Kerry to release recordsPage 2 of 2 -- Yesterday, the campaign showed that document to the Associated Press.
The other documents released yesterday to the AP include the award citations and two after-action reports that describe the wounds that Kerry received for his second and third Purple Hearts. The award citations have been available from the campaign previously, and the after-action reports have been publicly available from the Navy Historical Center and were reported last year by the Globe. Last night, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said, ''John Kerry's very proud of his military record, having won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. He is proud of the people that he served with -- This is a story that we want to tell, because it shows a man of great leadership. John Kerry is not only proud of talking about his military record, because it shaped him as a leader and a person. But there are also others who are able to talk about him, like his crewmates who have stood by his side in his decades since their days in the war."
President Bush's military service record in the Texas Air National Guard has been the subject of controversy. His service concluded with a final year of sporadic duty and an early return in 1973 to civilian life. The White House has said all of Bush's military records have been public; the White House did not make public his medical records but allowed reporters to look at some of those records. Earlier yesterday, the Kerry campaign chairman, Jeanne Shaheen, said in television interviews on Fox and CNN that the records were already posted. But Gillespie, the GOP chairman, said they were not posted at that time. For months, the site has included a section on Kerry's service record, but it does not offer copies of actual records; instead it is a summation of Kerry's service, based in part on a series published last year by the Globe. Meehan did not respond to a request to clarify whether some reports have been online and where they are located or whether Shaheen was referring to the summary. In the interview on CNN, correspondent Judy Woodruff asked Shaheen whether Kerry would release ''all of the material, evaluations by his commanding officers? All of his medical records?" ''Our intent is to make all of those records available," Shaheen responded. ''Most of them are -- they're all available on the website that we have today." When Woodruff asked whether ''everything [is] going to be put out," Shaheen said, ''we intend to put out everything that we have."
Kranish reported from Washington; he can be reached by e-mail at kranish@globe.com. Healy traveled with Kerry in Florida. © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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