Mystery Surrounds Kerry's Navy Discharge

The New York Sun ^ | October 13, 2004 | THOMAS LIPSCOMB

[Mike Fieschko]

What was being reviewed, then, was Mr. Kerry's involuntary separation from the service. And it couldn't have been an honorable discharge, or there would have been no point in any review at all.

Bad logic.

It wasn't the only possible point to reviewing his obligation.

There's 'up or out' (Lt Kerry not being promoted).

There's review of the Navy's personnel and skills needs.

An officer's obligation is open-ended, and the services routinely review officers training and specialties to see if those are what the service needs.

[RichardW]

I posted this on another board and the liberals went apopletic. I hope Rush and the others get hot on this story. The Dems pushed the NG story forever. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[Arkie2]

There's another thread urging caution for the very reason you describe. I'm just a passenger on this issue. I'll wait for the judgement of the experts. There's certainly enough pajama clad researchers on FR to get to the bottom of it!

[greasepaint]

What is not speculation is:
Kerry's poltical opinion thru 1969 becomes incompatible
with Navy service.
Kerry requested separation from active duty in
late '69 / early '70, was released from active on 3-1-70.
Kerry's (reserve) obligation ended in 1972,
but he hangs around till 1978 ??

[Mike Fieschko]

Kerry's (reserve) obligation ended in 1972 but he hangs around till 1978 ??

And your point is ...?

As an officer, unless he is discharged, he has an open-ended obligation to his branch.

This was post-Viet Nam draw down.

He didn't get promoted, his skills didn't match anything the Navy was likely to need (shallow water inshore fast tactical [S.W.I.F.T.] boats), and the Navy didn't want to spend money on retraining him.

SOP.

If there was a military court convened, show me the records.

[TexasTransplant]

ex-Texan =

"Exceptional-Texan"?

;^)

[greasepaint]

I suppose it could be stated that an officer has
some 'open ended relationship' to the service, but it is
certanly not a 'compelled-lifetime' relationship.
Kerry had an ethical obligation to end his
sham 'service' in the Reserves by resigning, when
it was appropriate to do so.

[capitan_refugio]

On this subject, maybe the more threads the better. You might want to check out this thread for how the story developed. It is still active.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1243434/posts?page=326#326