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 for the ping!
Prayers this 'warlord' is run out of this nation. He can go set up shop in Vietnam.
Don't really need the files. If Kerry was dishonorably discharged there are people with first hand knowledge of it. Why haven't they come forward and told there story stating they KNOW he was dishonorably discharged? My instincts tell me he was but I'm surprised there arent witnesses stating so.
Right on, let's see it.
Thank you. I sleep well every night. I'm sure you do too! Got to go check on my mom before my wife FReeper Laura Earl gets back from her work out. Then it's sit on the deck with our faithful companion LulaBelle the crazy Chocolate Lab. No TV tonight!
Win or lose. It needs to be an issue.
Woooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooooo!
Your husband should be commended for his honorable service, and for making that drive as well! What a great dad!
"Lets start the impeachment drive right now!!!"
Should this fraud somehow win the election he'll never withstand the "HEAT" the new media will bear upon him.
Too little, too late....
Think Coup d'etat.
Kerry will try to destroy the military. He has already announced 40k troops. They will not replace the resignations that will surely come if he wins. They will be crack smoking single mothers not only unfit for general living, but especially unfit for the military.
Why give a brainy high school graduater a military slot when there is a dope addict without a real job. It's the Rat way.
Where was this clown 6 months ago?
Exactly!
A damn traitor running for President. Go figure!
Yes! FnKerry's brother!
FnKerry went to Viet Nam. He kissed up to the Commies. He hated America.
Now that he wants to be President, he says he LOVES America. How oh how can we believe him now. He just wants to be President of America so he can finish the job that he started back in the 70's!
Would McCain even care ?
He might, depending on if it gave him more face time on TV.
From your lips to Gods ear!
Hell, billyblythe clinton was in there!
Also think impeachment ....when the military refuses to let the enemy domestic kill off America
Congress will crap their drawers and those do nothings will suddenly get off their butts
and Kerry will be exposed for exactly what he is...for all the world to see
The Emperor has no clothes....
The Widows and Orphans whose husbands and daddies Kerry and his N Vietnamese comrades killed off...will at least be recognized and perhaps they will accept our nation's apology
Game set match.....Kerry will be lucky to escape prison...perhaps he will be allowed to give up his citizenship and move to France...taking everything with him...maybe Tereza will divorce him and he will have next to nothing and have to live off someother women who has much less
who knows...
The important thing is Kerry will finally get his comeupance...the dems will be delt a death blow
and as a result even the Clintons will be poison..
And America will at last see how the Vietnam war was really lost and demand and accounting of those responsible...maybe the main stream media will be deconstructed and also shown to be the marxist propaganda generator that it truly is..
I dont know...but I do know one thing...the Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth and the POWs arent done with Kerry yet....nope not by a loooong shot....
And any Vietnam vet who lost a friend, a relative or lost a family or his self respect.. thanks to Kerry and his comrades is also in this with the Swift Boat Vets and POWs...or should be..
This time to the bitter end....It is either Kerry and his comrades or the America of our founders
and the America of every veteran from Valley Forge to Fallujah...
IMO
Thanks for the ping.
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.