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.
Too little, too late.
He wont, ever.
Texas Cowboy telling the Boston Dandy he's gonna call him out if he tries anything funny?
BUMP
Why didn't this guy open his mouth a little earlier....
A day late and a dollar short
Having this fellow come out and do this one day before the election is pretty lame.
He should just go and vote for Kerry.
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.
Actually this can remain an issue as long as we wish!
You'd think John McCain would be interested in this. Did Kerry lie to McCain?
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.
Would McCain even care ?
And We have a very long memories
YOU HEAR THAT MEDIA/PRESS ?????
I hope your correct.
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.
bmp
Kerry knows he is protected by law and the scum has had twenty years to scrub any vestiges of his real records.
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?
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.