Posted on 08/21/2004 12:27:51 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
THIS KERRY SERVICE TIMELINE from the Associated Press in the Boston Globe says Kerry was honorably discharged in 1970, and then joined the anti-war movement:
January 1970: Kerry requests discharge. He is honorably discharged, and later joins Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
But that's wrong:
Kerry was transfered to the Naval Reserves in 1970, and Honorably Discharged in 1978. There was no two year service gap, despite the impression given by his press releases.
But not all of his press releases. In fact, it's made quite clear in this July release from the Kerry campaign:
Kerry volunteered for the United States Navy after college and served from 1966 through 1970 rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. Afterwards, Kerry continued his military service in the United States Naval Reserves through 1978.
(Same here, too: "John Kerry Enlisted in the U.S. Navy; November 1968 through March 1969, Served in Vietnam; 1970-1978, Served in U.S. Navy Reserves.") In other words, when Kerry was protesting the war and holding private meetings with North Vietnamese and Viet Cong representatives in Paris, he was still a Naval officer in the reserves. The folks at AP and the Globe might not think that matters, but they ought to report this so that people can make up their own minds -- and they ought to get it right. Especially when the correct information is right on the Kerry website, and when their fellow journalists are accusing blogs of sloppiness. . . .
UPDATE: Reader Larry Ferguson emails: "Maybe the official US Navy document on John Kerry's website listing Kerry's service dates in the Navy (including the reserve) does not rise to Tom Oliphant's level of verification for use in journalism."
Heh.
I was a little worried bout Kaus's "surprise"
But it turned out to be Rood the dud so I am happy
This time line is incredible. It would have made any protest illegal. It doesn't matter whether he was active or inactive reserve. Propaganda by a military person during war is treason.
As far as treason goes, giving aid and comfort to the emenies of the United States is treason, no matter who does it, military or civilian. As far as being in violation of the UCMJ, being reserve or active matters alot. Reservists not on active duty, nor performing inactive duty training, are not subject to the UCMJ! They retain their full freedom of speech, assembly and so forth, save that they cannot demonstrate or make political statements and so forth while in uniform or in a duty status. An inactive reservist,which is all he ever was once he left active duty, is not subject to the UCMJ, unless in receipt of activation orders and failure to go. In '72 he switched from inactive reserve to "standby reserve".
Technically even retired military (regular or reservist) are "in reserve", even if, like myself, they are not receiving retired pay. Only those who are discharged, and in the case of officers resign their commission, are not longer "in reserve". I suspect that for some reason Kerry did not resign his commision until '78, since his obligated military service time expired in '72. Since he was not an active reservist at that time, he was transferred to the standby reserve.
The loophole is that there was no declared war.
There is still a possibility that Kerry commited some form of espionage during the period immediately after he returned from Nam, where he had a stateside military job that I recall had access to an awful lot of information (like personnel and activity records, perhaps).
Even during peace time a military soldier, including active or non-active reserve, can't protest against the government. In the oath one must protect and serve under the authority of the government. Treason maybe not but there must be some UCMJ Law for this. Maybe Unbecoming of an Officer.
He became involved with protest in 70 or 71?
Should we start a pool to see how long before this document "disappears" from Kerry's web site?
There is a great time line on "Wintersoldier" but I don't know if that is a detailed as a total release of the actual records could make it.
This pdf says he transferred to the USNR. Some reports suggest that he was released/discharged outright and then, later, rejoined to get into the Reserve.
In any event, this pdf indicates Traitor John entered the "active" USNR on 1/1/70 and then went into the "inactive" USNR on 7/1/72. Where are his reserve attendance records/reports for this 30 months?
As an undecided voter, I would like to see a side by side comparison of W's questiobale ANG records and Kerry's rock solid (but too secret to be seen by normal folks) USNR papers.
Kerry has his excuse; He was too busy protesting. This is as good as any he could really give.
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As I recall, the article said he was "a charismatic young officer" who was still on active duty, had requested a discharge so he could pursue his political career, and that readers should try to remember his name because we'd be hearing much more about him in the future (and I did).
Ya know you have a point here, if you are active reserve you are supposed to attend meeting.
C.I.C. (Christmas in Cambodia) BUMP
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