STAY AWAY FROM MY FBI FILES!!
Posted on 08/28/2004 7:30:49 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
Exactly. And if "replacement", it
shouldn't be altered, period. My
impression is, Lehman is claiming
no involvment with the added words
while in a FOX interview it seems
he said he did provide replacement
awards to Kerry.
This isn't a replacement!
So, AFPhys, what is it???
The MSM has lost control of this story.
Bush never had control of this story.
The Swifties and the VietNam vets are going to force this issue now, and all of US are going to demand this cathartic cleansing of the national wound sKerry and the hippies inflicted on us. I really will be surprised if this does not re-emerge a week or so after the RNC convention.
I believe that will be the major cause of sKerry's defeat, when all is tallied.
.
---Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.
Oh, reeeeeally? Something has shut Meehan's alligator trap?
This may be the beginning of the end.---
Meehan earlier was telling yet another version of the Cambodian Christmas story. Maybe he's been sent off to re-education camp.
Your first-hand experience is very valuable. I have none in this area. There are obvious differences in the laudatory sentences, and it stands to reason that the differences indicate careful selection of wording to appear in the final document.
If you read these and compare to sKerry's, you are clearly left with an impression that something was left out of the final sentence of sKerry's citation - it was a minimal impact statement.
Which comports with Elliott's general impression of Kerry's action on that day.
I know you may not believe it, but I think that was very clearly intentional on the part of the original author. Whoever altered this from the very bland "his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service" (I think was same sentence with Bronze, by the way) to the far more powerful: "By his brave action, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the US Naval Service" knew exactly what they were doing. That materially alters the document, and its emotional impact.
You have given me first hand information that I didn't have before, thank you. You are familiar with the "SOP" for crafting of original language. You should not be surprized to learn that I believe you when you say the words are deliberately and carefully chosen.
So, what conclusions do you draw from the change?
I still think he needed replacement medals for the ones he threw away.
But, let's assume for a minute that it's all a matter of vanity. I.e., he simply arranged to get the Lehman citations to goose up the language AND have a framed cite signed by the SecNavy.
If that became news, how damaging would that be among vets?
If that became news, how damaging would that be among vets?
I am not a veteran, so am unqualified to render an opinion on that. I do think, in the scheme of things, that it a bigger dishonor to put in a false report in the first place, in order to get a military award, than it is to have it ginned up after getting it.
Don't remember who said it but I do remember the reports and the anger they brought to everyone I was working with at the time.We were a "very" conservative group.
But, 12 years later?!!
August 27, 2004
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.
Read some more ...
http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lips27.html
I didn't know that. Wow. That reflects a "nice" administration, permitting a public expression, and afterwards, permitting the protesters to get their awards back.
August 27, 2004
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.
Read some more ...
http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lips27.html
Here in FL they kept talking about how close McBride was to Jeb in 2002.
In my county, which is considered a bellwether county (Pasco in FL) I cannot remember ONE democrat that one. I think people here were furious over Gore's little games.
So, why did Kerry DEMAND four NEW bronze campaign stars BE ADDED to hsi (previously blank) Vietnam Service ribbon in March12, 2001 in his DD-215 change to that DD-214?
ANd, had kerry BEEN WEARING the four campaign stars BEFORE they were added to his ribbon ("legally") ....
---
Who can photocheck Kerry's hundreds of "vietnam ribbon" photo's to see if Kerry had been wearing campaign stars BEFORE 2001?
Actually, All THREE (sheesh) Silver Star citations ARE on Kerry's website. The original signed by Adm Zumwalt is included in the link titled "Military Service Awards" http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/militaryrecords_1.pdf. It is just before the reissued Bronze Star citation signed by Secretary Lehman (who served from 1981-1987!).
It is so weird to have Vietnam era citations signed by a Navy Secretary twenty years later. Besides Kerry's questionable awards, does anyone know of any other instance of this?
Despite this kooky business of multiple citations, my other beef is how these awards are displayed on the site. Military awards and decorations have an established precedence. The Silver Star is Kerry's most senior award. Yet, all his files lead with the Purple Heart, which has a lower precedence. I wonder if these awards genuinely mean much to Kerry. I think if they did he would have his campaign staffers display them properly. Just another indication to me that Kerry is out of touch with the military, its culture and those who have served.
For genuine Silver Star stories...go here: http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ac95bc775efc34c685256ab50049d458/400d4f2b6899aac985256e8c00716d2c?OpenDocument
and here: http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ac95bc775efc34c685256ab50049d458/8834c21993294dac85256ef500502da1?OpenDocument
It's caled "damning with faint praise" ...
And is obvious to "anybody" in the military "in the know" ....
Kerry was (basically) "thrown out" Vietnam on a flimsy excuse to protect his boats, his men, and the mission.
Then, once he got home to his cushy admiral's aide billet, THAT admiral was willing to trash him as well, by leting him LEAVE ACIVE DUTY early to go run for congress- ata time of serious manning limits!
"I keep going back to Kerry's long time buddy, Wade R. Sanders who was the Asst. Secretary of Navy under the Clintoon. Who knows what he and a crew of lib "plumbers" did to Kerry's records and other records."
Adm. Crowe was also Chairman, JCS, during a portion of Lehman's tenure.
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