Debunking of New York Sun's Kerry discharge smear making the rounds

[geek tragedy]

The Freeptard wrote:
"It describes Mr. Kerry's discharge as being subsequent to the review of "a board of officers." This in it self is unusual. There is nothing about an ordinary honorable discharge action in the Navy that requires a review by a board of officers."

The STATUTE (then 10 USC 1163) says:
(a) An officer of a reserve component who has at least three years of service as a commissioned officer may not be separated from that component without his consent except under an approved recommendation of a board of officers convened by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned . . .

(c) A member of a reserve component who is separated therefrom for cause, except under subsection (b), is entitled to a discharge under honorable conditions

The rightwing hack also wrote:

"The document is dated February 16, 1978. But Mr. Kerry's military commitment began with his six-year enlistment contract with the Navy on February 18, 1966. His commitment should have terminated in 1972. It is highly unlikely that either the man who at that time was a Vietnam Veterans Against the War leader, John Kerry, requested or the Navy accepted an additional six year reserve commitment. And the Claytor document indicates proceedings to reverse a less than honorable discharge that took place sometime prior to February 1978."


The FACTS state that Kerry entered the inactive reserve for an indefinite period of time in 1972: http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Transfer_To_Standby_Reserve.pdf

Officers remain in such a status until they resign or get an administrative discharge, which is what happened here.

"Text of honorable discharge:

"This action is taken in accordance with the approved board of officers convened under the authority of reference (b) to examine the official records of officers of the naval reserve on inactive duty and DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE RETAINED ON THE ROLLS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENT OR SEPARATED FROM THE NAVAL SERVICE . . ."

Original pile of steaming shit here: http://www.nysun.com/article/3107

[PittLib]

1. This is what "chief" was referring to last night ...

on the SBVT message board. He was like a giddy little girl at a slumber party with a secret. "Ooooh, just wait until you read the Sun tomorrow!" And all the "freeptards" were just sucking it up - "Aww, we were gonna go to bed ... but now we're just too darn excited to sleep!"

I was going to read the Sun article when it finally came up, but I wasn't going to subscribe to that rag in order to do so.

[genius]

2. Nixon was after Kerry for speaking out/ Bush will do it tto current troop

See "Going Upriver." It shows how the Nixon administration was out to destroy Kerry. He should just answer questions.

[geek tragedy]

3. It doesn't even show that.

Kerry received no bad marks in the military.

He changed status from active to inactive in 1972. He was discharged from the service in 1978 as part of an administrative process.

End of story.

[undercover_brother]

4. Stop smearing the United States Navy.

If they have a problem, they need to take it up with the Navy. The United Stated Navy issued his medals. I am so tired of these Swiftees attacking the United States Navy for political gain. John Kerry did not issue a single military document or medal on himself. The United States Navy made the decisions to promote Kerry, issue him medals, and honorably discharge him.

If the Swiftees are so pissed off at the United States Navy, then they need to sue the Department of Defense. John Kerry was in combat doing his job.

[geek tragedy]

5. They are Orwellian liars.

Kerry's medals are evidence of cowardice. His honorable discharge is proof of a dishonorable discharge.

Black is white. War is peace.

[undercover_brother]

6. Our sailors have enough to deal with besides having their careers distorte

Our sailors have enough to deal with besides having their careers distorted. Why is it that sailors who serve with distinction have to deal with people like the Swiftees tearing them down because they happen to be in the other political party.

Attacking military personel's careers who disagree with your politics is beyond low. This country has plenty of challenges. We don't need service men and women having to defend their military honor everytime they say vote for a Democrat.

If you don't believe the military is doing the honorable thing in decorating someone they felt showed heroism, then take it up with the Pentagon. Don't attack the sailor or soldier or airman or marine.

[bush equals idiot]

7. Douglas Brinkley

was on C-Span for an hour. He did the biography of Kerry. He was the only one that finally got personal access to Kerry's diaries after almost begging him to let him review them for his book.

Brinkley was great...said that Kerry had a military file this high (he indicated with his hands about a foot or more high)and he said his military record is "stellar, not a blemish in it."