Posted on 08/27/2004 1:25:11 PM PDT by TonyInOhio
KERRY ON BOORDA [08/27 03:53 PM]
The current dispute over Kerrys medals is a good time to recall the tragic suicide of the Navy's Admiral Mike Boorda in 1996.
Kate OBeirne 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 youre 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. Kerrys 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.
Actually I don't think Clinton believed much of his own BS. Oh maybe when he was spouting it, but by the time he got back to his car he knew what was what. Kerry seems to really buy into his own BS, which is worse for a President.
That being said, we need to lay off this story unless and until there is some solid evidence that Kerry falsified something, or persuaded someone else in the Navy to do. If this turns out to be a typo made by some E-3 with his head up his a@@, the media will spin this story so as to discredit all claims (even those demonstrably true) that Kerry falsified or exaggerated his record.
Don't go there. We have no need to *guess* at things against Senator Kerry that may or may not be true.
If something that devastating turns out to be true, and gets outed before the state Presidential ballots are all printed after the Republican Convention, then the Dems will simply switch candidates.
If it isn't true, then everyone bantering about that charge gets smeared as a muckraker.
We stand to take damage from *either* possible outcome.
So don't go there.
5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
OK .. That got my attention
Push Here for an official Navy Military Decorations page.
Can someone post the photo of his Congressional testimony in 1971 where he is wearing his ribbons with fatigues. Maybe we can see if he has a "V" device attached to the SS.
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 youre pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you.
Don't miss this.
Lord Kerry felt moved to speak out on the Boorda issue and it will make you sick.
No, no. Don't even THINK about holding him to the standard he sets for others.
Any veteran with a sense of duty, honor and country could not possibly support Kerry.
The Kerry Kamp itself has already basically admitted the first purple heart was actually an accidentally self-inflicted wound (which by definition does not qualify for that medal).
Oh My Gosh....
It would appear that the words of the putz being in quotes The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment,
are seperate from the words of the author that are not in quotes.
said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a "V" pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.
Thanks----We don't get the first hour of Hugh's show here, but after this news break I'll get the next two hours. Have it on and hope he continues on this topic.
I am horrified and sickened.
The only pictures that I've seen are in black-and-white and don't have sufficient detail to make out the details of the ribbons. Since the Silver Star ribbon has a wide dark red stripe down the center of it, it may be difficult to determine whether or not a "V" device is there, particularly in a black-and-white picture.
I'm trying to find high resolution photos of Kerry while wearing his ribbons. If there is no "V" device on the SS, it may be possible that an administrative error occurred on his DD214&215. Those docs are usually typed up by lower enlisted personell types. Even if that were the case, what's with a Silver Star for shooting one retreating injured enemy?
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 youre pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you.
Has laid out the rationale on why any decent reporter (if there are any left) would be seriously investigating Kerry's own record that he so proudly brandishes about and waves under our noses.
Get Craig Livingstone's (whoever hired him?) comments too! LOL!
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Area veterans baffled, saddened
DAVID TALBOT. Boston Herald. Boston, Mass.: May 18, 1996. pg. 002
Section: NEWS
ISSN/ISBN: 07385854
Text Word Count 377
Abstract (Article Summary)
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 ...
"I'm trying to find high resolution photos of Kerry while wearing his ribbons. If there is no "V" device on the SS, it may be possible that an administrative error occurred on his DD214&215."
I found a picture of his testimony before Congress here
http://www.8bitjoystick.com/groundzero/archives/photos/JohnKerryInfrontofCongress1971.jpg
He does not appear to be wearing a v device on his SS but it does show on his BS. I think it's just a clerical error. We have plenty of other lies to gig him on.
Of course, the rules don't apply to liberals like Kerry. They get an exemption from them. "How dare you question my...."
Wow. He's just profound and...*nuanced*!
the washington post apparently was able to get the 1650 for thurlow's bronze star..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/veterans_awardrecommendation.pdf
He has the combat V on his Bronze Star but definitely doesn't have one on his Silver Star. He also has only his two legitimate campaign stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.
I wonder if anyone has a good detailed picture of the medals that he has displayed in his Senate office?
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