Kerry’s Skimmer Scam Scalped

Thomas Lipscomb, in the second of a 3-parter at RealClearPolitics.com, “John Kerry’s Skimmer Scam”, details why Kerry’s version of his first Purple Heart doesn’t hold water.

For those who need a quick refresher: John Kerry – mysteriously after his commanders who knew better had left Vietnam -- was awarded his first of three Purple Hearts in Vietnam, three allowing a quick ticket out of there, from a tiny splinter in his arm skin after a mission. His commanders at the time had denied him his request for a Purple Heart, as there was no enemy action involved.

Kerry maintains there was enemy action involved, necessary for a Purple Heart, that the senior officer, Bill Schachte (later senior uniformed JAG officer of the Navy), who skippered all (but one, another) such missions is a liar that he was there as the skimmer could only hold three and Schachte wasn't one of them, and lies that there was no enemy action.

Lipscomb interviewed all involved, with the exception of Kerry himself who wouldn’t be interviewed by Lipscomb.

Lipscomb, based on one of Kerry’s sailor allies, demonstrates that the skimmer boat could hold more than the three that Kerry says was its capacity, so Schacte could have been aboard. Indeed, the senior commander of the unit and Schachte and other Swift Boaters knowledgeable know that a rookie trainee – Kerry – would never have been given lead on such a mission.

Indeed, again, Kerry’s own journal entry afterward said, “we hadn't been shot at yet.”

Kerry’s been shot at now, by Lipscomb, and Kerry once again is shot down, as with his many other self-inventions.