[reformedliberal]

I believe President Bush's honorable discharge was posted at one point to refute this claim. The point being that anyone who was actually officially AWOL would not have received an honorable discharge.

IIRC, a scan of the actual official discharge was posted here on FR. Perhaps some knowledgable FReeper could post a link.

IF this was actually true, does anyone think it wouldn't be all over the media 24/7/365? But it isn't. It is only found on the hate-filled anti-Bush sites and in rumors IRL.

Also, I seem to recall that the reason given for why he was absent was to work on a political campaign. I can't recall if he actually had or asked permission to be absent.

[RipSawyer]

"The point being that anyone who was actually officially AWOL would not have received an honorable discharge."

Actually, plenty of people have been AWOL and received an honorable discharge. I think you are confusing AWOL which means absent without leave and desertion which means you leave with the intent of never returning. Penalties for AWOL are relatively mild, penalties for desertion have ranged from dishonorable discharge all the way to imprisonment and or execution.

[Wolverine]

The Real Military Record of George W. Bush Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39ea05224b3e.htm