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Navy finds no improprieties in awarding of Kerry’s medals

The Associated Press
September 18th, 2004
WASHINGTON -- The Navy’s chief investigator concluded Friday that procedures were followed properly in the approval of Sen. John Kerry’s Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, according to an internal Navy memo.

Vice Adm. R.A. Route, the Navy inspector general, conducted the review of Kerry’s Vietnam-era military service awards at the request of Judicial Watch, a public interest group. The group has also asked for the release of records documenting the Democratic presidential candidate’s military service.

Judicial Watch had requested in August that the Navy open an investigation of the matter, but Route said in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press that he saw no reason for a full-scale probe.

"Our examination found that existing documentation regarding the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals indicates the awards approval process was properly followed," Route wrote in the memo sent Friday to Navy Secretary Gordon England.

"In particular, the senior officers who awarded the medals were properly delegated authority to do so. In addition, we found that they correctly followed the procedures in place at the time for approving these awards."

Some veterans have challenged Kerry’s version of the circumstances surrounding the incident that led to his Silver Star award for battlefield heroism, as well as his three Purple Heart medals.

Judicial Watch also asked the Navy inspector general to investigate Kerry’s anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam and left active duty.

The group’s president, Tom Fitton, called Route’s review a "whitewash" and said Judicial Watch would "appeal as appropriate."

"The Navy IG obviously is afraid of the political ramifications of a thorough investigation into a presidential candidate’s service record," Fitton said in a statement.