Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

‘V’ for valor or Kerry’s version?

Of the many charges against John Kerry’s Vietnam record made by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the Kerry campaign has managed to keep Mr. Kerry’s Silver Star story above water. Chicago Tribune editor William B. Rood came out last week as an eyewitness to the events of Feb. 28, 1969, bolstering Mr. Kerry’s version of events, as have official Naval records. Though Mr. Kerry has had to backtrack on at least two of his accounts — the “Christmas in Cambodia” story and whether he really deserved his first Purple Heart — the day when Mr. Kerry beached his swift boat and tracked down a Viet Cong soldier seems to have withstood scrutiny.

Which is why we were surprised when we ran across some news accounts questioning Mr. Kerry’s DD 214 ( a veteran’s record of transfer or separation), which lists his Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor) and is posted at JohnKerry.com. According to military experts and historians, the combat “V” is never awarded with a Silver Star. As Henry Mark and Erika Holzer note in Frontpagemag.com, “it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for ‘gallantry’ and then embellish it with a ‘V’ for valor.” The authors also cite the Navy Awards Manual, which describes the laws concerning Combat Distinguishing Devices: 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.” Since then, about four more medals have been authorized. Conspicuously missing of course is the Silver Star.

On Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times ran a similar story by Thomas Lipscomb, who spoke to B.G. Burkett, author of “Stolen Valor” and recipient of the Army’s highest award given to a civilian, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. For his book, Mr. Burkett had to read thousands of military records to uncover phony claims of awards. “I’ve run across several claims for Silver Stars with combat ‘V’s, but they were all in fake records,” he told Mr. Lipscomb.

Mr. and Mrs. Holzer bring up another interesting point. Over at JohnKerry.com, the Navy citation for Mr. Kerry’s Silver Star does not mention the combat “V”. It appears, then, that the Navy didn’t mistakingly grant a “V” with Mr. Kerry’s Silver Star. So, how did it get into Mr. Kerry’s DD 214?

This is more serious than one would think. In Title 19, U.S. Code, Section 1001, the law states: “Whoever, 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.” As Mr. Lipscomb reports, a complaint filed by Mr. Burkett actually led to the sentencing of Navy Capt. Roger D. Edwards to 115 days in the brig for falsification of his records.

Mr. Kerry has yet another inconsistency to account for, and this one is by no means a question of foggy memories.

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum waves after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at the Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, DC, Friday, February 10, 2012. The annual political conference draws thousands of supporters and prominent conservative figures. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

    Santorum courts CPAC conservatives

    By Seth McLaughlin - The Washington Times

  • President Obama, accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, announces Feb. 10, 2012, at the White House the revamp of his contraception policy requiring religious institutions to fully pay for birth control. (Associated Press)

    Obama backtracks in face of contraception furor

    By Susan Crabtree - The Washington Times

  • Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, shakes hands with Army Cpl. Jesse Thorsen during his January caucus night rally, in Ankeny, Iowa. Mr. Paul has been getting extensive campaign-contribution support from enlisted people and civilians in the military, far exceeding his GOP rivals for the nomination. (Associated Press)

    Paul, Obama collect most military donations to run

    By Luke Rosiak - The Washington Times

  • In Case You Missed It
    Talk of the Web
    Happening Now

          Independent voices from the TWT Communities

          Medicine and Politics in America

          Health care reform, organized medicine, physician practice management, and patient care--a real time look at the challenges facing doctors and patients in America today.

          Payne-Full Living

          Join Matt on weekly adventures in all forms as he pushes past his comfort levels in an attempt to stimulate the body, mind and soul.