I'm John Kerry's Record and I'm Reporting for Exposure
by Frank Salvato
Friday, September 10, 2004
''I'm John Kerry and I’m reporting for duty.'' Those were the words that opened the dog and pony show that was John Kerry’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. As Kerry has told us ad nausem, he served in Vietnam. What he hasn’t told us could be compiled on a list that would make Santa Claus' ''naughty and nice'' list look like a Post-It Note.
Let's first expose the fact that John Kerry was not the enthusiastic patriot he portrays himself to be. This isn't to say he is unpatriotic even though I believe his patriotism should be examined. His insistence that the United Nations, especially in light of the Oil-for-Food scandal, approve any U.S. military action, suggests that he would acquiesce to the whim of the international community before taking action to secure our nation. This sentiment alone mandates an examination of his patriotism, especially when one considers the ''over the top'' rhetoric he used in false testimony before the Senate in 1971--but I digress.
Kerry applied for a deferment in 1966 so he could study in France for a year. Only when he was denied this deferment did he opt to volunteer for the Navy signing an officer candidate contract to join the Naval Reserves. It was popular among young men of that day to volunteer in an effort to avoid being drafted into the Army.
Kerry’s contract was for six years of active and reserve duty, and one year of inactive standby reserves. The ''three Purple Hearts and out'' clause simply made it possible for Kerry to transfer out of harm's way. It didn’t void the contract he signed with the Navy. He was still obligated to serve out his contract, a contract that would have seen his active duty ending in 1972 and reserve duty ending in 1978.
In Kerry's letter asking for early release from active duty, he falsely stated that his ''regular period of obligated service would be completed in December of this year.'' On January 3, 1970, Lt. Kerry was transferred to the Naval Reserve Manpower Center in Bainridge, Maryland. On July 1, 1972, Lt. Kerry was transferred to Standby Reserve Inactive. On February 16, 1978, Lt. Kerry was discharged from Naval Reserve.
John Kerry was discharged from active duty, not the military, on January 3, 1970 after serving only three years and eighteen days of his contract with the Navy. At this time he was obligated to attend 48 Naval Reserve drills per year and complete 17 days of active training during each of the years required. But because Kerry hasn’t been forthright with the American people, because he hasn’t been transparent to the point of signing a Form 180 to release the total of his military records--not the incomplete and embellished offerings posted on his campaign website--we’ll never know if he satisfied these requirements or not. Of course, the mainstream media could force him to open his files as they have forced President Bush to do, but that would require the media to be non-partisan, something they have consistently proven they're not.
Even though Kerry's contract with the Navy mandated that his service would have been completed in total in 1978 it is troubling to note that he didn’t receive an Honorable Discharge until March 12, 2001. This raises questions as to the category of his discharge at the time he left military service. It also raises questions as to how he came to acquire an Honorable Discharge almost 30 years after the fact. But that isn’t the most troubling aspect of the time directly after his service in Vietnam.
It's interesting to note that no official military records have been released regarding the whereabouts, actions or daily status of John Kerry from January 3, 1970 to July 1, 1972. We know he was active with Vietnam Veterans Against the War during this time and that he even appeared before the Senate, testifying--or perjuring himself--to the atrocities American soldiers were committing, ''on a daily basis and with the full knowledge of their superiors,'' both actions in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But where the military is concerned, nothing.
As the liberally biased media start to rehash President Bush's National Guard record, let's demand some straight answers from Senator Kerry about his military record beyond the ''honors'' he insists he acquired. Let's find out if he satisfied his military obligation and if his actions and testimony after he left the service constitutes activities illegal. Let's get Senator Kerry to release all of his records so we can truly see who and what he is. It's the least he can do when asking for the trust of the American people.
Next up for exposure: John Kerry’s Senate accomplishments. Oh wait, there aren’t any. |
