Nice story.
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/03/an_old_band_of_brothers/>
An old band of brothers
By Adrian Walker
For Fred Short, Saturday marked 14,610 days since his life was saved by Navy Lieutenant John F. Kerry.
"I always count the days," Short said. "I wouldn't be here, except for John."
The episode has become a critical piece of Kerry's biography, for good and ill. On Feb. 28, 1969, as his six-man crew was being ambushed, Kerry led the retaliation.
Viet Cong forces retreated under a barrage of fire, and Kerry shot and killed an enemy soldier who was carrying a loaded rocket launcher.
On the 40th anniversary of the ambush, four of Kerry's men called to thank him. It was a conference call. Kerry had been told he would be speaking to a group of Massachusetts reporters about the proposed stimulus package.
"This is a total shock," Kerry said when he came on the line. "This is really a surprise. This is an unbelievable bunch of guys."
Kerry was awarded the Silver Star for his actions that day, which was far from the end of it. In his presidential campaign, he was accused of distorting his record. And he has been criticized over the years for filming the attack, seemingly attempting to preserve a record of his heroism.
His men are acutely aware of the controversy that has followed this attack. "It's a big day because of all the hoopla that's been made about it," said Del Sandusky. In the 2004 campaign in particular, Kerry's actions were endlessly debated. You probably remember the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. So do Kerry's men.
"People chose to listen to a bunch of liars instead of listening to the people who were there," growled Del Sandusky.
Kerry has made a point of maintaining ties to his crew, occasionally recruiting the men for campaign events. But he said he had no idea about the anniversary. "I had completely forgotten," he said.
In many ways, the conversation was like any gathering of men in late middle age, with jokes about knee and hip replacements, and other maladies of middle-age. But their bond to one another, and to Kerry, was obvious.
Kerry told them he has been getting their e-mails, and had just returned from a trip to the Middle East. Inevitably, the conversation turned to the current war - the only time in the discussion that Kerry sounded like a senator instead of a war buddy.
He talked about the size of the force that will remain in Iraq, noting that it might be smaller than the 50,000 troops that have been reported.
"I looked at the photograph the other day that was taken when we got our medals," he said. "Del is standing around looking like a superior guy to everybody."
They talked about arranging a real reunion, with Kerry suggesting they should travel to Vietnam together.
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