Posted on 11/01/2004 2:27:45 PM PST by treeclimber
A former secretary of the Navy is urging Sen. John Kerry to open up his personnel files to resolve the question of whether the Democratic presidential nominee received a less-than-honorable discharge from the Navy.
William Middendorf, the Navy chief from 1974 to 1977, told WorldNetDaily today that Kerry, who began inactive reserve status in 1972, would have been issued a document three years later either for a reserve reaffiliation or a separation discharge.
An "honorable discharge" from 1978 appears on the Kerry campaign's website, but a Navy lawyer who served under Middendorf believes that document is a substitute for one that would have been issued in 1975.
However, no such document can be found among the records Kerry has made available.
"I should think it would be in his interest to open up the files, to clear up any misunderstanding," said Middendorf, who later served as ambassador to the Netherlands, European Union and Organization of American States.
Middendorf said he cannot comment specifically on any action taken on Kerry, because he is barred, under the 1974 privacy act, from discussing personnel matters.
However, he enthusiastically vouches for the character of Mark Sullivan, who formed the basis for a story today in the New York Sun by Thomas Lipscomb, the first to report discrepancies in Kerry's discharge record.
Sullivan, who served in the secretary of the Navy's office in the Judge Advocate General Corps Reserve between 1975 and 1977, says the "honorable discharge" on the Kerry website appears to be a Carter administration substitute for an original action expunged from Kerry's record, Lipscomb reported.
Asked by WorldNetDaily to address Sullivan's findings, Middendorf cited the privacy act.
"I shouldn't comment other than to say I respect Mark Sullivan as one of the finest Navy officers we had."
The Kerry campaign has insisted that all of the senator's Navy records have been released, with the exception of medical papers, but the Washington Post and others have reported at least 100 pages are still under wraps. Kerry would have to file a Standard Form 180 to grant permission for full release of his records.
If Kerry received something other than an honorable discharge, it likely was related to his anti-war activities while a member of the Navy reserve, says Jerome Corsi, a specialist on the anti-war movement and co-author of best-seller "Unfit for Command."
"We've been arguing that Kerry's cooperation with the enemy throughout the Vietnam War was widely known by the intelligence community," Corsi told WND.
Corsi believes this is the reason the discharge is not on the campaign website.
"If he didn't have reason to hide anything, he would have released it," Corsi said.
Thanks, Tonk.
Legality, my friend......privacy laws, the lawyer thing, ya know!!!!! So, like I said, if Kerry refuses to release the goods on himself, and this is no doubt the reason he CAN'T, because he knows he'll be called on it, the "little people", like you and me, have to run around and piece together the story which HE REFUSES TO TELL US!!! THANKS MR. KERRY, FOR HELPING US MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON ELECTION DAY! WHAT A "PATRIOT" YOU ARE, SIR.....[/sarcasm]
too late for the election but even if Kerry wins I'm sure the Vets will continue to hound him to the day he dies.
Wounds won't heal until the scoundrel is exposed. Sooner or later when enough people continue to scream and yell for him to release those records the press will not be able to ignore the issue. It's shameful that the media ALL have contributed to Kerry's deception by not even suggesting that there are records yet to be released. That boggles the mind.
Likewise ... though I wish it had been nailed in concrete a month ago.
If it "all" comes out later, how do we get him impeached
should he win?
Thanks for the ping!
I was wondering the same thing!!!
Elected federal officials don't need to get a clearance. Nothing, repeat nothing, can be kept from them, unless by rules of the House or Senate if they are a member of either body. Back in the the day I was told if CongressCritter Red Ron Dellums himself came to our SKIF and asked to see our TS/SCI Codeword data, we'd have to show it to the commie.
That said it only applies to the elected officials themselves, not to their traitorous scumbag staffs.
I personally see no reason for not considering a discharge public record.
I fear that the politicos lack the courage to engage.
The military on the other hand will be at risk of extinction and must either act or die.
When the shoving begins, someone will be backed to the wall.
Obviously, Kerry has had the political wheels greased for
him since probably before Vietnam. Who did the greasing?
The Democrat wheel greasing apparatus that has been in
place throughout this country for many years, and his
Communist connections in North Vietnam found him to be
rather useful because of his blazing ambition?
People are complacent since 9/11 because President Bush's
administration has been successful in keeping bin Laden's
minions rounded up and thwarted. They are lulled into
thinking our security is as it has always seemed, just
a permanent birthright.
Perhaps "George Washington's Vision" really happened after
all. When I first read it, it sounded impossible, but
that was before 9/11 and the events up to now. Now it
seems altogether possible. . and even more so with the
specter of the despot appeaser, Kerry coming so close to
gaining power.
Too late, but...
GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT ! ! ! ! ! !
later, if necessary.
Does anyone really care about this any more? Bush is going to win. Let Massachusetts worry about Kerry now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.