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'''John Forbes Kerry''' (b. December 11, 1943) is the junior United States Senator from [[Massachusetts]] where he has been one of the most [[liberal]] senators<ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm</ref><ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm</ref> since 1984. In 2004, he ran an unsuccessful bid for the [[United States of America|United States]] [[President of the United States of America|presidency]] as the [[Democratic Party]]'s nominee, losing to [[Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent president [[George W. Bush]]. Kerry is currently the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

'''John Forbes Kerry''' (b. December 11, 1943) is the junior United States Senator from [[Massachusetts]] where he has been one of the most [[liberal]] senators<ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm</ref><ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm</ref> since 1984. In 2004, he ran an unsuccessful bid for the [[United States of America|United States]] [[President of the United States of America|presidency]] as the [[Democratic Party]]'s nominee, losing to [[Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent president [[George W. Bush]]. Kerry is currently the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

John Kerry was the only Swift sailor ever to leave Vietnam without completing the standard one-year tour of duty, other than those who were seriously wounded or killed. {{fact}} Kerry went to unusual lengths to obtain the Purple Heart after being turned down by his own commanding officer. <ref>[http://www.archive-news.net/Articles/FD040830.html ''Forging a Paper Hero: The Mystery of Kerry’s Medals] </ref>  [[President Nixon]] regarded Kerry as politically ambitious.

Kerry enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in February, 1966, and began active service that August as Ensign aboard the USS Gridley, a Guided Missile Frigate deployed in the Gulf of Tonkin.  During his tour of duty, Kerry requested his second tour be in Vietnam, listing his preferred position as comdeering a Fast Patrol Craft (PCF) or "Swift Boat."  His request was granted, and on November 17, 1968 he reported to Cam Ranh Bay for a month of training.  During his service, he recieved the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a total of three Purple Hearts during combat operations inside Vietnam, and after his third injury was permitted to request reassignment as per Navy instruction 1300.39, Leaving Vietnam on April 2, 1969.  Upon returning statesite, he served as personal aide to Rear Admiral Walter Schlech until March 1970 when his active duty obligation had ended.  Kerry continued serving in the Naval Reserves intil February 1972.

 

During his 2004 campaign for President, several Vietnam Veterans purchased advertising and endorsed a book that publically challenged Kerry's military service, accusing him of inflicting wounds upon himself,<ref>[http://www.learnedhand.com/kerryunfitepilogue.htm John Kerry - Unfit For Command]</ref> going to unusual lengths to obtain his Purple Hearts,<ref>[http://www.archive-news.net/Articles/FD040830.html ''Forging a Paper Hero: The Mystery of Kerry’s Medals] </ref> and attacking unarmed civilians.  This group of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" had been challenged on their truthfulness, firstly because no member of the group actually served on the boats that Kerry commanded or witnessed the events, and secondly for internal consistancy. As an example, one member of the group was Kerry's commanding officer, George Elliott, who as late as 2003 expressed having "no regrets or second thoughts at all" about writing Kerry up for his Silver Star,<ref>[http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061603.shtml ''John Kerry: A Candidate in the Making] </ref> only claim the exact opposite the following year.,<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp ''Snopes.com: Service Mettle] </ref>

 

Kerry belonged to Vietnam Veterans Against the War ([[VVAW]]), where he supported the anti-war movement.

Kerry belonged to Vietnam Veterans Against the War ([[VVAW]]), where he supported the anti-war movement.

:"''There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 caliber machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare, all of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this is ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.''"<ref>[http://hnn.us/articles/3552.html Vietnam 30 Years later: What John Kerry Said on Meet the Press], George Mason University, History News Network</ref>

:"''There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 caliber machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare, all of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this is ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.''"<ref>[http://hnn.us/articles/3552.html Vietnam 30 Years later: What John Kerry Said on Meet the Press], George Mason University, History News Network</ref>

Kerry voted for the Iraq War in 2002, vacillated on the issue during his 2004 presidential campaign, and now says, "There's nothing - nothing - in my life in public service I regret more, nothing even close. We should all be willing to say: I was wrong, I should not have voted for the Iraq War Resolution." <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/mistakes-and-responsibili_b_31482.html</ref>

Kerry voted to give President George W. Bush the authority to go to war with Iraq in 2002, although in his 2004 Presidential bid he campaigned as being opposed to the war, and now says, regarding his vote to give the President that authority, "There's nothing - nothing - in my life in public service I regret more, nothing even close. We should all be willing to say: I was wrong, I should not have voted for the Iraq War Resolution." <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/mistakes-and-responsibili_b_31482.html</ref>

==Books by John Kerry==

==Books by John Kerry==

* John Kerry, [http://www.freekerrybook.org/documents/THENEWSOLDIERPHOTOS_000.PDF ''The New Soldier''], edited by David Thorne, Macmillan Pub Co (October 1971). ISBN-10: 002073610X  

* John Kerry, [http://www.freekerrybook.org/documents/THENEWSOLDIERPHOTOS_000.PDF ''The New Soldier''], edited by David Thorne, Macmillan Pub Co (October 1971). ISBN-10: 002073610X  

== References ==

==References==

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[[Category:US Senators|Kerry, John]]

[[Category:US Senators|Kerry, John]]

[[Category:Political people]]

[[Category:Political people]]