This is an interesting read from “The Federalist”:

          On the subject of “clashing political visions,” a group of 220 veterans who served with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in a swiftboat unit have demanded that he quit using unauthorized photos of them in his campaign. Veteran William Shumadine, who is in one photo, said, “His use of a photograph with his 19 comrades with knowledge that 11 of them condemn him and six who [are deceased] or do not want to be involved is a complete misrepresentation to the public and a total fraud.”

          This comes on the heels of comments from his superiors about his less-than-dignified behavior during the war. Admiral Roy Hoffman said, “[Kerry] arrived in country with a strong anti-Vietnam War bias and a self-serving determination to build a foundation for his political future. He was aggressive, but vain and prone to impulsive judgment, often with disregard to specific tactical assignments. He was a loose cannon.” Thomas Wright, a swiftboat officer who served with Kerry, recalled, “I had a lot of trouble getting him to follow orders… Kerry seemed to believe there were no rules in a free-fire zone, and you were supposed to kill anyone.” Kerry was curiously known in radio communication by the self-chosen moniker “Boston Strangler.”

          In regards to Kerry’s much-ballyhooed three Purple Hearts, Wright said, “No one wanted a Purple Heart because it meant we had made a mistake. We made sure our crews were recognized, but no one took pride in a Purple Heart.” Then he added, “When he got his third Purple Heart, three of us told him to leave. We knew how the system worked and we didn’t want him in Coastal Division 11.”

          Finally, John O’Neill, the man who took over Kerry’s swift boat upon his early departure, said in a Wall Street Journal editorial, “Today, America is engaged in a new war, against the militant Islamic terrorists who attacked us on our own soil. Reasonable people may differ about how best to proceed, but I’m sure of one thing — John Kerry is the wrong man to put in charge.”

And one other occurence you probably won’t hear about on the evening news:

          Speaking of Francophiles, we relate the story of a noteworthy encounter between self-avowed Francophile John “French” Kerry and Ted Sampley, a decorated former Green Beret who served two full tours in Vietnam — as distinguished from Kerry’s four months in country. Mr. Sampley spotted Kerry, protected by his Secret Service detail, at a Memorial Day photo shoot at the Vietnam Memorial. Sampley approached Kerry, extended his hand and said, “Senator…I am here to escort you away from the Wall because you do not belong here.” Of course, a Secret Service agent warned Sampley to back away and he obliged, but as he did, he said, “[John] Kerry does not belong at the Wall because he betrayed the brave soldiers who fought in Vietnam.” To which a decidedly less-than presidential Kerry — in front of a group of schoolchildren and other visitors — responded to Sampley with a less-than-flattering hand gesture. For some reason, the netwonk talkingheads missed that story.