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Aunty M,

I know it was. O'neill's 'Unfit for Command' has Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who were eye wittness' recount the whole incident. It wasn't until that was published that Kerry officially changed his version of 'hostile fire' to that of 'self-inflicted rice projectile'---he hasn't retuned the Purple Heart he got for it yet though.

As for your other theory about competition between the services--that seems plausible.

One thing I heard Bob Dole (a humble war hero) or someone else say is that perhaps Kerry should on a $20 bill or Mt. Rushmore (or both) because he earned 3 Purple Hearts, a Bronze and Silver medal quicker than any other US service member since our countries inception. He also did it with out spending so much as an afternoon being hospitalized---even Audie Murphy would be proud!