What happened to the Opinion Journal?
Swift Boats
My father informed me this morning that he thinks Jack Chenoweth of Swift Boat fame may have been his fraternity brother at Theta Chi at Ohio University in the early 60’s.
Blog Stamp
Citation Language
What is going on with this:
GARRETT: And there’s a question about Kerry’s Silver Star citations. One written in late 1969 or 1970 summarizes his heroism on a February 28, 1969 reconnaissance mission that drew heavy enemy fire. It was signed by John Highland, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet and concludes Kerry’s actions, quote, “His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” But a second citation written in 1986, by then Navy Secretary John Layman [should be Lehman, I think – HH], adds these words. Quote, “By his brave action, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
GARRETT: So why are the 1986 citation conclude with more ringing praise of Kerry than the earlier version? The Kerry campaign says it doesn’t know. The campaign says Kerry asked the Navy for copies of all his military records in May 1986, while serving in his first term in the
United States Senate. The campaign says Kerry lost all his original records and wanted citations suitable for framing; the Layman citation
in the packet that the Pentagon sent over. And Kerry aides say the senator never requested the more glowing praise in that latest 1986
appraisal from Secretary of Navy John Layman — Brit.HUME: Let me just see if I have this straight. He originally got a citation based upon a document signed by Admiral Highland. Correct?
GARRETT: Yes. And before that he received a citation about the Silver Star from Vice Admiral Elmo Zumwalt.
HUME: Right. And so, this citation from the secretary of the Navy, there was no earlier citation apparently from the secretary of the Navy. He didn’t get one from the secretary of the Navy until 1986. And that one was signed by somebody who wasn’t in office back when the events
occurred. Right?GARRETT: That is correct. There are three citations. And the Kerry campaign can’t explain why, when the Navy sent over his earlier records, it just didn’t send over copies of the Zumwalt and Highland citations. But also sent over Zumwalt, Highland, and then Navy Secretary John Layman.
HUME: With some added language.
GARRETT: Right.
HUME: All right. Major, thanks a lot.
GARRETT: You got it.
If Kerry were a republican, this accusation alone would be enough for a front page NY Times story.
BTW- What else happened in 1986? There was this:
And while we are add it, what is going on with this?
Do I believe all this stuff? I don’t know what the hell to believe, but since Kerry won’t address any of it or release his records, but instead does nothing but launch attacks on the character of anyone who dare question his platform (which is his Vietnam service), why shouldn’t I post anything that comes down the road?
Hell, Josh Marshall and Kevin Drum examined every aspect of Bush’s record, never came up with anything, and still declared him AWOL. Fair is fair, right?
We spent months hearing how ‘Bush knew,’ how this was a ‘Jewish war’ this was a ‘war for oil,’ and now this is too much heat for the Democrats? The word of 250 vets?
Service Details
Jeff Quinton is asking which bloggers served when and where. My info:
1990-1992- United States Army, 19K-Combat Armor Crewman, 11th ACR
1992-1996- West Virginia Army National Guard, 12B-Combat Engineer, Co. C, 1092nd ECB
1996-1998- West Virginia Army National Guard, 19k-Combat Armor Crewman, 197th RTI
Why, Roger? Why?
Why on earth would anyone swear off camembert?
Dungeons and Dragons
Great history of Dungeons and Dragons in Gamespy this week.
I played from 1977-1986, and still have all my old Gary Gygax books and dice at home.