Posted on 09/03/2004 8:06:41 AM PDT by kattracks
The United States Navy has launched an official investigation into John Kerry's Vietnam War decorations, saying, "it's the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records."
In a launching a formal probe, the Navy was responding to a referral from the Pentagon's inspector general's office - based on a complaint filed by the Washington-based legal watchdog group Judicial Watch, Fox News reported Friday. 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."Former Navy Secretary John Lehman, who has challenged the authenticity of his signature on one of Kerry's war decorations, told Fox that Navy records needed to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established."
Most questions about Kerry's combat record appear to be based on processing errors, Navy sources told the news network.
However, even if the errors were based on inadvertent mistakes, any corrections would force the top Democrat to acknowledge that citations touting his heroism that have been posted to his Web site for months were false - a development that could have devastating political consequences.
"Even if it was the Navy's fault," one source following the story told NewsMax, "surely Sen. Kerry knew the citations were wrong. Why did it take a formal Navy probe for him to correct records he had to know were fraudulent?"
Kerry received five medals during his four months in combat in Vietnam, including a Silver Star with a "Combat V" designation. A Navy source confirmed last week, however, that in the entire history of the Navy, no Silver Star has ever been awarded with "Combat V."
Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan suggested that the Navy probe was a waste of time and money.
"The facts are clear, the Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with a Combat V and three Purple Hearts. It is waste of taxpayer's dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime, to investigate a 35-year-old Navy clerical error," Meehan said in statement.
In 1996, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jeremy Boorda committed suicide after he was accused of wearing medals he hadn't earned.
At the time, Kerry told the Boston Herald that the error was "sufficient to question his leadership position."
"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," Kerry told the Boston Globe.
BTTT
This keeps getting better and better!
It was reported by Major Garret on FOX News yesterday. Are they mainstream enough for you. After all they beat all the alphabets during the convention.
National security and fiscal responsibility have a way of becoming a top priorities with these folks when used as a pretext for covering up misdeeds.
Michael Medved talked about the seriousness of this about 3 weeks ago.....
Boy, is this one going to come back to haunt Lurch.
I assumed it was obvious, but then again on DU that would have been considered a fairly middle-of-the-road comment.
I must say that Fox has reported this. Major Garrett did a report, interesting read.
FIRE!!!!!!
I now know what the F stands for in John F Kerry....Faked
When exactly did THAT happen? On 13 MAR when PCF-3 was blown, and one or two responsible probably scurried away? Did Kerry EVER get shot at in his entire four months?
Take THEM ALLLLLL AWAY! All PH, SS, BS. He doesn't deserve a one!
That's not what the Navy is doing. They're apparently just looking into correcting the DD214, but are not looking into the Lehman citation, and their proper authorization if any, and certainly not the source for official reports of 13 MAR. They might, I would hope, at least look into PH #1, and strike that, unless they magically discover some reports written on it. Otherwise, as with hundreds of others who've had medals revoked upon investigation, tell him - sorry Kerry. You don't qualify.
Incorrect. Boorda was incorrectly wearing the Combat V on both the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Boorda was not and is still not authorized the Combat V on either medal. Boorda, who was being treated for depression, killed himself for reasons few, if any, people know. Blaming it on the Combat V issue is specious at best.
With all respect - get over it. That era is gone. Catch up to the present. The LM are fossils. They're dying. And contrary to what you think, they have NO - ZERO - credibility.
Get a grip. Lots of people read NewsMax who don't view Free Republic. I know lots of RATs that read it too so that makes it okay in my book.
The point is to use EVERY MEANS in getting the word out and NewsMax helps to do that.
Are you always this grouchy?
Poor John Kerry! The Navy's investigating his medals, and between the RNC Convention coverage, Hurricane Frances, Bill Clinton's upcoming surgery, and the Russian hostage situation, he'll just have so little coverage for his campaign.
Believe the ambitious John Edwards hitched his wagon to a falling star!
My major beef is not with newsmax, but with Judical Watch.
Back in 1982 a friend asked me if I was interested in attending a comedy show. He told me about a number of famous persons who would be at a benefit for charity. I agreed and we went as a group.
The benefit was for John Kerry who was running for Lt. Governor. I did not know it was for Kerry at the time until after I got there. There were the usual suspects there performing Robin Williams, Chevy Chase, Peter,Paul, and Mary, as well as a number of others.
I really did not know it was a political fund raiser. I would not have gone if I did know it. Kerry has always gotten an incredibly positive press in this area due to his war protester activities. This fawning by the media has continued until the present and it has really been elevated during the last year or so. The press and Kerry conceal a lot of things. That is their pattern.
The bum kissers at the Boston Globe must have been schizophrenic when Dean was leading in the polls. That situation put those subversives in a true dilemma. Dean was saying the right things, but Kerry had a resume(a bogus one) which they felt would be used to sway undecideds. Ultimately, the media managed to keep Kerry shining while soiling Dean. As if that maniac Dean wasn't going to implode without the Globe and other media's veiled assistance.
John Kerry is one person who has simply been shielded from criticism all of his life until recently. Many in this area simply get all of their information concerning politicians from such outlets as the Globe. The national media is not so completely enamored to Kerry as he is accustomed to. This is something which apparantly has perplexed the ersatz war hero.
I guess what I am saying is that the Media has clout and they use it. The voters in this area have never been informed by journalists about Kerry's lack of credibility. The media calls him a war hero, and the voters believe it as it has never before been disputed publicly due to the liberal press's agenda.
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