Was John Kerry A.W.O.L?

ChronWatch ^ | 9/14/04

[ambrose]

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Was John Kerry A.W.O.L? Written by Michael Ashbury Tuesday, September 14, 2004                For the past year, and most recently by CBS News, we have been deluged with reports that George W. Bush did not complete his agreed duty in the Texas National Guard.  He was AWOL!         But even the records show that George Bush exceeded his obligations from 1968-1973, and only came into question during the last 18 months of his agreed obligation when he requested and received official permission to transfer to an Alabama unit and then enroll in an MBA program at Harvard.  His obligation was for six years from May, 1968, to May, 1974.  He received an educational release from his obligation eight months early and received an Honorable Discharge in October, 1973.         While leftists question where George Bush was during the final year of his obligation, they and the press ignore completely the similar obligations of John Kerry.  John Kerry enlisted in the Navy and signed an Officer Candidate Agreement on February 18, 1966.  This agreement called for the candidate to      Par 3 -  to serve a total period of 6 years in the Naval Reserve of  the United States, including active and inactive duty.      Par 4 - agrees that on completion of active duty, he will remain for Service in the Ready Reserve for a period which when added to his active duty will total 5 years.  Upon completion of 5 years of satisfactory service on active duty and in the Ready Reserve he will be eligible to transfer to the Standby Reserve for the remaining portion of his service obligation.      Par 5 - the candidate understands that the provisions of law require satisfactory participation in the Ready Reserve, unless relieved of such participation by competent authority or as provided by law.  Such participation may be satisfied annually by not less 48 drills and not more than 17days active duty for training.       Lt. John Forbes Kerry was released from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve on January 3, 1970.  He wasn’t transferred to inactive standby status until July 1, 1972, then Honorably Discharged on February 16, 1978.  Where was Lt Kerry during the18 months from 1970 to 1972?  Did he attend the required drills and active duty that he agreed to?  Was he AWOL or did he violate his agreed commitment on accepting a commission as an officer in the service of the United States.          We do know that he made an unauthorized trip to Paris in June, 1970, to meet with Madam Win Thi Binh, the foreign minister of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam (PRG), which is the political wing of the Vietcong, and with representatives of Hanoi who were in Paris for the peace talks--in direct violation of the UCMJ's Article 104 part 904, and U.S. Code 18 U.S.C. 953.            That meeting, and Kerry's subsequent coddling of communists while leading mass protests against our military in the year that followed, also place him in direct violation of our Constitution's Article three, Section three, which defines treason as ''giving aid and comfort'' to the enemy in time of warfare.  In April, 1971, he went before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs claiming all kinds of atrocities on the part of his fellow comrades in arms in further in violation of Article 3.          While John Kerry’s hero status is in question in the United States he is still considered a hero in Vietnam where his picture is in a place of honor in the Vietnam War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.  He is honored for leading the Vietnam Veterans against the war and helping the communists bring the war to conclusion.          It is time we ask where was John Kerry during his reserve commitment.  Was he AWOL as his supporters want to say is the case with George Bush?  And did he violate the Code of Military Justice, the Geneva Conventions. and the United States Constitution in his actions as a naval officer?

About the Writer: Michael Ashbury, a noted researcher and author, is the author of ''Who is the REAL John Kerry?'' (Booksurge.com 2004). His website is at http://www.whoistherealjohnkerry.com . Michael receives e-mail at michaelashbury@aol.com.

[Just mythoughts]

"Lt. John Forbes Kerry was released from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve on January 3, 1970. He wasn’t transferred to inactive standby status until July 1, 1972, then Honorably Discharged on February 16, 1978. Where was Lt Kerry during the18 months from 1970 to 1972? Did he attend the required drills and active duty that he agreed to? Was he AWOL or did he violate his agreed commitment on accepting a commission as an officer in the service of the United States."


Honorably Discharged on February 16, 1978??? Guess I am missing something why did it take so long to become discharged????

[Torie]

More relevant that "was" Kerry AWOL, is why he "is" AWOL. The man has been dodging the press for 5 weeks, ever since the Swifties hit the fan.

[ambrose]

why did it take so long to become discharged????

I can't say for certain why it was for Kerry, but some people have said that those caught using cocaine in the service are required to stay in the reserves for many many years before they can get discharged.

[ambrose]

He's supposedly doing Imus tomorrow. I wonder if Imus will go for the kill or do softballs?

[Merry]

There has to be a huge reason why Kerry won't sign that form. Maybe you just found it. Was he honorably discharged?

