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Ex-Navy sec to Kerry: Open up your records
worldnetdaily.com ^ | 11-1-04 | Art Moore

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.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aidingtheenemy; discharge; dishonorable; hanoijohn; kerry; kerrydischarge; kerrysecrets; lurchgate; middendorf; militaryrecord; navy; poodleisnoleader; powsnightmare; traitor
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Ex-Navy sec to Kerry: Open up your records Questions rise on service discharge, apparently was less-than-honorable
1 posted on 11/01/2004 2:28:08 PM PST by treeclimber
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To: treeclimber

Too little, too late.


2 posted on 11/01/2004 2:28:23 PM PST by So Cal Rocket (Proud Member: Internet Pajama Wearers for Truth)
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To: treeclimber

He wont, ever.


3 posted on 11/01/2004 2:29:12 PM PST by Se7eN
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To: treeclimber
Speculation: I wonder if the VRWC just flashed Kerry an Ace to ward off a DNC bluff/scam in the event of a close EC result tomorrow.

Texas Cowboy telling the Boston Dandy he's gonna call him out if he tries anything funny?

4 posted on 11/01/2004 2:29:48 PM PST by LTCJ (CBS, all your Boyd Cycles are belong to us.)
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To: treeclimber

BUMP


5 posted on 11/01/2004 2:30:41 PM PST by AMDG&BVMH
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To: treeclimber

Why didn't this guy open his mouth a little earlier....
A day late and a dollar short


6 posted on 11/01/2004 2:30:56 PM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: treeclimber

Having this fellow come out and do this one day before the election is pretty lame.

He should just go and vote for Kerry.


7 posted on 11/01/2004 2:30:59 PM PST by AlGone2001 (If liberals must lie to advance their agenda, why is liberalism good for me?)
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To: So Cal Rocket

I know its too late to make a difference.

I knew it was out there, you knew, but a lot of people didnt. Most FReepers know all they need to know about Effing Kerry.


8 posted on 11/01/2004 2:31:22 PM PST by treeclimber ("We will hunt the terrorists in every dark corner of the earth. We will be relentless." GWB 2001)
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To: So Cal Rocket

Actually this can remain an issue as long as we wish!


9 posted on 11/01/2004 2:31:31 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Ignorance, bigotry, envy, and gluttony are a few floor joists in the democratic platform.)
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To: treeclimber

You'd think John McCain would be interested in this. Did Kerry lie to McCain?


10 posted on 11/01/2004 2:32:12 PM PST by Saundra Duffy (,)
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To: treeclimber

I guess Middledorf must be the former SECNAV who had been lined up by "Navy Chief" on Swiftvets.com. If so, I suppose Middledorf KNOWS that there is a less-than-honorable discharge in those records, but can't say so.


11 posted on 11/01/2004 2:32:23 PM PST by big time major leaguer
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To: So Cal Rocket
Oh sure now, on the eve of the election now he comes out. Boy do I see a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking starting with excuses to spare.
12 posted on 11/01/2004 2:32:51 PM PST by engrpat
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To: Saundra Duffy

Would McCain even care ?


13 posted on 11/01/2004 2:33:16 PM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: Conspiracy Guy
Actually this can remain an issue as long as we wish!

And We have a very long memories

YOU HEAR THAT MEDIA/PRESS ?????

14 posted on 11/01/2004 2:33:36 PM PST by Mo1 (This Sept 10th attitude is no way to protect our country)
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To: LTCJ

I hope your correct.


15 posted on 11/01/2004 2:36:00 PM PST by chainsaw (Kerry is a coward and a traitor and will not sign a Standard Form 180.)
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To: treeclimber

There's still no smoking gun here, although it's getting interesting.

The Washington Times is also rumored to be working on the story. Maybe they will have more. Hopefully, they will have a piece of paper to prove things. I'm not getting my hopes up.


16 posted on 11/01/2004 2:36:31 PM PST by conservative in nyc
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To: big time major leaguer

bmp


17 posted on 11/01/2004 2:36:36 PM PST by shield (The Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God!!!! by Dr. H. Ross, Astrophysicist)
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To: Conspiracy Guy
I have to say that if I worked in the Navy Archives I would have to leak those documents. If I got caught, so be it. The American people have a right to know what type of man is running for President.
18 posted on 11/01/2004 2:38:38 PM PST by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us." That includes demonrats)
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To: big time major leaguer
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.

Kerry knows he is protected by law and the scum has had twenty years to scrub any vestiges of his real records.

19 posted on 11/01/2004 2:38:49 PM PST by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
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To: treeclimber

Since Kerry had to petition to have his OTH upgraded to an Honorable Discharge, would there be any paperwork that would be available under the FOI that shows this?


20 posted on 11/01/2004 2:39:16 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (God is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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