Plot Thickens After Checking Records (Kerry Silver Star V Device Questioned by Chi. Sun-Times)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Friday, August 27, 2004 | Thomas Lipscomb

[kristinn]

In the midst of the controversy between the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and Kerry campaign representatives about Kerry's service in Vietnam, new questions have arisen.

The Kerry campaign has repeatedly stated that the official naval records prove the truth of Kerry's assertions about his service.

But the official records on Kerry's Web site only add to the confusion. The DD214 form, an official Defense Department document summarizing Kerry's military career posted on johnkerry.com, includes a "Silver Star with combat V."

But according to a U.S. Navy spokesman, "Kerry's record is incorrect. The Navy has never issued a 'combat V' to anyone for a Silver Star."

Naval regulations do not allow for the use of a "combat V" for the Silver Star, the third-highest decoration the Navy awards. None of the other services has ever granted a Silver Star "combat V," either.

Fake claims not uncommon

B.G. Burkett, a Vietnam veteran himself, received the highest award the Army gives to a civilian, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, for his book Stolen Valor. Burkett pored through thousands of military service records, uncovering phony claims of awards and fake claims of military service. "I've run across several claims for Silver Stars with combat V's, but they were all in fake records," he said.

Burkett recently filed a complaint that led last month to the sentencing of Navy Capt. Roger D. Edwards to 115 days in the brig for falsification of his records.

Kerry's Web site also lists two different citations for the Silver Star. One was issued by the commander in chief of the Pacific Command (CINCPAC), Adm. John Hyland. The other, issued by Secretary of the Navy John Lehman during the Reagan administration, contained some revisions and additional language. "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (j.g.) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself... ."

One award, three citations

But a third citation exists that appears to be the earliest. And it is not on the Kerry campaign Web site. It was issued by Vice Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, commander of U.S. naval forces in Vietnam. This citation lacks the language in the Hyland citation or that added by the Lehman version, but includes another 170 words in a detailed description of Kerry's attack on a Viet Cong ambush, his killing of an enemy soldier carrying a loaded rocket launcher, as well as military equipment captured and a body count of dead enemy.

Maj. Anthony Milavic, a retired Marine Vietnam veteran, calls the issuance of three citations for the same medal "bizarre." Milavic hosts Milinet, an Internet forum popular with the military community that is intended "to provide a forum in military/political affairs."

Normally in the case of a lost citation, Milavec points out, the awardee simply asked for a copy to be sent to him from his service personnel records office where it remains on file. "I have never heard of multi-citations from three different people for the same medal award," he said. Nor has Burkett: "It is even stranger to have three different descriptions of the awardee's conduct in the citations for the same award."

So far, there are also two varying citations for Kerry's Bronze Star, one by Zumwalt and the other by Lehman as secretary of the Navy, both posted on johnkerry.com.

Kerry's Web site also carries a DD215 form revising his DD214, issued March 12, 2001, which adds four bronze campaign stars to his Vietnam service medal. The campaign stars are issued for participation in any of the 17 Department of Defense named campaigns that extended from 1962 to the cease-fire in 1973.

However, according to the Navy spokesman, Kerry should only have two campaign stars: one for "Counteroffensive, Phase VI," and one for "Tet69, Counteroffensive."

94 pages of records unreleased?

Reporting by the Washington Post's Michael Dobbs points out that although the Kerry campaign insists that it has released Kerry's full military records, the Post was only able to get six pages of records under its Freedom of Information Act request out of the "at least a hundred pages" a Naval Personnel Office spokesman called the "full file."

What could that more than 100 pages contain? Questions have been raised about President Bush's drill attendance in the reserves, but Bush received his honorable discharge on schedule. Kerry, who should have been discharged from the Navy about the same time -- July 1, 1972 -- wasn't given the discharge he has on his campaign Web site until July 13, 1978. What delayed the discharge for six years? This raises serious questions about Kerry's performance while in the reserves that are far more potentially damaging than those raised against Bush.

Experts point out that even the official military records get screwed up. Milavic is trying to get mistakes in his own DD214 file corrected. In his opinion, "these entries are not prima facie evidence of lying or unethical behavior on the part of Kerry or anyone else with screwed-up DD214s."

