Navy Launches Formal Kerry Medal Probe

NewsMax .com ^ | 9/03/04 | Carl Limbacher

[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.

[Smartass]

"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 taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime, to investigate a 35-year-old Navy clerical error," Meehan said in statement."

Nobody has seen all of Kerry's military records.   So how can Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan make an erroneous statement as being a "Navy clerical error?"

[SandRat]

Make that a hard sonar PING!!!! Kerry is targeted by an SSN preparing to shot a Mark-48 his way.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[Smartass]

FYI - I just heard another interesting legal theory! There are no statute of limitations on soldiers deserting. Meaning, that if Kerry is found to have doctored his records, he could possibly be tried for deserting his crew and Swift Boat in Nam. In a nutshell, Kerry's un canned a can of worms, that can't be re canned.

[goodnesswins]

I am of the understanding that the "V" was added some years later by a Sec of Defense who was NOT President when he got the original citation.....plus, Medved said that Kerry did NOT get his discharge papers until about 6 years after he left the service....weird. (And, Medved claims this could be VERY serious.....like, jailtime, serious.)

[goodnesswins]

er...correction "not President" should be "not Sec of Def".....sheesh....time for wine.

[Smartass]

There's a lot of theories and speculation on what might have happen. In all appearances, it looks like his records have been doctored to look better then was awarded. Also, people want to see the paper trail of who recommended him, or if he recommended (awarded) himself. Then there's an issue of the "V" placed in his record? When, and by whom was the "V" put there. Kerry's spokesman claims a clerical error. Kerry is suppose to know better, and was obligated himself to correct the error. However, the argument can be made, that other then to advance his career, he just has no respect for the military or the awards given. An unbiased military investigation could bring out the good, bad, or the ugly.

[Calpernia]

That makes his quote, "Sen. John Kerry, the committee chairman, told one of the investigators that if the report ever leaked out, "you'll wish you'd never been born."

From HERE: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1205397/posts?page=164#164

Even more interesting.

[Dante3]

Good question.

[redrock]

It's kinda nice....watching the 'Kerry Machine'...self-destruct.

NO ONE gets a "V" (which is awarded for Valour) on a Silver Star....since the Silver Star itself is for 'Valour'.

redrock

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

http://www.nationalreview.com/document/document200408280010.asp

Purple Heart News

(Uh Oh Kerry this retired rear admiral
WAS on your boat Dec 2-3 1968)

[laurenmarlowe]

Thanks for the ping Tonk!!

[Soaring Feather]

bump

[mylife]

Wait till the swiftees talk about his unauthorized meetings with the NVA while in the USN, Or his complicity in tipping off the NVA about bombing missions while with the VVAW

[risk]

Thanks for the ping, Tonk. No surprises here. I'm glad these men are coming forward. It must be tough for them after so much water under the bridge.

[Brian Allen]

<< 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 ..... >>

..... -- Immediately after Cinderella-Edwards and Midnight-Kerry got done ripping United States President and Armed-Forces Commander-In-Chief George Walker Bush's allegedly insufficient attention to edge-a-kkkaeshun, outsourced-jobs-for-Indian-geeks and "free" $h*t for geezers, in Ohio the other one AM -- .....

<< .... said in a statement. >>

[The Bandit]

The Bandit launches his own investigation!

Kerry's Vietnam Medals Crumble Under Examination

[68 grunt]

This might be the most glorious wannabee take-down yet! He is one embellishing slimeball. Remember my story about being at Dewey Cyn III, and when I, and a few of my fellow grunts, where approached to come listen to a 'Navy Cross' winner speak. That's how he was introduced, too. Not one bit of denial on his part. It was immediately apparent that he was full of $hit. We couldn't listen to him for more than 10 minutes, sick of his communist rhetoric and his encouraging of treason and sedition. The POS really thinks that audacity is courage.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I remember EVERYTHING about this "guy"

I can't wait for him to get some "swift" justice. LOL

[Libertina]

This is NOT good news for Kerry. And the craziest thing is, he just keeps stubbornly talking about it and his Vietnam experience... The man isn't (well) - connected with reality.