Pentagon to check Kerry war record

[feclnogn]

Pentagon to check Kerry war record
By Julian Coman in Newark, Ohio
(Filed: 05/09/2004)


In a fresh blow to John Kerry's flagging presidential campaign, the Pentagon has ordered an official investigation into the awards of the Democratic senator's five Vietnam War decorations.

News of the inquiry came as President George W Bush opened an 11-point lead over his rival - the widest margin since serious campaigning began - according to the first poll released since last week's Republican convention.


A question mark has been raised over one of John Kerry's awards
The highly unusual inquiry is to be carried out by the inspector-general's office of the United States navy, for which Sen Kerry served as a Swift Boat captain for four months in 1968, making two tours of duty.

He was wounded in action and subsequently awarded three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. But for the past month, the exact details of Mr Kerry's military service in Vietnam have become shrouded in a controversy that the navy has now decided warrants a full-blown search for the truth.

According to a self-styled group of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, many of whom served in Vietnam during the same period, Mr Kerry exaggerated the significance of combat incidents and inaccurately reported the circumstances of his injuries, at least one of which was allegedly self-inflicted. The accusations are repeated in a book, Unfit to Command, which was published last month.

Last week, the Kerry campaign attempted to leave the Vietnam debate behind, as signs appeared that the controversy was damaging Mr Kerry's standing in the polls. But to the consternation of campaign strategists, the US navy has now agreed to a request by Judicial Watch, a bi-partisan lobby group, for a full inquiry. Judicial Watch is calling for the Navy to report before the elections, but Navy officials are so far refusing to give any timetable for the inquiry.

In an August letter to the Pentagon, the group's president, Tom Fitton, requested an investigation into the "determination and final disposition of the awards granted to Lieutenant (junior grade) John Forbes Kerry, US Naval Reserve", in response to the Swift Boat Veterans' allegations.

A navy spokesman confirmed on Friday that the inspector-general's office at the Pentagon had authorised the inquiry. "It is the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records," said the spokesman. Another official said privately: "There's a feeling that it's time to deal with this thoroughly, once and for all."

Among other records to be examined is a citation of Mr Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by the former Navy Secretary, John Lehman, and contributed to the award of his silver star. The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lt Kerry reflected great credit on himself." But Mr Lehman denies all knowledge of the commendation. "It's a total mystery to me," he said last week. "I never saw it, I never signed it and I never approved it." The inquiry will also investigate other reports and citations leading to the award of Mr Kerry's medals.

On Friday, Mr Lehman endorsed the investigation of Mr Kerry's awards, saying that the relevant navy records needed to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established". Mr Fitton said: "We hope this is the beginning of an actual investigation of the legitimacy of Sen Kerry's awards by the navy and the Pentagon."

In an angry statement from the Kerry campaign headquarters, Michael Meehan, Mr Kerry's senior adviser, condemned the navy probe as an expensive waste of the Pentagon's resources.

"The facts are clear," said Mr Meehan. "The navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V and three Purple Hearts. This is a waste of taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime."

The inquiry comes at the end of the worst week of Mr Kerry's campaign. The poll showing an 11-point lead by President Bush, to be published in this week's Time magazine, was taken during the first three days of the Republican Convention in New York, which featured repeated direct attacks on Mr Kerry as an unreliable candidate for the role of Commander-in-Chief during the war on terror.

Kerry's house of cards is beginning to fall. This guy is going to implode, after seeing him Thursday night going off about Cheney and Bush I am convinced this guy is done.

 

[Michaelr]

ouch, especially when it was requested by judicial watch.

 

[snake river rufus]

Does this mean that the Swifties are NOT liars?

 

[Delw]

Wow

That was a long time ago, how would they be able to prove that? I dont think they kept detailed records of such things(did they?)
they would have to ask all the people that served with him and are still alive, this could become a he says she says issue, and he could cry foul saying that the people they talked to are all bias because of one reason or another.

Delw

 

[feclnogn]

I think what started this del is the fact that on Kerry's web page it listed his silver star with a combat V for valor and the Navy does not issue a V as a silver star is awarded for valor in combat.

Here is another article on the subject.

September 03, 2004
Navy To Investigate Kerry Medals
Those pesky medals again...or are they ribbons...or are they even his? Who can blame him for being confused?

At the request of Judicial Watch, the Navy is investigating Kerry's receipt of the Silver Star with an unauthorized "Combat V" designation, which stands for valor under fire.

Judicial Watch representatives said the group also wants an investigation into Kerry's third citation for the same Silver Star. In 1986, Kerry received the third citation after requesting a copy of his original citations. This one carried the signature and some additional words of praise under the signature of then-Navy Secretary John Lehman.
Jet Noise has previously reported that Kerry's DD214 shows 4, not 2 Bronze Stars. Other official records show citations for only two Bronze Stars.

