[Mike Fieschko]

His obligation under the commission, was, as far as I have read, for 6 years starting from the date of his commission, December 16, 1966. If he was discharged properly, after completing that 6 year obligation, his certificate of discharge should be dated December 17, 1972.

He was an officer. Officers' obligations are very different from enlisted.

Officers have an open ended obligation.

Separation in 1972, after an obligation is up, does not mean an officer gets discharged.

As has been stated on this thread, a separation is not a discharge.

A separation is a change in the member's status in the branch (active --> active reserves, for example).

[First_Salute]

We have indications that John Kerry did not wish to remain in the military, and thus, he would have requested separation from the Navy (and yes, separation actually can and does mean completely from the U.S. Military, for an officer, by resigning his commission, not to mention that the military, the President, may administratively do the job entirely without an officer's input in the matter) ... having said all that, there is a good probability that John Kerry would have received a certificate of discharge for December 17, 1972.

Which was my point to begin with, given, again, that he, or somebody, had put in the paperwork to that end.

Yet, given that such a document has not surfaced, the point included that, John Kerry, absent such a certificate of discharge, had elected to remain in the Navy or the Navy, the President, had elected to hang on to him presumably for administrative reasons.

Again, the point being, that given John Kerry's attitude toward the U.S. Military, he does not seem to be a likely candidate for remaining in the service of our country, back then.

Given that, then why the delay in getting any discharge certificate ... until one finally shows up in 1978?

That, is for the most part of the wonderment on this webpage, the big question.