Bush military file lacks required records

cnn/ap ^ | September 6, 2004

[bitt]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Documents that should have been written to explain gaps in President Bush's Texas Air National Guard service are missing from the military records released about his service in 1972 and 1973, according to regulations and outside experts.

For example, Air National Guard regulations at the time required commanders to write an investigative report for the Air Force when Bush missed his annual medical exam in 1972. The regulations also required commanders to confirm in writing that Bush received counseling after missing five months of drills.

No such records have been made public and the government told The Associated Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that it has released all records it can find.

[Iam1ru1-2]

YEH, WHERE ARE ALL OF KERRY'S MILITARY AND MEDICAL RECORDS THAT HE PROMISED he would make public?

[drpix]

Enough said?

[pabianice]

Demand a full accounting!

[OBAFGKM]

This article appeared on the front page of my berg's Monday rag under the byline of Matt Kelley. Matt Kelley is Secretary of "UNITY, Journalists of Color, Inc." Wonder what his politics are?

[Bluntpoint]

Just how big are the buttons on your keyboard?

[hotrod45]

i am voting for bush. but honestly, dont you get a little tired of putting the focus on kerry's vietnam deal? honestly, like i said, i am voting for bush, and it's because of what he has done the past 4 years, NOT for his record in the late 60s. because he didnt acquit himself honorably then, imho

[chudogg]

His Pay records show that he wasnt paid from may 72 to Nov 72.

They also show that he was paid for extra drills before and after that period making the missed drills up.

[TBBT]

I was in the Army Reserve from '87 to '89. I was active duty Army from '89 to 96. Since 96 I've been in the Air Force Reserve. The Air Force Reserve and ANG work the same concerning this matter.

I can tell you from my own personal experience about missing months of reserve duty and making them up. I missed 6 months in a row a couple of years ago. All I had to do was request a leave of absence from my commander. My request was granted. I don't recall anything is writing being drawn up. Basically, my supervisor was instructed to handle my missed UTA's (Unit Training Assembly - weekend drill) as excused absences.

Basically, all you're required to do to get what is considered a good year is to accumulate 50 retirement points. You get 15 points a year automatically for membership. You get 4 points for every UTA weekend (2 points a day, 1 point for a half day.) You get 1 point for every day of ADT (Active Duty for Training.)

When I requested my leave of absence I had already done 15 days of ADT. Basically, all I had to do to get a good year was make up one UTA when I got back.

I read a NRO story the other day. Bush did make up days for '72 and '73 and had 56 points for both years. Enough to meet the minimum requirements.

I have to believe that the press nows this but are ignoring it because it contradicts the story that they want to sell.

[tobyhill]

I'm not sure exactly where you're getting at but the fact remains that if Kerry would sign his SF-180 he could walk away with at least a free conscience. As for his after service activities, he also needs to explain some issues such as the meetings in KC and Paris. As for his Senate Record, he needs to explain why he voted against almost every modern day weapons systems, his lack of support for the troops and his stance on social issues. All Kerry has done is dodge issues and criticize the President while the President talks about issues, liked or not.

[ozzymandus]

The rotten bastards in the lapdog media are desperate. This issue died months ago, but the success of the Swifties in torpedoing kerry's yacht has driven them to dig up this dead story again, even as they squeal, "Who cares what happened 35 years ago?"

[pieces of time]

Just sent that into CNN as a news tip. Would also like to know why Kerry wasn't discharged until 1978. I won't hold my breath to see if they send out their "crack" investigators to check that out.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Flying F102s in the Air National Guard is pretty impressive to me.

[bitt]

I fully believe that Bush completed his ANG service and I think he still looks great in his flight suit.

Bush served his country admirably as Governor of Texas and then SUPREMELY WELL as President and CIC for FOUR very difficult years.

He hasn't based his campaign on 6 months in 1972, but on the past four years and on his vision for the future.

Kerry has so far had nothing to say to us about his past 20 years' service, and when it somes up in the dabeates,

I'M ALL EARS

[hotrod45]

i just mean it is infuriating and i think pretty hypocritical to listen to people whine about clinton not going to vietnam, give bush a free pass, then whine about kerry. i dunno, that bothers me, and like i said, i am voting for bush

[ozzymandus]

I didn't see anybody here at FR "cheering" about Clinton's heart problems. Did you? And how did President Bush not acquit himself homorably? Please back up your charges or retract them.

[tobyhill]

It's obvious that he made the time up he missed and last I checked it's the Commander's option how to rectify the situation. Not every commander follows the regulations exact because there is always a discretionary regulation that can be used. Maybe to make up the drills was sufficient for the commander at the time with no paperwork needed. President Bush could not have received an honorable discharge unless he completed the requirements. Kerry didn't receive his discharge till '78.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

President Bush served in the armed forces. Clinton and Kerry badmouthed the United States on foreign soils. Just the facts.

[bitt]

sorry - you don't get it.

Clinton - draft dodger - good

Bush 41 - war hero - bad

Dole - war hero - bad

Gore - Nam journalist - really cool

Bush 43- ANG - bad

Kerry - lied about his medals, his atrocities, his fellow military, lied to Congress, lied to senate committee re: MIA, POWs, 'negotiated with NV in Paris 3 times, fixed a deal for his brother in law for a windfall with trade with VN, against the contras, against Reagan's cold war plans, voted against all funding for military for 20 years, didn't show up when he was on the Intelligence committee even after first bombing of the WTC, hasn't shown up in the Senate for the last 2 years, etc., etc., etc...and now will not release his military or medical records.

But he is good.

[hotrod45]

kerry served in the armed forces on foreign soil.