Esmense PT3 ó the vast majority of the Swift Boat vets who have come out against Kerry were enlisted men; their opinions have nothing to do with officers’ recommendations but are probably more accurate.

As far as Kerry’s records go, I was an officer. I’ve had a lot of OER’s written on me and wrote some. I am conversant with the arcane, indirect language used in those forms: Mandarin court poetry ain’t in it. For example, when a commander in a combat zone praises a subordinate, as one of Kerry’s did, for his turn out, deportment and mastery of French, he is not praising him. He is saying, in OER speak, ‘take this man off my hands.’

But I know I’m not the only ex or serving officer here. If you want to post or link to some of Kerry’s superb recommendations, we’d be happy to translate them for you.