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."
In 1996, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jeremy Boorda committed suicide when he learned that a reporter was about to disclose he had wrongly worn two Combat V pins on a Bronze Star, a medal that does not denote valor under fire.
Back then, Senator Kerry told the Boston Herald that wearing unauthorized medals is a severe error in judgement:

"Is it wrong? Yes, it is very wrong. Sufficient to question his leadership position? The answer is yes,"
In a Boston Globe interview regarding the tragic suicide, Kerry added:

"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."
I would not be surprised to find broad-based... even bi-partisan support for Senator Kerry's sentiments.

 

[feclnogn]

Here is one more article on Kerry's medal flap.

Brinkley: Navy Probe Could Doom Kerry Campaign

Sen. John Kerry's campaign biographer Douglas Brinkley said Sunday that if an ongoing Navy investigation into Kerry's military decorations turns up evidence of "purposeful" deception, it could spell doom for the top Democrat's White House bid.

Praising reporter Thomas Lipscomb, who broke news of the Navy investigation on Friday, Brinkley told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg, "Journalists are going to have to see whether there's a discrepancy on [the citations posted to Kerry's] Web site - whether there's something wrong that's said there or not."

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"If so," said the "Tour of Duty" author, "Kerry would have to fix it immediately - and it does raise some questions as to why that would happen."
"Is it sloppiness, is it purposeful intent, is there an easy explanation for it?" Brinkley wondered.

He said that while questions raised by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth about Kerry's war record have been very damaging, "so far they haven't been lethal." But Brinkley predicted that a discrepancy with Kerry's medals could seriously escalate his political problems.

Asked if inconsistencies uncovered by the Navy probe could be the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign, Brinkley told Malzberg, "It could."

In the next breath he hastened to add, however: "Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to."

The presidential historian called on Kerry to authorize the release of his full military file, saying, "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."

To get Steve Malzberg's exclusive NewsMax.com column e-mailed directly to you, go to: www.newsmax.com/malzberg.

 

[Delw]

He's going o get nailed.

Its amazing what comes out of his mounth sometimes.

this is the John F-n Kerry guy that was on MTV right? a bunch of months ago..

 

[Ten Bears]

Ouch

 

[whitedeer]

The Lord has a way of revealing those of us who really know him, and those
that don't! Think about it! Kerry gave a big speech the other week about how
his faith is so "important" to him. In his attempt to convince the American
people that we should consider him for president, he announced that his
favorite Bible verse is John 16:3.
Of course the speech writer meant John 3:16, but nobody in the Kerry camp
was familiar enough with the scripture to catch the error. And do you know
what John 16:3 says? John 16:3 says, "They will do such things because they
have not known the Father or me." The spirit works in strange ways.

 

[MarlandS]

it was neither Bush or Kerry http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/bibleverse.asp

 

[Nut]

How much is this going to cost the taxpayers?

 

[whitedeer]

AWww Mars.....you busted my bubble.....Why can't I fabricate something too.....I've been disenfranchised!!!

 

[MarlandS]

Originally posted by whitedeer:
AWww Mars.....you busted my bubble.....Why can't I fabricate something too.....I've been disenfranchised!!!

Because I hold you to a higher standard?

 

[chas031]

Originally posted by Nut:
How much is this going to cost the taxpayers?

A whole lot less than Dubya will in the next 4 yrs!! Just this year's version of the hanging chad.

Chas

 

[Muledeer4me]

I bet Kerry is wishing he would of started off his campaign with something other then his war record.

Then again I wonder how far he would be now if he ran only on his voting record?

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

Personally I do not care about his "WAR RECORD" I want to know that the commander in Chief is going to do his daym job right, not blah blah blah me to death about his past!!! It is about what he can do for us now, not what he did in the navy...He is such an Idiot!!!!

 

[wyomingtim]

With all due respect WHOC, Kerry's past is important. If someone shows a pattern of behavior over an extended period of time, most likely you will be able to predict how they will react to certain situations in teh future.

For example, if Moosie has a tradition of talking about killing monster bulls, but he shoots the first spike he sees every year, ......chances are when Moosie sees the first spike this year the forest will echo with the sounds of gunfire followed up by Moosie's primal scream.
(Had to get this back on a hunting topic)

That being said, all you keep hearing about is Kerry's medal dispute. What is more telling is the description of only one baot turning tail and running....Kerry's. Is this going to be his reaction if he is President and we are attacked again?

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

I understand that his past is important, but I don't think it is important that he recieved his hearts, I mean we obviously don't want some crackhead in office, so yes the past is important...All I am saying is if the best he can come up with is "Hearts" then we need to keep him out of office....