In Vietnam, Kerry met one of the Viet Cong who was in the ambush that led to Kerry's

[karynnj]

8. Not to mention, that this was an ambush - exactly like many that had killed and maimed

sailors in other swiftboats.

From Tour of Duty and other sources, Kerry had tried to figure out a way to respond that was different from being the sitting ducks that the swiftboats were in the narrow channels. (Kerry joined many others in protesting what they were assigned to do, but his superiors continued to assign those missions.)

From the book, Kerry spoke first to some of his crew and then to his peers, using paper cups to describe how they could surprise the enemy and actually attack them with all their guns facing the shore from which the Viet Cong were attacking from. The skippers of the other two boats with him bought into Kerry's plan ahead of time.

The result was that all the men on Kerry's boat and the other two boats survived. Kerry's athletic ability, quick reflexes and courage were needed as well. Without his action, many of the them would have been killed.