Lets just look at the facts.

[SteveStromberg]

On March 13, 1969, Green Beret Lieutenant Jim Rassmann is blown off John Kerry's Swift boat in the midst of an ambush by Viet Cong forces. Kerry's boat turns around, eases up to Rassmann, who is drawing a great deal of fire in the water, and Kerry runs to the bow and pulls him in.


Maybe some of you that are boaters can comment on pulling a manoverboard out of the water from the Bow of this swift boat.

[island911]

Steve, has no one told you of Kerry's super-hero powers?

[ubiquity0]

Kerry threw Rassman one end of a Purple Heart ribbon & pulled him up.

[mikester]

I've been tossed overboard before and my father pulled me in - it was a larger boat but not as big as the swift boat pictured. In the heat of battle and when a loved one is on the line (grossly assuming my father loves me) men can do amazing things.

From what I understand though - Mothers and Republicans can do more.

[widebody911]

Kerry told him to 'shove off' and it took it literally, which sent him into the drink. It was all a setup recorded on Super8 for future political purposes, and Rassman was really a multi-billionare mustard magnate. You also didn't hear how how Kerry stood there immobile for 7 1/2 minutes, so he wouldn't 'alarm' the troops, and so he could exude a sense of self confidence. Once Rassman was aboard, he couldn't speak for 18 1/2 minutes.

[djmcmath]

Doesn't Rassman work for Halliburton now? (tongue in cheek)

Originally posted by SteveStromberg
On March 13, 1969, Green Beret Lieutenant Jim Rassmann is blown off John Kerry's Swift boat in the midst of an ambush by Viet Cong forces.

Was Governor McGreevey aboard?

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
Was Governor McGreevey aboard?

If so, and Rassman worked for Halliburton, that would explain the drilling...

[SteveStromberg]

Mikester he pulled you in over the Bow? Transom or Gunwale? I am looking at this from a physics POV Dead lifting from 5ft above the waterline 150lbs(note The green Beret was likely heavier than 150)on to the deck.

[Moneyguy1]

Anyone mention there was a net on the front of the boat and the individual in question was halfway up it, although "upside down" (his own words)?

Petty, petty.petty.

[Rot 911]

Steve, first off I am no fan of Kerry's. Voting for GB. But, let me try to clear up a few facts. First, I have been on one of those boats, but never shot at on one and never fell overboard from one. On the other hand people were always falling off those boats just like they fell off of trucks, out of choppers, etc. People, even in combat, make stupid mistakes. Anyway, if you kill the engine on that boat the bow drops down and it is about 3-3&1/2 feet above water. You can see the water line painted on the boat in the picture that is posted above. While I think Kerry is truly a lying glory hound, I have no reason to believe he did not pull that man out of the water. I was on a Pathfinder team and have been around plenty of SF guys both overseas and stateside. Most of them are like me, thin and average height. Hell after a few months out in the boonies a guy 6' tall would have an average weight of 140-160 lbs!

[lendaddy]

Rassman said he had partially climbed up a cargo net and was upside down allowing Kerry to pull him up from the legs. However here is what the Swiftvets say actually happened(a touch different).

edit: I just read my first sentence, and it implies that the swiftvets dispute Rassman. That's not what I meant, I meant they dispute Kerry.

He received his third purple heart, and his bronze star, for an action on March 13, 1969. Kerry alleges he was wounded in the right buttock by the explosion of an underwater mine under an accompanying swift boat. Tom Rassman, an Army Special Forces officer, was knocked off Kerry's boat by the mine explosion. Kerry was awarded the bronze star for coming back "under heavy fire" to fish Rassman out of the water.


But sailors on the other swift boats say there was no enemy fire. "The force of the explosion disabled PCF-3, and threw several sailors, dazed, into the water. All boats, except one, closed to rescue the sailors and defend the disabled boat. That boat — Kerry's boat — fled the scene... After it was apparent there was no hostile fire, Kerry finally returned, picking up Rassman who was only a few yards away from Chenowith's boat which was also going to pick Rassman up."


Kerry's wound, moreover, had occurred not during the mine explosion, but earlier, when he tossed a concussion grenade into a pile of rice, according to Larry Thurlow, an officer who was with Kerry at the time.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Petty, petty.petty.

Desperate, desperate, desperate.

Anyone notice that since this 'Swift Boat' thing started, Kerry's ratings have begun to move up?

As the Bible says: 'sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.'

[GettinHeadStuds]

Think Rapunzel...

Kerry lowered his huge head of hair and the swimming sailor grabbed ahold. End of story.

Jeez, c'mon guys you should have figured this out by now...

:P

[juanbenae]

this is an example of the GOP's way this whole election. you know if,,, and i mean IF there were any war stories about bush they would be trumpeting them from the highest soap box they could find. instead they find it easier to continue to bad mouth kerry's actions. where was mr bush when kerry was in the jungle earning, or if you listen to the GOP and its supporters faking his military heroism? probally in texas (notice it was a home state stationing no less) in a bar drinking and snorting coke.

i am against g. bush in this election for no other reason than the GOP's way of doing business under his watch. do you think if bush had a war story (other than a wicked coke hangover battle) we would be hearing about it? lynn, island and the like tell me WHY i should vote for bush, not why i should not vote for the other guy.

its not a republican thing either. if i had my choice to vote for mccain over either of the two clowns i would lickety clit.

just give me your reasoning on why bush should get another 4 years without bashing kerry.

[SteveStromberg]

Just looking at photo and trying to figure out how he was hauled out of the water

[lendaddy]

Because the topic here is Kerry lying to advance his career at the expense of other Americans/soldiers. Bush never claimed to be a war hero, hence the lack of stories. Sorry to disappoint you. Oh ya, Lynn is on your side and he won't be happy if he sees himself listed as a Bush supporter

[lendaddy]

Steve, did you see my first post? Rassman had partially climbed up a cago net making it easier. That part is not in dispute.

I think the Senator should drop trou and show his ass scar. A good ass scar is worth some votes.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
Was Governor McGreevey aboard?

See djmcmath's tongue-in-cheek remark.....