SwiftVets.com

[RiflemanDD730]

Admiral Route’s letter states, “We found that existing documentation regarding his medals indicates the awards approval process was properly followed.” This means that documentation exists for the first Purple Heart. The release of this documentation will require no additional investigation requiring reconstruction of thirty-year-old facts and circumstances as might be required for the other medals.

A letter was express mailed to Admiral Route requesting release of the documents or, if there is a restriction on their release, to make information on that restriction public. Copies of the letter with requests for follow up on the Admiral went to Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch, Joseph Schmitz the Inspector General of the Defense Department, and Congressman Gary Miller of the 42nd CA district. All of these letters were reported as received by the post office and proof of delivery is pending.

Because the first Purple Heart is a very straightforward issue, and the Navy has already indicated the documentation exists, this may be the one area where a conflict between Navy documents and sworn affidavits by Kerry’s command are highlighted. Also, because it is a simple matter to release documents that have already been discovered, it may be the one area that can have a significant impact in the short time before the election.

For this reason the letter to Admiral route is being posted with a request that all of you who are so inclined use your contacts to get Admiral Route to do his duty to the Navy and the American people.



VADM R. A. Route
Department of the Navy
Naval Inspector General
1014 N Street SE Suite 100
Washington Navy Yard DC 20374-5006

Dear Admiral Route,

This refers to your letter of September 17, 2004 to Mr. Thomas Fitton of Judicial Watch (Refer to 2040700 Ser N5/1348 17 Sep 2004). Enclosed are copies of your letter to Mr. Fitton, Mr. Fitton’s letter of August 18 and my September 18 email to you.

Your letter states that documentation exists to indicate that the awards process for Senator Kerry’s medals was properly followed. Please publish that documentation for the first Purple Heart medal awarded for action on December 2, 1968. It is my understanding that this should include an after action report to show that the required hostile fire was present, and a casualty report to verify that an appropriate injury occurred.

You must be aware that the officers in command at the time are on record stating that these records were not filed by them because there was no hostile fire and Senator Kerry’s wound was superficial. Withholding information on this issue cannot be in the public interest.

No additional review of thirty-year-old events is needed for the release of the existing documentation for the first Purple Heart that you discovered in your careful examination that indicates that the awards process was properly followed. There is no need for a reconstruction of facts or consideration of the context of the time of the event. All that is needed is a release of the documents that your letter indicates exist in the files today.

It is my understanding that an after action report and casualty report are public documents not subject to the control of the participants. Therefore the release should be routine and immediate. If, however, these documents are restricted for some reason, the fact that a restriction exists should be made public.

This is a very serious issue that involves the integrity of the Navy and its officers and men and women. The Naval Inspector General maintains that integrity. The immediate release of the existing documentation or a statement on release restriction on the first Purple Heart is part of maintaining that integrity.


Sincerely,