John Kerry was a member of the Naval Reserves until 1978!

Self ^ | 7 March 2004 | Self

[An.American.Expatriate]

According to the Boston Globe, John Kerry was discharged from the Naval Reserves on 16 February 1978!!

Although not on active duty, he retained his commission as an officer.

Can anyone get this out to the talk-shows??

[An.American.Expatriate]

opps, bad link-up

the Link on "self" above takes you to the Boston Globe page which shows the discharge date . . .

here is the link again http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/timeline.htm

[Keith in Iowa]

As a reservist, he certainly had some sort of reporting/drill requirements like a National Guard person would...did he fulfill his obligations? Where are the records? Will the media go after J.F'ing.K. Like they did Bush? They might on the 5th Tuesday of the next month where the name of the month does not contain the letter "R".

[yankeedame]

Can anyone get this out to the talk-shows??

Don't kid yourself, neighbor, they know. But remember, there are sins of omission as well as commission.

[Dacus943]

"Will the media go after J.F'ing.K. Like they did Bush?"

Damn right they will! After Fox News, Rush, Dennis Miller, Matt Drudge, etc. work this Story for at least a week!!!

[An.American.Expatriate]

Not necessarily . . . upon discharge from active duty, you can be placed in the so-called "inactive" reserves. There are no reporting requirements, no pay, etc....

However, it is significant that, as an officer - he retained his commission (if he had resigned it, he probably wouldn't have been in the reserves).

Some who may be more familiar with these matters may correct me here, but, since he accepted a promotion to full Lieutenant on January 1 1970 and was discharged from active duty 3 months later, he still had an "unfulfilled" commitment and COULD have been recalled to active duty.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Do they???

I stumbled across this by accident - I have always heard that Kerry was out in 1970 - not that he was still a commissioned officer during the protests and other treasonous activities . . .

[mdmathis6]

Not only that, an unsanctioned meeting, as an officer, with an enemy foriegn government should have been given at least a raised eye brow or two!

[Dacus943]

"he still had an "unfulfilled" commitment and COULD have been recalled to active duty"

Would you want this back stabbing SOB in your Outfit???

[An.American.Expatriate]

No Way!!

But that is beside the point - he went to paris and negotiated peace terms with the enemy while we where at war, while still a commissioned officer of the United States!

[MindBender26]

He was negotiating nothing. The DPRV knew he had no standing. He was just getting publicity photo ops to increase his stature with US leftists while DPRV sent pictures worldwide to show "real Progressive Americans" wanted war to end on their terms!.

This was not "negotiating," this was "aid and comfort for the enemy!"

[An.American.Expatriate]

Which is exactly my point!!!

And this very fact makes him ineligable to be preseident. In fact, he should never have been allowed to hold any public office!!

[PatrickHenry]

It's been a long time since I was an Army Reserve officer, so I won't rely on memory. According to this: Ready Reserve

"... the following individuals may be assigned to the Ready Reserve: 1. Military personnel released from active duty (other than active duty for training) who have incurred a total military obligation of up to eight years. ..."

As many of us know, the Ready Reserve is where you have those frequent meetings and the annual two-week active duty requirement. We don't have enough info on Kerry's situation yet, but this is definietly worth looking into.

[JoeGar]

He was probably in the inactive reserves and did not have to attend meetings. For example, my contract with the USMC was for six years. In 1970, when I was released from active duty after 4.5 years, I had to serve the remaining 1.5 years of my contract in the inactive reserves.

[judicial meanz]

John Kerry had a heck of a deal!

He joined in February 1968. He made Lieutenant in 1970. He was discharged in February 1970. I calculate 1 year 11 months and a few odd days of active duty service.

He was discharged from the USNR in 1978- date not given. That means he held a valid US Navy commission until 1978, and could be called to active duty at any time while in that status. As a matter of fact, inactive reserve members were called up for the Gulf Wars when they thought they were done with the service.

In less than 2 years, he joined, went through his basic officer training , served on a destroyer, went to swift boats, got all those cute medals, and made Lt(O-3).

I dont know what his original enlistment/commissioning contract was, but I know my original enlistment period was 6 years, with 4 to be served on active duty and the rest in the reserves.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Yes, this is what I recall as well - it would be interesting to know if it was just the "unfulfilled commitment" stuff, or something else - BUT the real point is he was STILL a commisioned officer!

PH - Since you were an officer, maybe you know the answer to this . . . does a commission "expire"?

[atomic conspiracy]

Under the UCMJ, it's enough to get him hanged. See my vanity post on this very subject and the need for a new Nuremberg-style tribunal.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1092498/posts

[An.American.Expatriate]

Not exactly correct . . .

February 18, 1966 – Kerry formally enlists in the U.S. Navy
January 1, 1970 – Kerry promoted to (full) Lieutenant
January 3, 1970 – Kerry requests discharge
March 1, 1970 – Kerry’s date of separation from Active Duty
February 16, 1978 - Discharged from the US Navy Reserves

[TrueBeliever9]

He joined in February 1968. He made Lieutenant in 1970. He was discharged in February 1970. I calculate 1 year 11 months and a few odd days of active duty service.

Did the "powers that be" in the Navy want to get Kerry out of the Navy more than Kerry wanted to get out of the Navy? It appears that the Navy was EXTREMELY anxious and willing to get rid of Kerry!

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

1. Commissions don't expire...you have to resign your commission at the end of your reserve service.
2. This is a non-story, and a non-issue. I stand second to no one in loathing and opposing Kerry, but there are better arguments against him,