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John Kerry's Mysterious Combat "V"
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 8/20/04 | Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer

Posted on 08/20/2004 12:38:55 AM PDT by kattracks

As the authors of Fake Warriors: Identifying, Exposing and Punishing Those Who Falsify Their Military Service, we receive scores of emails on our website either asking questions about the Fake Warrior phenomenon (which has reached epidemic proportions), or reporting sightings which sometimes lead to exposure and even fines or jail terms.

One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major, spurred on by the revelations in our book, and, in his words. ?having seen hundreds of DD 214s? (a veteran?s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry?s DD 214, which is posted on his website.  What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry?s Silver Star.  Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service ?Crosses?).

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat ?V? (for valor).  As the major correctly observes, the ?V? is never awarded with the Silver Star.  But the actual wording on Kerry?s DD 214 (see www.johnkerry.com) is: ?SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT ?V?.? 

 

There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat ?V? (called a ?Combat Distinguishing Device?) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star.  For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has ?three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.? Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing.  Why?  Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for ?gallantry? (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a ?V? for valor.

 

Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices.  According to the Navy Awards Manual:

Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).

Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.  In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation.  See also http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Valor_device.

Because the ?V? is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry?s Silver Star citation (the ?explanation? of why the award was made) does not even mention the ?V? for valor (see www.johnkerry.com).

The presence of the combat ?V? with Kerry?s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions.  How did the unauthorized ?V? get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?

The first question should not be taken lightly because we are talking about possible federal crimes.  We are talking about the possibility of a forged official document. We are talking, as well, about Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, which states: ?[W]hoever, in any manner within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the United States, knowingly and willfully . . . makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both.?

Was the combat ?V? added by a sloppy clerk or a yeoman?s typo thirty years ago? Was someone pressured or persuaded to add it?  If Kerry had nothing to do with the gratuitously added combat ?V,? why didn?t he have his DD 214 corrected when he was separated from the Navy?

Which gives rise to the second disturbing question:  If Kerry was not a party to the unauthorized ?V,? why, for all these years, has he allowed his DD 214 to remain uncorrected and to repose on his website? 

In light of the recent Swift Boat revelations and the cloud they have cast over Kerry?s awards, one plausible answer is that this is yet another example of Kerry?s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam.

Let?s hope it won?t take a controversial TV spot to spark a mainstream media investigation of how candidate Kerry received an unearned ?V? for valor.

Henry Mark Holzer [www.henrymarkholzer.com; hank@henrymarkholzer.com], Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn Law School, specializes in federal appeals.  Erika Holzer [www.erikaholzer.com] is a lawyer and novelist.   They are co-authors of ?Aid and Comfort?: Jane Fonda in North Vietnam.



TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: combatv; kerry; lurch; militaryrecord; silverstar
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1 posted on 08/20/2004 12:38:55 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks

this could all go away if kerry would authorize the release of his records like GWB did . . . . but only if kerry is telling the truth in the first place.


2 posted on 08/20/2004 12:42:56 AM PDT by smonk
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To: kattracks

what about this story that Lehman polished up Kerry's records more than a decade after JFK's service ended???


3 posted on 08/20/2004 12:43:34 AM PDT by GeronL (Viking Kitties have won the GOLD MEDAL in the 2,000 meter ZOTTING)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub

ping for comments


4 posted on 08/20/2004 12:44:43 AM PDT by boxerblues
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To: kattracks

there also appears to be some question about his DD215 and four stars with his vietnam service medal...


5 posted on 08/20/2004 12:45:04 AM PDT by rolling_stone
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Did you see this?


6 posted on 08/20/2004 12:46:53 AM PDT by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: kattracks

http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD214.pdf

page 2 is where you kind find the awards


7 posted on 08/20/2004 12:50:30 AM PDT by boxerblues
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To: GeronL

I asked about the combat "V" last night. Kerry has absolutly fabricated his entire record.


8 posted on 08/20/2004 12:50:31 AM PDT by Texasforever (God can send you to hell but he can't sue you. He can't find a lawyer.)
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To: boxerblues

The level of deceit is mind boggling. Kerry is like an onion. We just keep peeling away his lies and by the time we are finished peeling, there really may be nothing left.


9 posted on 08/20/2004 12:55:05 AM PDT by Route66 (America's Mainstreet)
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To: kattracks

I suspect it was an error when his 214 was typed up but it is troubling that he never had it corrected. Any Vet knows you don't put a V on a SS.


10 posted on 08/20/2004 12:55:09 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: leadpenny
I suspect it was an error when his 214 was typed up but it is troubling that he never had it corrected.

How many "clerical errors" does it take to form a pattern of outright resume fabrication?

11 posted on 08/20/2004 12:57:39 AM PDT by Texasforever (God can send you to hell but he can't sue you. He can't find a lawyer.)
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To: Route66

Kerry is going to be crying soon.

The Thurlow interview on the Oreilly factor is replaying now.


12 posted on 08/20/2004 1:04:14 AM PDT by boxerblues
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To: Texasforever

I agree, the total picture of Kerry says there is something wrong, but by itself an error on a 214 is not major news. Now, if we could look at his service file in total we'd probably find a bunch.


13 posted on 08/20/2004 1:06:26 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: kattracks
The Bronze Star with the Combat "V" appears just above the Silver Star and it's not in the citation. I'm willing to believe this is a typo.
14 posted on 08/20/2004 1:07:48 AM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: leadpenny

"I suspect it was an error when his 214 was typed up but it is troubling that he never had it corrected." Do you think it was supposed to be on the Bronze Star he got?


15 posted on 08/20/2004 1:08:04 AM PDT by mass55th (We are The Knights Who Say "Ni!" No! Not The Knights Who Say "Ni!" The same!)
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To: rolling_stone
Kerry's DD215 is found at:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD-215_Correction.pdf

It shows a correction made in March of 2001 --- Deleting a Vietnam Service Medal and ADDING a Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars..

Boy, I'd love to hear how THAT happened...30 years after the fact!

I guess a Massatwoshits Senator can do anything they want -- from drowning girls to constructing a War Record....

Semper Fi

16 posted on 08/20/2004 1:13:42 AM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek...But I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: mass55th; Question_Assumptions

I didn't know that his Bronze Star had a V. I think it is important enough for someone to look at his original 214. I believe it is a crime if you tamper with a 214 even if it is your own.


17 posted on 08/20/2004 1:14:08 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: river rat

I didn't know what a 215 was until now. Is Kerry telling us that he had his 214 corrected for some minor awards and the SS w/V is still there?


18 posted on 08/20/2004 1:19:22 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: Route66
.....there really may be nothing left.

Just hold it right there!

He's a windsurfer Dammit!

He was in Vietnam.

That makes him Presidential!

19 posted on 08/20/2004 1:24:25 AM PDT by ninonitti
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To: leadpenny
It is a crime to tamper with a 214, even if it's your own. When I worked for the Fed's, we referred several instances of 214 tampering to the N.I.S. for investigation. BTW, it is more common than you think for people to forge their 214's, or create them out of whole cloth, in order to appear as though they were a Vet.
20 posted on 08/20/2004 1:24:49 AM PDT by TheBlueMax
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