Posted on 08/12/2004 8:49:42 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Page 1 is from 1966 when he was discharged as an enlisted person to get his commission. Page 2 was from 1970 when he left active duty to join the reserves.
Silver Stars are never awarded for anything but Valor thus have no need for a "V" device to differentiate between a meritorious or valor award. Good eye on the pub date!
You can be a reservist called to active duty, you are still a reservist...I know because I was one myself.
"CASUALTIES: FRIENDLY - WIA - JOHN F. KERRY, USNR... ENS THORSON, EUGENE K, USN... ENEMY: NONE
Huh? ENEMY: NONE means no enemy casualties.
Thanks. It's a quick and fast way to spot phonies. One of my old riding buddies showed me that. There is definately a problem here.
Not wanting to seem on HanoiJohn's side on anything, there are 2 DD-214's here. The first one is from his time as an officer candidate (note the grade of service as E-5) and clearly states "Continuing on active duty as Ensign, USNR. The second one lists him as a LTJG (0-2) and does list his awards.
No problem, that's what freerepublic is all about... learning. Well, at least to most... there are a few people who are frozen in stasis with their beliefs that they already know everything, but I digress.
I am guessing that CASUALTIES: FRIENDLY means Kerry wasn't VC, not that his wounds were caused by friendly fire.
We have the 214s of his service, pages 2 and 3. Where is 1?
And the notes attachment for the Decoration discriptions?
True, but not relevant. The PDF file contains two discharge certificates. The first is his discharge as an enlisted man to accept a commission as Ensign, USNR. At this point in his illustrious career, he had not been wounded or otherwise maimed while in the service of his country, but had clearly distinguished himself sufficiently to be awarded the National Defense Service Medal (Alive in '65). The next discharge document notes his release from active duty and shows the award of his Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. What I find more interesting, is that when released from active duty, he was transferred to the Naval Reserve and retained his commission. He was, therefore, still a Commissioned Officer of the United States when he engaged with the North Vietnamese government in Paris.
Of course, according to the New York Times, LA Times, Wash Post, and USA Today; none of this matters and the American people don't have any need to know.
That would have to validated by his reserve discharge paper work. Which isn't a 214.
I can't imagine a separations personel clerk typing that.
The main point is, is that the Silver Star DOES NOT come with a "V" device denoting valor. It is awarded FOR valor. Only the Bronze Star/Navy Commendation/etc get the "V" because they can be awarded for outstanding service in peacetime, not combat related, etc.
Wasnt one of the evidence the left uses on AWOL charges against Bush is that he didnt sign his 214? I noticed on Kerry's 214 he didnt sign it either.
yes it does, second page
A request to Drudge to quash is probably in order.
You don't get a 214 when you leave the reserves...So one wouldn't be there. You only recieve a 214 when you complete any form of active duty, Reserve members and Active members.
This is clearly an interim DD214, not his final one. Notice the total service time listed. It's much less than his total time in service. This was issued very early in his time in the Navy. It looks like a 'change-of-status' release when he went from one type of reserve status to another.
Timothy McVeigh's box was also checked "Honorable"
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