Was John Kerry A.W.O.L?
September 14, 2004
by Michael Ashbury
For the past year, and most recently by CBS News, we have been deluged with reports that George W. Bush did not complete his agreed duty in the Texas National Guard. Even the records show that George Bush exceeded his obligations from 1968-1973, and only came into question during the last 18 months of his agreed obligation when he requested and received official permission to transfer to an Alabama unit and then enroll in an MBA program at Harvard. His obligation was for 6 years from May of 1968 to May 1974. He received an educational release from his obligation 8 months early and received an Honorable Discharge in October 1973.
While the left questions where George Bush was during the final year of his obligation, they and the press ignore completely the similar obligations of John Kerry. John Kerry enlisted in the Navy and signed an Officer Candidate Agreement on February 18, 1966. This agreement called for the Candidate to
(Par 3) to serve a total period of 6 years in the Naval Reserve of the United States, including active and inactive duty.
(Par 4) agrees that on completion of active duty, he will remain for Service in the Ready Reserve for a period which when added to his active duty will total 5 years. Upon completion of 5 years of satisfactory service on active duty and in the Ready Reserve he will be eligible to transfer to the Standby Reserve for the remaining portion of his service obligation.
(Par 5) the candidate understands that the provisions of law require satisfactory participation in the Ready Reserve, unless relieved of such participation by competent authority or as provided by law. Such participation may be satisfied annually by not less 48 drills and not more than 17days active duty for training.
Lt. John Forbes Kerry was released from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve on 3 January 1970. He wasn’t transferred to inactive standby status until 1 July 1972, then Honorably Discharged on 16 February 1978. Where was Lt. Kerry during the18 months from 1970 to 1972? Did he attend the required drills and active duty that he agreed to? Was he AWOL or did he violate his agreed commitment on accepting a commission as an officer in the service of the United States.
We do know that he made an unauthorized trip to Paris in June of 1970 to meet with Madam Win Thi Binh, the Foreign Minister of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam (PRG) -- the political wing of the Vietcong -- and with representatives of Hanoi who were in Paris for the peace talks-- in direct violation of the UCMJ's Article 104 part 904, and U.S. Code 18 U.S.C. 953. That meeting, and Kerry's subsequent coddling of Communists while leading mass protests against our military in the year that followed, also place him in direct violation of our Constitution's Article three, Section three, which defines treason as "giving aid and comfort" to the enemy in time of warfare. In April of 1971 he went before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs claiming all kinds of atrocities on the part of his fellow comrades in arms in further in violation of Article 3.
While John Kerry’s hero status is in question in the United States he is still considered a hero in Vietnam where his picture is in a place of honor in the Vietnam War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. He is honored for leading the Vietnam Veterans against the War and helping the Communists bring the war to conclusion.
It is time we ask where was John Kerry during his Reserve Commitment. Was he AWOL as his supporters want to say is the case with George Bush? And, did he violate the Code of Military Justice, the Geneva Convention and the United States Constitution in his actions as a Naval Officer.
Michael Ashbury |
