NationStates Jolt Archive

Navy Launches Formal Kerry Medal Probe

The United States Navy has launched an official investigation into John Kerry's Vietnam War decorations, saying "it's the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records."

In launching the formal probe the Navy was responding to a referral from the Pentagon's inspector general's office - based on a complaint filed by the Washington-based legal watchdog group Judicial Watch, Fox News reported Friday.

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In a letter to Judicial Watch, the inspector general's office said: "Concerning our allegations of violations of Uniform Code of Military Justice, we have the responsibility to ... 'report suspected or alleged violations.' We have informed the secretary of the Navy of the allegations."
Former Navy Secretary John Lehman, who has challenged the authenticity of his signature on one of Kerry's war decorations, told Fox that Navy records needed to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established."

Most of the questions about Kerry's combat record appear to be based on processing errors, Navy sources told the news network.

However, even if the errors were based on inadvertent mistakes, any corrections would force the top Democrat to acknowledge that citations touting his heroism that have been posted to his Web site for months were false - a development that could have devastating political consequences.

"Even if it was the Navy's fault," one source following the story told NewsMax, "surely Senator Kerry knew the citations were wrong. Why did it take a formal Navy probe for him to correct records he had to know were fraudulent?"

Kerry received five medals during his four months in combat in Vietnam, including a Silver Star with a "Combat V" designation. A Navy source confirmed last week, however, that in the entire history of the Navy, no Silver Star has ever been awarded with "Combat V."

Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan suggested that the Navy probe was a waste of time and money.

"The facts are clear, the Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with a Combat V and three Purple Hearts. It is waste of taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime, to investigate a 35-year-old Navy clerical error," Meehan said in statement.

But Meehan's boss disagreed, at least when it came to the case of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jeremy Boorda.

In 1996, Adm. Boorda committed suicide after he was accused of wearing medals he hadn't earned.

At the time, Sen. Kerry told the Boston Herald that the error was "sufficient to question his leadership position."

"If you wind up being less than what you're pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value, self-esteem and your sense of how others view you," Kerry told the Boston Globe.

Source please? Edit: Nevermind I found lots of sources.

Oh speaking of probes though, maybe one will come of this

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040904/ap_on_el_pr/anti_kerry_veterans&cid=694&ncid=2043

Source please?

Oh speaking of probes though, maybe one will come of this

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040904/ap_on_el_pr/anti_kerry_veterans&cid=694&ncid=2043
Wow, they will be examining VA hosptials. Pretty damining. They might bring in Anti-Kerry doctors to fix aging veterans corns and scoliosis. What has this administration come too.


http://www.judicialwatch.org/3794.shtml

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/9/3/110242.shtml

Yeah, I said I had found sources.. I think of most interest is Judicial Watch who made the complaint to begin with. Conservative watchdog group. Moveon.org is a watchdog group, democracynow.org is a watchdog group.. I doubt much will come of it.

Yeah, I said I had found sources.. I think of most interest is Judicial Watch who made the complaint to begin with. Conservative watchdog group. Moveon.org is a watchdog group, democracynow.org is a watchdog group.. I doubt much will come of it.
Hey I was writing my reply as you edited yours. Calmate.

So when Kerry loses a purple heart due to fraud, can we send him back to Viet Nam. They have a musuem display there dedicaated to him helping them to win the war. He could give guided tours.

Kerry received five medals during his four months in combat in Vietnam, including a Silver Star with a "Combat V" designation. A Navy source confirmed last week, however, that in the entire history of the Navy, no Silver Star has ever been awarded with "Combat V."

Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan suggested that the Navy probe was a waste of time and money.

"The facts are clear, the Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with a Combat V and three Purple Hearts. It is waste of taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime, to investigate a 35-year-old Navy clerical error," Meehan said in statement.


Your own story contradicts itself. Thank you for playing. Your Turtle Wax is by the exit.

Hmm, interesting. Can the Navy punish an ex-member? I don't know.

