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To: Major_Risktaker
You're right. He killed himself over two "V" devices he was not authorized to wear. The Ranger Tab reference was about what Hackworth was displaying on his web page. Hackworth also claimed he had a DFC or two he had not earned.
419 posted on 05/08/2004 4:10:47 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: leadpenny; Major_Risktaker
I was right at the tail-end of my naval service when Adm. Boorda killed himself. That whole thing is so weird. I don't believe that he killed himself over two combat "V" devices.

According to the Washington Times, there was a bit of confusion over whether he was allowed to wear combat "V" devices with two ribbons on his daily uniform. The ribbons signified two medals that he had earned in combat although the written citations didn't specifically state that it happened in combat. Adm. Boorda talked to the Secretary of Defense, who told him to go ahead and wear the combat "V" devices on his uniform. If anybody really had a problem, they could legitimately say that there was a bit of confusion and decide if he should continue to wear the "V" devices or not. The matter is hardly something to kill yourself over. From Boorda's standpoint, his butt was covered. He had his boss's OK.

Since Boorda's suicide note was kept under wraps and never released by the military, it's pretty tough to say whether he really killed himself over that or some other personal problem. Maybe Boorda developed a chemical imbalance in his brain and the military didn't want to admit that one of their top leaders was mentally ill. Maybe there was a scandal with another woman that was going to soon ruin his career. Who knows? We'll probably never find out.

463 posted on 05/08/2004 5:14:50 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (All the good taglines are taken...)
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