[Mike Fieschko]

Carter's pardon was for draft dodgers. Note that the language you provide is about Selective Service Act violations.

Kerry enlisted and at least fulfilled his active duty obligation. I don't think that his problem with records is about Selective Service problems. IIRC, there's some document (on Kerry's web site?) from Kerry's draft board stating that he's no longer under their purview.

Back around 1973/1974, I did a little work for ex-military trying to get their discharges upgraded. There was (is?) a board which handles applications. Kerry would have to apply to that board, if the procedures were followed.

The interesting question seems to be:

Kerry signed up for a six-year obligation in 1966. He should've been discharged in 1972.

It seems as if he was discharged in 1978.

Why the additional six years?

[texas booster]

Did reserve status gain JF'K any pay? Medical benefits? College help? Cheap PX purchases like cigs or medicine?

Why wait as an inactive officer, if he would have had to re-up in '72 for 6 more years to a Navy he loathed?

Kerry's family had money back then but wasn't super-wealthy, IIRC.

It is also common for lefties to receive financial assistance from the very government that they want to topple, and from the very adults that they see as "the source of all problems".

Witness the DU'ers in NYC last week. They need more welfare benefits since the price of dope is higher in NYC.

[300winmag]

Kerry signed up for a six-year obligation in 1966. He should've been discharged in 1972.

It seems as if he was discharged in 1978.

Why the additional six years?

Based only on what's seen here, it looks like he signed up for another six years. Probably in the Active Reserve, which he promptly ignored. He came from a prominent blueblood family. He may not have a desertion behind him (as they accuse W of having), but he may have had to get his service record "touched up" for those missing years, which is why they're off-limits to us.

It also means he was still a commissioned officer while he was hob-nobbing with the North Vietnamese.

[hershey]

Yes, indeed. Why the additional six years?

[Calpernia]

>>>Why the additional six years?

That was his Christmas vacation in Cambodia ;)