Posted on 08/06/2004 8:23:00 AM PDT by Wil H
A caller to the the Bruce Jacobs Morning Talk Show on KFYI Phoenix says he has been researching John Kerry's war record.
The caller, himself a Vietnam Vet, claims that after Kerry returned from Vietnam, he wouls automatically become part of the "Ready Reserve" for the next two years, and, as such, would be required to attend weekend training and camps. There is no record of him doing this that has been found to date, furthermore, the cites that Kerry's Haircut , as seen on TV at that time, would never have passed muster at said weekends or camps.
Also the caller noted that during this time when Kerry was part of the Ready Reserve, he travelled to Paris and met with a high ranking Viet Cong official.
That in itself was an act of treason.
I'm not sure how it worked back then, but when I was in you had an 8-year obligation. So, if your active duty was for 4 years, you still owed 4 in the IRR, where you basically showed up once per year. If your enlistment was a 6 year, then you spent two years in the IRR, and reported in once per year... No drills, etc... just ready to be called up if they needed you...
For the record:
John Kerry just barely escaped court-martial for his malfeasance of duty while on swift-boat command. The award of medals was a "save-face" move and excuse for the senior officers in his chain of command to hustle him out of country before they had another case like Lt. William Calley of My Lai on their hands. John Kerry was about one button-push away from becoming a full-fledged psychotic robo-warrior, and he may have edged over a time or two already. Like beaching the boat, jumping ashore, running down and executing an enemy sniper. Even Hannibal of the "A-Team" wouldn't do a thing like that.
It is a pity that Adm. Elmo Zumwalt is no longer here with us to set the record straight. Apparently the decision to send LT JG Kerry back to the States came from him directly.
What Kerry did once he was back in the US was of no further concern to the US Navy, whether he reported for duty or not.
As long as you can read something different here from what you hear there, there is hope. Spread the word.
"Ready reserve component don't take attend drill or take other training."
Where do you get your information?
I was discharged from the navy in 67, was in the ready reserve. I did have to put on my uniform once a month and attend drills. I had to do this for 2 years.
True, Kerry got out a few years later, but I don't think it changed...
That's why I maintain that The Left has the lock on the Sheep.
The right has to wise up and fast before it's too late if it's not already. I'm very pessimistic. Please tell me I'm wrong and that there's hope.
You're not wrong. If there is any hope, it lies in what the GOP does after the convention - will they play by the Left-scripted CFR rules, and continue their New Tone appeasement? Or will they, like so many FReepers wish to do, tear the gloves off and go "scorched-earth"?
Frankly, I don't see anything even remotely like the second option ever happening.
I enlisted in the Army in '66 and served three years of active duty followed by another three inactive reserve to complete my six-year obligation. My understanding was that draftees did two years active duty, two years active (drills req'd) reserve, and two years inactive. Of course, that was 35 years ago so I could be fuzzy on this.
I believe the Navy was the only force that had the 3 Purple Hearts policy, and that was only to get yourself out of the war zone, not out of the service if you were still capable of serving. Kerry requested his transfer and got it, working for an Admiral in New York or Washington...can't remember exactly where. He then requested an early release from the service so he could run for Congress. Although his request was granted, he ended up not running for Congress. So in essence, he got out early (both from Vietnam & the Navy), for BS reasons.
Isn't that the truth; and most of it matters.
1/1 Cav, Americal, I Corps 68-69, bump!
OK. Here's the gouge.
When Kerry (and I) were on active duty in Vietnam we went as Naval Reserve officers on initial active duty. Upon leaving initial active duty, we were assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve for whatever portion of our six year obligation had not yet been served. The IRR does not drill although technically can be called back to active duty with 30 days notice. I requested transfer to the Selected Reserve and continued to fly Navy until I retired from the Naval Reserve. Kerry simply sat in the IRR for a little while and then requested that the Navy approve his resigning his commission before the six years was up. Apparently, with political help from his Democratic mentors, the request was approved. It also seems likely that after ADM Zumwalt had tossed Kerry out of Vietnam to save the Navy further grief, the Navy was only too happy to get rid of such a crumby officer and danger to good order and discipline.
I was unfortunate to fly with one Kerry for my first Vietnam tour. He routinely endangered the crew and aircraft and was universally detested by everyone. I finally went to my CO and told him that this guy shouldn't be flying as a plane commander. My suggestion was disregarded because we were short of just about every required aircrew position. This doofus left the Navy after his tour was up and went to fly for an airline. He never made it through training. I can only assume they got a load of him and tossed him out the door. Several years later he killed himself driving drunk in a new sports car, leaving the road at over 100 mph. He was definitely not someone the Navy would have wanted to call back to duty.
According to his Release from Active Duty orders, paragraph 3, "you will regard yourself released from all active duty and transferred to inactive duty in the Naval Reserves." Paragraph 6 states that, "While on inactive duty, your are subject to involuntary recall to active duty to the extent authorized by federal statue. Inform the command having custody of yur service record...of any change in health which prevent service in time of war. You shall promptly answer all official correspondence addressed to you as such....
Paragraph 7 states, "In the event you plan travel or residence in foreign countries for a period in excell of 30 days,notice of intent will be submitted to the command having custody of your service record. Such notice should include destination, expected duration of travel or residency, and forwarding address.
The bottom line is that Kerry did not have to attend any drills.
So he was free to go to Paris and meet with the Viet Cong?
I would say no from the standpoint of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. The optics were certainly bad, not to mention the fact that he came back and testified before Congress advocating acceptance of the Communists" negotiating points. Legally, I don't have the expertise to comment.
I also have a problem with his association with the VVAW while still being subject to involuntary recall. But hell, Jane Fonda should have been tried for treason as the Holzers' point out in great detail in their book, "Aid and Comfort.".
OK. Just checking. Thankfully Jane isn't running for any office.
Well I guess that answers the question.
However, did he violate any law by meeting with the enemy in Paris while still on inactive reserve?
If memory serves, this statement is accurate. However if one were assigned to a location over a certain distance from your home, you were not required to attend.
At the time, I lived north of Pittsburgh, PA, and was assigned to a location somewhere in the midwest and never went once. The Army was trying to get rid of people, and this sort of thing was pretty common.
Perhaps the Kerry military complete file, if it ever sees light of day, will show that. Good post.
No camps or meetings.
It seems the caller I quoted in this thread was mistaken or mislead.
What this does show however, is that the internet is a wealth of knowledge far beyond the capabilities of Talk Radio.
While Talk Radio has the ability to disseminate, we here have a far better resource for research.
onward and upwards...
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