SwiftVets.com

[MiltonThrasher]

Michael Medved's program on Friday August 27, 2004 carried the story about John Kerry's web site showing a V for Valor on his Silver Cross per
his DD214 which is a serious violation of Federal Law punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine.

You can replay the audio from Michael Medved's "show for today" on his website at http://www.michaelmedved.com/

Surely John Kerry must have been aware of the fact that the V for Valor may not be shown on the Silver Star and did it anyway.

This is just another example of Kerry's gross exaggerations of his heroism! He is shameless!

The SBVFTs' ads are now causing him to self-destruct by asking
the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) to investigate any linkage
between the Bush Administration and the SBVFTs' ads. It is noted
that the soft money spent for Kerry is over $64 million while only
about $1 Million for Bush.

The reasons given for Kerry's counter-attack is that the veteran
poles now show Bush ahead with that group by 18 points - 55 vs
37 whereas it was about even.

I love to hear him bellow, "Bring it on!" That would be a great
basis for a political cartoon showing a landslide of mail from
veterans dumped all over him.

Congratulations to John O'Neill and his many SBVFTs for carrying
through on their mission. Well done!
_________________
I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.

[duhaast]

Could someone post a link to this? I can't find the specific item about Silver Star with V...
_________________
This ain't no party,
This ain't no disco,
This ain't no foolin' around...

[Caleb Flerk]

This one caught my eye, too. I wasn't aware of it, but according to the Navy Awards Manual, a combat "V" for valor is NEVER awarded for the Silver Star.

The “V” is authorized for only ten awards, not for the Silver Star and Kerry’s Silver Star citation does not even mention the “V” for valor. Nevertheless, the actual wording on Kerry’s DD 214 is: “SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT ‘V’.”

Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer in their article, "John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V”," http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14743, August 20, 2004, raise some serious questions about why and how this award was given.
_________________
A Fair Fight is Always the Result of Poor Mission Planning

[U S Army EOD]

I can't believe even Kerry is dumb enough to put a "V" device on a Silver Star, then again, the dumb bastard can't even salute properly.
_________________
Wootten A. York

CO
8th Ord Det (EOD) ROK 68-69
542 Ord Det (EOD) CONUS 70-71
99th Ord Det (EOD) RVN 72-73

[MiltonThrasher]

John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V”
By Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer
FrontPageMagazine.com | August 20, 2004

As the authors of Fake Warriors: Identifying, Exposing and Punishing Those Who Falsify Their Military Service, we receive scores of emails on our website either asking questions about the Fake Warrior phenomenon (which has reached epidemic proportions), or reporting sightings which sometimes lead to exposure and even fines or jail terms.

One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major, spurred on by the revelations in our book, and, in his words. “having seen hundreds of DD 214s” (a veteran’s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry’s DD 214, which is posted on his website. What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry’s Silver Star. Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service “Crosses”).

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As the major correctly observes, the “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star. But the actual wording on Kerry’s DD 214 (see www.johnkerry.com) is: “SILVER STAR WITH COMBAT ‘V’.”



There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat “V” (called a “Combat Distinguishing Device”) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star. For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has “three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.” Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing. Why? Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for “gallantry” (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a “V” for valor.



Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices. According to the Navy Awards Manual:

Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).

Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation. See also http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Valor_device.

Because the “V” is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry’s Silver Star citation (the “explanation” of why the award was made) does not even mention the “V” for valor (see www.johnkerry.com).

The presence of the combat “V” with Kerry’s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions. How did the unauthorized “V” get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?

The first question should not be taken lightly because we are talking about possible federal crimes. We are talking about the possibility of a forged official document. We are talking, as well, about Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, which states: “[W]hoever, in any manner within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the United States, knowingly and willfully . . . makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both.”

Was the combat “V” added by a sloppy clerk or a yeoman’s typo thirty years ago? Was someone pressured or persuaded to add it? If Kerry had nothing to do with the gratuitously added combat “V,” why didn’t he have his DD 214 corrected when he was separated from the Navy?

Which gives rise to the second disturbing question: If Kerry was not a party to the unauthorized “V,” why, for all these years, has he allowed his DD 214 to remain uncorrected and to repose on his website?

In light of the recent Swift Boat revelations and the cloud they have cast over Kerry’s awards, one plausible answer is that this is yet another example of Kerry’s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam.

Let’s hope it won’t take a controversial TV spot to spark a mainstream media investigation of how candidate Kerry received an unearned “V” for valor.

Henry Mark Holzer [www.henrymarkholzer.com; hank@henrymarkholzer.com], Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn Law School, specializes in federal appeals. Erika Holzer [www.erikaholzer.com] is a lawyer and novelist. They are co-authors of “Aid and Comfort”: Jane Fonda in North Vietnam.
_________________
I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.

[Fabius Cunctator]

Brothers and Sisters-in-arms:

Here is the most recent directive on the matter, the Navy & Marine Corps Awards Manual. As stated in a previous post, the highest award allowing for a combat "V" is the Distinguished Flying Cross, then it goes down to the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Navy Comm, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement. That is in SECNAVINST 1650.1G, Appendix A to Chapter 2.


http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/1650/1650.htm

When you have a moment, review Chapter 2, and what it states about the PH, Section 3, Requirements.

Semper Fi..

________________________________________________________
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
USMCR – 1974 to the present.

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum; qui victoriam cupit, milites inbuat diligenter; qui secundos optat eventus, dimicet arte, non casu. Nemo provocare, nemo audet offendere quem intellegit superiorem esse, si pugnet." - F. Vegetii Renati Epitoma Rei Militaris, AD 380