I doubt much will come from it. Even if it shown he made up things, the next logical question would be "How many others got medals they didn't deserve? You obviously didn police it....."

I wonder if Admiral whathisface of the Swifties is calling in a few favors.

Your own story contradicts itself. Thank you for playing. Your Turtle Wax is by the exit.
Oh, did you stop reading when you read that? Michael Meehan the idiot makes that statement and you just lap up the kool-aid? The Silver Star and the Bronze Star are two different awards, quickdraw.

A Navy source confirmed last week, however, that in the entire history of the Navy, no Silver Star has ever been awarded with "Combat V."

Go wax yourself, you apparently are more practiced in that than you are in reading.

Go wax yourself, you apparently are more practiced in that than you are in reading.


John Kerry's military record = Open and welcome to public scrutiny.
George Bush's military record = Conveniently lost by the Pentagon.

Now ... that said ... John Kerry's Naval record does not say he won a Silver Star with a combat "V".

Your story not only contradicts itself, but it is a lie. But, then, all Bush supporters can do is lie. The truth is not natural for you. It is in your genetics to be a liar. Therefore, I propose we have you all "put down". [/flame]

Oh, did you stop reading when you read that? Michael Meehan the idiot makes that statement and you just lap up the kool-aid? The Silver Star and the Bronze Star are two different awards, quickdraw.

A Navy source confirmed last week, however, that in the entire history of the Navy, no Silver Star has ever been awarded with "Combat V."

Go wax yourself, you apparently are more practiced in that than you are in reading.
I think you need to take some reading comprehension courses.

The article said"Kerry received five medals during his four months in combat in Vietnam, including a Silver Star with a "Combat V" designation."

Then a few paragraphs later it said he received the Silver Star (no mention of combat V), Bronze Star with a combat V device, and 3 purple hearts.

Just Keruvalia said, that story contradicts itself.

John Kerry's military record = Open and welcome to public scrutiny.
George Bush's military record = Conveniently lost by the Pentagon.

Now ... that said ... John Kerry's Naval record does not say he won a Silver Star with a combat "V".

Your story not only contradicts itself, but it is a lie. But, then, all Bush supporters can do is lie. The truth is not natural for you. It is in your genetics to be a liar. Therefore, I propose we have you all "put down". [/flame]
You are a sad person. I pity you.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD214.pdf

It says he has a Silver Star with a combat V. Shaddup.

You are a sad person. I pity you.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD214.pdf

It says he has a Silver Star with a combat V. Shaddup.


It's about damn time! Getting a source out of you is like pulling a crazed weasel's teeth using only a pair of salad tongs.

Jeezum Crow, man!

One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major, spurred on by the revelations in our book, and, in his words. “having seen hundreds of DD 214s” (a veteran’s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry’s DD 214, which is posted on his website. What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry’s Silver Star. Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service “Crosses”).

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As the major correctly observes, the “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star. But the actual wording on Kerry’s DD 214 (see www.johnkerry.com) is: “SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT ‘V’.”



There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat “V” (called a “Combat Distinguishing Device”) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star. For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has “three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.” Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing. Why? Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for “gallantry” (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a “V” for valor.



Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices. According to the Navy Awards Manual:

Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).

Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation. See also http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Valor_device.

Because the “V” is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry’s Silver Star citation (the “explanation” of why the award was made) does not even mention the “V” for valor (see www.johnkerry.com).

The presence of the combat “V” with Kerry’s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions. How did the unauthorized “V” get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14743

So, given that all Kerry did was publish photocopies of the Pentagon records as supplied to him by them...... what exactly are you accusing HIM of?


Writing his own DD214?


Receiving a document that some clerk made an error on?


What exactly?


I'm trying to see the point.... and as near as I can tell the only valid point is that the Pentagon fucked something up..... again.


Wow - big suprise. And so completely irrelevant too!

That's probably best. It'll help to clear this thing up, and hopefully, it'll make us stop fighting wars that have been over for thirty years.