WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- Sen. John Kerry's accounts of his Vietnam service and tales of atrocities were attacked in Washington Tuesday by a group of war veterans.
"Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," an organization that includes some of Kerry's former commanders and comrades in the war, said the presumed Democratic presidential nominee lied about witnessing war crimes and atrocities and should release all his military records -- including medical records -- for scrutiny.
"I don't believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the U.S. Armed forces," said retired Rear Adm. Roy Hoffmann, who was in charge of the river patrol boats during Kerry's time of service. "This is not a political issue. It is a matter of honesty."
The veterans denied having committed or of having witnessed the atrocities Kerry testified before Congress about after becoming an anti-war activist, and some questioned the circumstances and merit of one of Kerry's three Purple Hearts, which enabled him to leave Vietnam after just four months of duty.
Spokesmen for Kerry's presidential campaign were not immediately available for comment.
The veteran's group denies any political affiliation or connection to the campaign of President George W. Bush or the Republican Party.
