This Week's Backside Of The Bell Curve Award

Larry Thurlow
(Not So Swiftboat Liar)

Same Place; Same Time: Same Medal; Same Citation...
but Thurlow "lost" his medal citation 20 years ago and now
accuses John Kerry (Tall Guy, Center) of lying about that day.

Records Counter a Critic of Kerry
Fellow Skipper's Citation Refers To Enemy Fire

By Michael Dobbs
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 19, 2004; Page A01

Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who commanded a Navy Swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly disputed Kerry's claim that the Massachusetts Democrat's boat came under fire during a mission in Viet Cong-controlled territory on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire" directed at "all units" of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat "despite enemy bullets flying about him."

As one of five Swift boat skippers who led the raid up the Bay Hap River, Thurlow was a direct participant in the disputed events. He is also a leading member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a public advocacy group of Vietnam veterans dismayed by Kerry's subsequent antiwar activities, which has aired a controversial television advertisement attacking his war record. LINK

Larry Thurlow claims he won his Bronze Star for helping out when another Swiftboat was disabled.

That means that the US Navy awards highly coveted combat medals for actions equal to helping someone change a tire on the highway.

Larry Thurlow claims there was no enemy fire that day.

That means that the US Navy's Commander Elliott (also a Swiftboat Liar) LIED in his official report of events that day and recommended Thurlow and Kerry for Bronze Stars because he (choose your own reason).

Larry Thurlow now claims he "lost" his Bronze Medal Citation 20 years ago.

Have you ever known a medal winner whose citation isn't framed nicely and prominently displayed somewhere in his/her home? Sure, there are fires, hurricanes, inept moving companies... but "losing" a treasured document such as one's medal citation is unheard of.

There ought to be a law against lying in order to defame others.

Oh, wait! There is.

And it used to be enforced.

Back when we fought wars to protect our Constitutional rights.

Back when we had Constitutional rights.