Rep. Murtha's Vietnam decorations.

John Murtha served with the Marines in Vietnam and spent time in the field. For that alone he is entitled to major points. However, there appears to be some basis for doubting that Mr. Murtha's Purple Heart decorations were for anything more than mere lacerations:

According to a May 16, 2002, edition of the Washington, Pa., Observer-Reporter, Murtha "produced military paperwork indicating he was entitled to the awards," and a Murtha spokesperson was quoted as saying that "the media for years has investigated 'and found nothing.'"

But Murtha's paperwork did nothing to sway [former Pennsylvania Democratic congressional colleague and fellow decorated Vietnam veteran, Don] Bailey's opinion.

"You may fool a few reporters into believing that merely because you got some perfunctory paperwork made out by a friend, that that means you earned the purple hearts [sic]. But even if you were awarded the medals later, there should be affidavits from witnesses. These things should be easy to get," Bailey wrote in his letter while demanding an apology from Murtha for questioning his credibility.

Murtha could end the controversy at any time, Bailey added, simply by calling a press conference and producing the evidence of his wounds.

"Explain where you were and what you were doing when you got the purple hearts.[sic] Explain who was with you and treated your wounds, but most important, Jack, describe your wounds or the lack thereof, as you did for me, years ago," Bailey wrote.

"Unless the Marine Corps gives out medals for unsubstantiated noncombat-related telltale scratches, procured for use in political campaign -- then show me the money, Jack," Bailey added.

A former GOP opponent, Dr. William Choby, remarked that Mr. Murtha's military record "improves over the years."

Mr. Murtha's own descriptions of the circumstances of his being wounded and the location of the wounds is inconsistent and his responses to the various charges made have done little to answer his critics. According to the source, Mr. Murtha has also "declined to release his full military records."

Has John Kerry released his military records yet? Didn't he promise to do that?

"Murtha's War Hero Status Called Into Question." By Marc Morano and Randy Hall, Cybercaset News Service, 1/13/06.