Burkett, who has spent years working with the FBI, Department of Justice and all of the military services uncovering fraudulent files in the official records, is less charitable: "The multiple citations and variations in the official record are reason for suspicion in itself, even disregarding the current swift boat veterans' controversy."

[Warrior Nurse]

I am the son of a Silver Star Medal recipient and he told me once that "those type of medals come with a lot of blood, guts and luck". Never with a "V". When you are awarded the country's third highest award for Valor there should be no question about it. Just as with the Medal of Honor or Navy, Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross a Silver Star has to have corroboration by witnesses. The separation between the three medal is the fine line of valorous conduct by the individual. In fact many Navy Cross, AC or DSC recipients have had their medals upgraded to the Medal of Honor. The bottom line is that these medals are not usually questioned for their veracity because a witness usually submits someone for an award. In my father's case it was his battalion XO whom I have personally spoke with a few years ago.

[truthkeeper]

Great post. bttt

[Cboldt]

What could the rest of the documents contain? The Kerry 'rope a dope strategy'?

Given the demeanor of all the parties involved (O'Neill, Gardner, Thurlow, O'Dell), the eyewitness accounts of some that the media ostensibly puts in the Kerry camp (Rood, Lambert - whose stories put them in agreement with the Swiftees, on close examination), and Kerry's reaction; I don't think this is a Kerry rope-a-dope.

[Spok]

I served from '69-'72, and knew guys who won medals. My attitude was "good for them", but the most common commentary soldiers made about medals was "with a Silver Star and a dime, you can get a cup of coffee". I saw alot of valor that went unrecognized, and some medals awarded that were unwarranted. Winning medals wasn't the point and it doesn't separate the heroes from the every day grunt. Getting my ass home in one piece was all I ever wanted. As far as I'm concerned, the heroes are on The Wall. The only recognition that meant anything is what your buddies thought of you, and the only glory in war is not letting them down. Period. The rest is fluff.

[goldstategop]

John F*ckin' embellished his medals. I mean the ones he tossed before he kept them? Well it goes to show when it comes to his wartime record, the man's a complete braggart.

[PilloryHillary]

Ouch! That's gonna leave a (another) mark!

[Wu]

I addressed this issue on the 20th here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1195373/posts

Does anyone know when it was first mentioned by the media or elsewhere?

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[hflynn]

I don't think this is a Kerry rope-a-dope.

I think it is but the dope being roped is Kerry. Why in god's name are his advisers telling him to continue to use this Vietnam strategy? There really is only one answer, they do not want John Kerry to win.

[boxerblues]

Didn't some Navy officer, Admiral, I think, commit suicide over something like this a few years ago?
Col Hackworth hands his hands in this as well.

[hflynn]

close tags </i>

[wolicy_ponk]

[leadpenny]

I see you started a thread first and wanted to get this comment in before going to work:

And to think Pete Dawkins lost to Lautenberg primarily because Dawkins had
a campaign pamphlet that stated he had two tours in Nam when he had only one.

[ravinson]

Kerry, who should have been discharged from the Navy about the same time -- July 1, 1972 -- wasn't given the discharge he has on his campaign Web site until July 13, 1978.

That's the first I've heard of a late discharge. I'm sure Doug Brinkley will come up with some Republican scape goat to blame for it.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

But Hillary could always Foster him.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

He's not the only one:

http://www.graphicwitness.com/carter/mov-soldier.html

[BunnySlippers]

LOL! Good morning, Red. I'm getting ammunition to use at work this morning. ;-)

[BunnySlippers]

Er, I should be more specific. Not real ammunition ... just facts for debating any liberals I should meet today.

[svxdave]

A few days before I was to be released (after returning from my second Vietnam tour)I had a chance to see the DD 214 that was prepared for me. It was full of typo's so I asked for another 214 form and sat down and typed in myself. The 214 allows the placement of medals so I filled my 214 out and, not anticipating I would be running for President someday, did it correctly.

It seems to me that things were a little loose back then and someone who lacks a moral compass, like Kerry, could have changed his 214 "just a little". I think he did or had someone do it for him, inasmuch as a V on a Silver Star is bogus.

[EllaMinnow]

I'm stuck at home with a daughter with a sprained knee, so all I can be is a keyboard warrior. I'm in a mood to spread some truth!