He used the "three Purple Heart" policy to cut his Vietnam tour short. After returning to the U.S., he would still have been on active duty.
See Post 147. It explains the difference between the terms "discharge" and "release from active duty".
There is a lot of confusion with the terms "realease from active duty" and "discharge" being used improperly.
You do not need a "discharge" to run for office.
There are three active reservists in Congress: Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is in the National Guard.
You do, however, need a "release from active duty" to run for office. You can't very well tell your Commanding Officer that you won't be showing up for duty any longer because you were elected to Congress.
Right. That's why I said he requested a release from active duty, rather than saying he's requested a discharge. 'Course I made so many TYPOS it was probably hard to understand. My typing muscles must be getting strained ;- )
Waitaminute, let me add something to that "release from active duty" statement : what bothers me is that the bulk of Kerry's subversive activites, including his false testimony to congress adn the illegal meeting in Paris with the VNC would have taken place between the time of his release from active duty - while still a uniformed officer of the US Navy - and the time of his first actual discharge, whether it was honorable or not. I believe that first discharge could not have been honorable.