In 2004, English picked up a new term.  Swift Boating. It basically is used derogatorily to mean to catch someone unawares.  But literally it means to tell the truth when someone will not.  It sprang up because most of John Kerry's fellow "swift boaters" (a small river craft used in Vietnam) told the truth about his service during the war.  For the most part, it was not headline making or even damning.  They simply said he was an average sailor doing an average job.  But this contrasted with his own recounts that were more of the Audie Murphy variety.

in all, 8 of the 11 "brothers in arms" came out against Kerry in 04.  One was dead, and one stood by him.  Wade Sanders.  Now it turns out that Wade Sanders was less than truthful about his OWN exploits.  So much so that the Navy has taken back a Silver Star from him for basically lying about the circumstances that merited his getting one in the first place.  Why so many years later did the Navy take action?

No one would have known or cared about John Kerry's service in Vietnam if he had not brought it up to use when running for president.  But he did, and his fellow sailors felt it necessary to set the record straight.  In other words, the reason for the term "swift boating" is because Kerry lied. 

And the reason for his only supporter losing his medal is for another crime.  Wade got caught with child pornography.  Had he kept his pecker in his pants, no one would care who Wade is or what he did.  But he had to try a Clinton, and got caught.

It is telling that the only member of the swiftboat team that supported Kerry is now a convicted felon who has himself lost his medals.  Some have contended that Kerry lied on his applications for his Purple Hearts as well.  But the difference between Kerry and Sanders is Kerry is too high up the political chain to lose medals. (He controls the Navy money).  Sanders was just a fool.  But other than political office, the 2 share more than just a different story than the rest of their band of brothers.