by the government.

voter registration was sacrosanct. both toby and i have been registered in whittier since 1969. she as a rebulican and me as a democrat. i was not on the registration when i went to vote in the 2000 election.

how many people were in the same posotion in florida.

i don't know what kerry has in mind and he probaly doesn't either.

i won't try to vote for nadar, assuming i am allowed to register this time. i will vote for kerry or betty boop, as long as they are running on the democratic ticket.

if i accomplish anything at all with my raving and ranting i hope it will be that people stop following the photo opps, the sound bites, and dig into what is really happening and make a decision based on what they can learn themselves.

You know a candidate's pretty left when Ted Kennedy does the fighting. Kerry's record stands for itself...It actually can't stand, it kinda flops around like a bass that's struggling to get out of the boat. 'W' may not be perfect, but he's sincere in what he does.

Fritz

RICK, MY RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS

i wish i could tell you why kerry is better, but i can't. i prefered dean.

EVEN WORSE OF A CHOICE

i can't conceive (had a vasectomy)

TMI MY FRIEND

of any administration that could be more self serving then the current one.

REMEMBER CLINTON?

4 more years and this country may be gone.

MORE LIKELY WITH KERRY AND WE WILL BE PAYING MORE FOR THE HONOR OF BOWING AT THE ALTER OF THE UN

the bill of rights is being stripped away.

MEDIA AND LIBERAL SPIN

BUT THEN THEY ARE STRIPPING AWAY AT THE SECOND AMENDMENT DAILY

the christian coalition is trying to dictate our laws.

OHH CHRIST

cheney is running this country as though the usa was a subsidiary of halliburton.

WHERE IS MY IRAQI OIL I DIN'T EVEN GET A TANKFUL YET

i know renewing the draft has been floating around for many years, but if bush is elected, it will become activated. military enlistments and reenlistments are down and we are running out of troops. rest assured, as always, the sons of the wealthy will be in guard units that will not be sent to fight.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES CALLING FOR THE REINSTATMENT OF THE DRAFT

you may not remember, but there was a time when a court order was required to tap phone lines.

STILL IS REQUIRED. MORE SPIN TO THE MASSES

a person's medical records were not subject to inspection by the government.

YEAH AND CLINTON BENIFITS FROM THAT ONE

voter registration was sacrosanct. both toby and i have been registered in whittier since 1969. she as a rebulican and me as a democrat. i was not on the registration when i went to vote in the 2000 election.

how many people were in the same posotion in florida.

I CAN'T HELP IT IF THEY LET UN-INFORMED PEOPLE VOTE

i don't know what kerry has in mind and he probaly doesn't either.

AHHHH SOME TRUTH AT LAST

i won't try to vote for nadar, assuming i am allowed to register this time. i will vote for kerry or betty boop, as long as they are running on the democratic ticket.

REMEMBER IT WAS PEROT THAT SWUNG IT TO CLINTON IN 92

if i accomplish anything at all with my raving and ranting i hope it will be that people stop following the photo opps, the sound bites, and dig into what is really happening and make a decision based on what they can learn themselves.

YES AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY WITH MY POSTING

Hey, I take offense to putting bass and Kerry in context.

Bassdude:

You're right, bass are worth keeping, Kerry, kinda like hmmmm what??? I know suckerfish or leeches!

Fritz

RICKAMAVEN writes,

"you may not remember, but there was a time when a court order was required to tap phone lines. "

There was also a time, before the liberal madness of the 60's, when the police could actually use their power to keep law and order. The social experiment of keeping the police from using their power to actually deter crime is far younger, and far less successful, than the left would actually like to admit

Only in the past 40 to 50 years have we seen the police reduced to being mere referees with little power to actually prevent crime before the fact.