[Howlin]

I still want to know if Kerry got any special favors getting INTO the Naval Reserves.

[wvromania]

he is doing IMUS, cause IMUS has agreed to ask only certain questions.......

IMUS is a disgrace to Country Music, Cowboy hat Wearers everywhere.........

[Torie]

Kerry I suspect negotiated a softball deal in advance. The last thing he would risk is an Imus in an unhousebroken state. Imus is a wimp however. He usually bashes personalities when they are not there. Frankly, I find the man loathsome. Pity he ever got out of rehab.

[Repub4bush]

ping (for sleep reasons)

[ambrose]

There has to be a huge reason why Kerry won't sign that form. Maybe you just found it. Was he honorably discharged?

They say he is, but maybe the discharge was forged too?

I don't know, maybe we're all wrong about Kerry and owe him a big apology... he can set the record straight by releasing his military file and diaries as well as release his "band of brothers" to be interviewed by the media.

[dennisw]

 

LINK

By way of comparison, here's how Kerry gamed his way
out of several years worth of USNR drills, from the
SBVFT forums, by user jwbarden

______________

You are correct that Kerry originally executed a 3/2
agreement which would have ended his active commissioned
service in DEC69 and begun a 2 year drilling obligation
ending DEC71, but notice that the agreement says it
remains in effect unless superceded by other orders.

Kerry's silver bullet propelling him out of VietNam, BUPERS
msg dtg 202117ZMAR69, ordering him to COMSTSLANT
Broolyn New York for duty as an admiral's aide, extended
his active duty to 31APR71 as a condition of the transfer.
Between the receipt of these ofders and their execution,
Kerry was able to negotiate this down to an extention on
active duty to 31AUG70, giving him 4 years active
commissioned service and relieving him of the drilling
obligation.

See his Officer Order Memoranda, page 4 of 4: http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Office_Order_Memos.pdf

Once at COMSTSLANT, Kerry successfully requested an
early out from this extension effective 3JAN70 without
incurring any other obligation. Slick.

He was released from active duty effective 2400 3JAN70
and transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR),
a non-drilling, non-payed status.

 

LINK

By way of comparison, here's how Kerry gamed his way
out of several years worth of USNR drills, from the
SBVFT forums, by user jwbarden

______________

You are correct that Kerry originally executed a 3/2
agreement which would have ended his active commissioned
service in DEC69 and begun a 2 year drilling obligation
ending DEC71, but notice that the agreement says it
remains in effect unless superceded by other orders.

Kerry's silver bullet propelling him out of VietNam, BUPERS
msg dtg 202117ZMAR69, ordering him to COMSTSLANT
Broolyn New York for duty as an admiral's aide, extended
his active duty to 31APR71 as a condition of the transfer.
Between the receipt of these ofders and their execution,
Kerry was able to negotiate this down to an extention on
active duty to 31AUG70, giving him 4 years active
commissioned service and relieving him of the drilling
obligation.

See his Officer Order Memoranda, page 4 of 4: http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Office_Order_Memos.pdf

Once at COMSTSLANT, Kerry successfully requested an
early out from this extension effective 3JAN70 without
incurring any other obligation. Slick.

He was released from active duty effective 2400 3JAN70
and transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR),
a non-drilling, non-payed status.

[ambrose]

I had heard Imus claiming he is "undecided" now - this after previously saying he was supporting Kerry.

[timestax]

KERRY-A.W.O.L.

[Torie]

As I said, wimp. I may be an aging desk bound flaccid lawyer, but compared to Imus, I'm Mel Gibson.

[Artemis Webb]

I can't even listen to Imus anymore. The man did too many hard drugs for too long and lost too many brain cells.

[Wil H]

Honorably Discharged on February 16, 1978??? Guess I am missing something why did it take so long to become discharged????

Yup, you are missing something, and so are we.

The theory is that Kerry received something less than an Honorable Discharge as a result of his antics with VVAW.

However, Carter issued a blanket pardon to Vietnam Vets in 1977, so Kerry then had his paperwork cleaned up on the back of that pardon.

This would explain in part why he won't release his full records.

[ambrose]

KERRY WAS AWOL! AWOL! SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

[Howlin]

http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_kerry/military_records.html

[ambrose]

However, Carter issued a blanket pardon to Vietnam Vets in 1977, so Kerry then had his paperwork cleaned up on the back of that pardon.

Carter's pardon pertained to draft dodging, not to cocaine use or treason.