I read with much interest Kenneth Durkee’s letter, “Kerry should explain” (BDN, June 17).

I had many questions myself about young Lt. John Kerry’s service in Vietnam.

To receive the Silver Star is nothing to take lightly. The actual citation read: “With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, Lt. Kerry again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only 10 feet from the Viet Cong rocket position and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lt. Kerry in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission.”

The Bronze Star, a lesser medal, was awarded when Kerry saved the life of U.S. Special Forces Lt. James Rassman. Kerry previously had been shot in one arm and used his good arm to pull Rassman out of the river. By then Kerry had received three Purple Hearts, by decree set forth in the Bureau of Naval Personnel instruction document, 1300.39: “A Naval officer who receives three wounds ‘regardless of the nature of the wounds,’ can ask a superior officer to request a reassignment.”

I think the lieutenant saw a higher calling.

Jeff Hagelin

Dover-Foxcroft