Kerry releases some military records

By The Washington Post and The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., yesterday released some of his military-service records from the Vietnam War as he sought to defuse a growing controversy over his refusal to fully disclose a wide range of personal information, from details of his combat service to family finances.

Under pressure from President Bush's campaign to provide a more detailed, public accounting of his combat and medical history, the Kerry campaign last night started posting on its Web site, www.johnkerry.com, scores of pages of documents about his two tours in Vietnam, including war wounds. He was awarded three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.

His campaign said additional medical records will be released.

Until yesterday, most of the information made public had been available only to reporters at certain media organizations, including The Washington Post. As recently as Sunday, Kerry had signaled a reluctance to open all of the files to the general public — especially his political enemies.

Kerry denied he was succumbing to political pressure. "That's stupid," he said. "I never had any hesitancy."

The documents included declassified reports that show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under heavy fire Feb. 20, 1969, and later suffered shrapnel wounds in his buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated near his boat March 13, 1969. Details about the wounds involved in Kerry's first Purple Heart were not made available.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said, "Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served."

President Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat. Bush released hundreds of pages of his Vietnam-era military records in February to counter Democrats' suggestions that he shirked his duty in the Texas Air National Guard.

Kerry, who spent the day in Florida talking about the environment, is also reconsidering a decision to keep private the tax returns of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, according to a top campaign adviser who requested anonymity.

Heinz Kerry is heir to a $500 million ketchup fortune and has not ruled out spending some of it to defend her husband in the campaign. She has fought to keep her tax returns secret, arguing that she is a private citizen who is not seeking public office. A top adviser said Kerry's wife filed for an extension on her individual tax returns this month.

Stephanie Cutter, a campaign spokesman, said Heinz Kerry has no immediate plans to release her returns. "We are not releasing her taxes as any information about her finances are already public on the Senate disclosure forms, which she has filed publicly for almost a decade," Cutter said.

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