Posted on 08/27/2004 1:25:11 PM PDT by TonyInOhio
KERRY ON BOORDA [08/27 03:53 PM]
The current dispute over Kerry’s medals is a good time to recall the tragic suicide of the Navy's Admiral Mike Boorda in 1996.
Kate O’Beirne summarized it well:
“In 1996, a left-wing news service raised questions about two small "V" clips that the chief of Naval operations wore over two of the medals on his chest full of them. The clips are awarded for valor under fire, and there was some doubt about whether Boorda's two tours in Vietnam aboard combat ships qualified him for the awards, although the Washington Post reported that a 1965 Navy manual appeared to support Boorda's right to wear the clips. Unlike Kerry, the awards did not provide grounds for Boorda to shorten his tours of duty. Hours before he was scheduled to meet with Newsweek reporters to discuss the controversy, the admiral went to his home at the Navy Yard and shot himself in the chest. The CNO had been in command of the Navy during a troubled period and his leadership was being criticized by its senior officers. Still, among the notes he left was one to "the sailors" expressing his fear that the controversy over his decorations might harm the Navy. Boorda had lied about his age to join the Navy and was the first CNO to rise through the enlisted ranks.”
What did John Kerry have to say at the time about the matter? Let us consult the Boston Herald of May 18, 1996:
Veterans said yesterday that although they would take offense at someone falsely wearing a "V" combat pin, they couldn't see how this could drive Navy Adm. Jeremy Michael Boorda to suicide.
“Is it wrong? Yes, it is very wrong. Sufficient to question his leadership position? The answer is yes, which he clearly understood,” said Sen. John Kerry, a Navy combat veteran who served in Vietnam.
Citing uncertainty of whether Boorda deliberately wore the pins improperly, Kerry added: “If he made a mistake, in my judgment it wasn't worth his life, so I'm very sad about it.” And let us consult the Boston Globe for the same day:
“The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment,” said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a "V" pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.
“In a sense, there's nothing that says more about your career than when you fought, where you fought and how you fought,” Kerry said.
“If you wind up being less than what you’re pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you.”
Of Boorda and his apparent violation, Kerry said: “When you are the chief of them all, it has to weigh even more heavily.” Kerry‘s records refer to a "Silver Star with combat V." The Chicago Sun-Times has reported a U.S. Navy spokesman said, "Kerry's record is incorrect. The Navy has never issued a 'combat V' to anyone for a Silver Star." Naval regulations do not allow for the use of a "combat V" for the Silver Star, the third-highest decoration the Navy awards. None of the other services has ever granted a Silver Star "combat V," either.
If John Kerry has been touting a “V” that the Navy says he does not deserve, these quotes are going to be flung back in his face.
bump TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWIFT VETS AD AND GEORGE BUSH... http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg
The article reminds me of a comment you made on a thread a few days ago that Kerry has a "Mike Boorda problem".
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1197034/posts
Admiral Boorda was an honorable man.
The "V" (for valor) device is used to distinguish awards that can be made for either combat or non-combat actions.
The Bronze Star is one of these awards. I'm certain that there are others but I haven't researched this further. kerry's Bronze Star has the "V" device listed for it.
The Silver Star, on the other hand, can only be awarded for actions performed under enemy fire. The "V" device just isn't awarded for it just as it would never be awarded for a Medal of Honor. The term "gallantry under fire" is part of the citation for it; a designation for valor is incorrect for these medals in military awards terms.
kerry's corrected DD215 lists the award as Silver Star with combat "V". This is bogus; Silver Stars just don't have "V"s and never have.
Of course, none of this applies to Kerry, because he's a Dem.
He was, indeed.
JFK was aware of the "V" device roblem on Borda's Silver Star in 1996, but he didn't correct his record on his DD215 Mar 12, 2001 when he was updating his military "resume" while preparing to run for President.
Opinions vary.
Today's Democrats are dishonorable by definition. It's a prerequisite.
A bunch of bottom-feeders, in a Party without a bottom.
i had just gotten to my first command when that happened, it was a sad day to everyone
Former honorable? Senator John Glenn should be required to read these Kerry quotes on the air.
.....beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep..... (Bush Landslide Early Warning System alert in progress)
Ping for bogus "V" on Kerry Silver Star.
Oh, this is rich.
Would Kerry consider a V a medal or ribbon? Besides the bull he throws around, was it medals or ribbons he threw? ....nevermind...
ping
That crash you hear is Kerry's world....
That crash you hear is Kerry's world....
To you TonyInOhio, thanks for posting.
On the article, this is just damning, the person known as John Kerry is a despicable person.
Excellent article.
Kerry's statements just show his tremendous hypocrisy and double standard.
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