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[Ripclawe]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...us05.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/09/05/ixworld.html

Among other records to be examined is a citation of Mr Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by the former Navy Secretary, John Lehman, and contributed to the award of his silver star. The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lt Kerry reflected great credit on himself." But Mr Lehman denies all knowledge of the commendation. "It's a total mystery to me," he said last week. "I never saw it, I never signed it and I never approved it." The inquiry will also investigate other reports and citations leading to the award of Mr Kerry's medals.

On Friday, Mr Lehman endorsed the investigation of Mr Kerry's awards, saying that the relevant navy records needed to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established". Mr Fitton said: "We hope this is the beginning of an actual investigation of the legitimacy of Sen Kerry's awards by the navy and the Pentagon."

shit.. They actually took Judicial watch seriously on this?

 

[DarienA]

Incredible.. inf'ncredible...

 

[RevenantKioku]

Clinton cigar-fucked a woman, and was still a great president. When will the shit end!

I don't care if you disagree with me, fuck the haters!

 

[KingV]

Clinton cigar-fucked a woman, and was still a great president. When will the shit end!

I don't care if you disagree with me, fuck the haters!

Man, are you in a parallel world where the topic is about Clinton or what?

 

[RevenantKioku]

Man, are you in a parallel world where the topic is about Clinton or what?

Incorrect!
I just don't find any of it related to the job they've set forth in doing, or trying to get the chance to do.

 

[Tenguman]

Clinton was a great president? what?

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Among other records to be examined is a citation of Mr Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by the former Navy Secretary, John Lehman, and contributed to the award of his silver star. The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lt Kerry reflected great credit on himself." But Mr Lehman denies all knowledge of the commendation. "It's a total mystery to me," he said last week.

This reminds me a bit of the story from the doctor who supposedly treated one of Kerry's wounds. Wouldn't a Navy Secretary be signing off on all kinds of medals and such at the time? And he clearly remembers seeing or not seeing certain ones 30 years later?

 

[KingV]

This reminds me a bit of the story from the doctor who supposedly treated one of Kerry's wounds. Wouldn't a Navy Secretary be signing off on all kinds of medals and such at the time? And he clearly remembers seeing or not seeing certain ones 30 years later?

Silver Star is a pretty big deal, Third highest commendation in the Navy. Very few are given out. I think the implication is that Silver Stars are rare enough that he'd remember signing the paper. I'm not sure how rare they were during Vietnam, but during war time I'm sure that they are more commonly awarded than during peace time. I do know that I've never seen anybody with a silver star in person. I don't know if there's any way to estimate how common or uncommon they are.

I do know what really brought down upon his Silver Star was that his campaign website listed him as having a Silver Star with a Combat V. The Silver Star, as an award for gallantry in combat, is not ever issued with a Combat V, it is merely as is, but well, it's still a huge honor.

 

[BlackMage]

so the pentagon doesn't have anything more important to do?

 

[DCharlie]

meanwhile, Bush's records still seem to be missing a few things

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...on_el_pr/bush_national_guard&cid=694&ncid=716

 

[KingV]

so the pentagon doesn't have anything more important to do?

Somebody falsifying documents to get medals is important. It's important to the veterans that have those medals, as having fakes out there diminishes the achievements of people who rightly earned them. I'm not saying that Kerry knowingly lied about his medals or that I think that he did (I remain unconvinced that he lied on this issue, but am intrigued that there's been so much backtracking by his campaign), but if he did lie, he should be punished.

 

[KingV]

meanwhile, Bush's records still seem to be missing a few things

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...on_el_pr/bush_national_guard&cid=694&ncid=716

Man that stuff's so old hat. It's not going anywhere either. It's like stuck at that one juncture, because those documents no longer exist. I would not be at all surprised if the Kerry allegations and investigations eventually come to the same conclusion when there's little agreement from all people involved, and no one can conclusively prove anything either way.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Silver Star is a pretty big deal, Third highest commendation in the Navy. Very few are given out. I think the implication is that Silver Stars are rare enough that he'd remember signing the paper. I'm not sure how rare they were during Vietnam, but during war time I'm sure that they are more commonly awarded than during peace time. I do know that I've never seen anybody with a silver star in person. I don't know if there's any way to estimate how common or uncommon they are.

Alright; didn't realize they were so rare. Trying some Google searches to find how rare... Not finding a lot that's directly relevant, though.

According to this article, as of December 2003, eighteen Silver Stars had been given out for the recent Afghanistan happenings, with 3 more going through the approval process. Also, George Washington started the first U.S. military decorations on my -200th birthday.

It says here at least 79 US Air Force Pararescuemen got Silver Stars. (EDIT: in Vietnam)

 

[KingV]

wow actually more rare than I would have thought.