www.upi.com/view.cfm?Stor...2231-6905r
Internet claim on Bush award disputed
By Gene J. Koprowski
United Press International
Published 9/13/2004 3:33 PM
CHICAGO, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- The Air Force has knocked down allegations by a Web site that said President Bush, when serving as an officer in the Texas Air National Guard, wore a ribbon he was not authorized to wear -- a military offense that could have led to a bad-conduct discharge from the service if true.
The original story was offered to United Press International during late August by operatives from Democrats.com, an Internet activist group whose founder had earlier this year served as a source for The Boston Globe and other media outlets on stories about Bush's service in the guard in the 1960s and 1970s.
A summary of the story was also posted on the DemocraticUnderground.com Web site by Walt Starr of Democrats.com last month, along with a photo from the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library of Lt. George W. Bush wearing the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
An e-mail message to UPI on Aug. 27 from Bob Fertik, founder of Democrats.com, stated, "Walt Starr called the Air Force and discovered that the only AFOUA given to Bush's unit was in 1975 -- five years after the photo. Case closed!"
The Air Force and the White House last week in interviews with UPI said the allegations were misleading. White House spokesman Trent Duffy referred UPI to the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado where Technical Sgt. Rob Mims is the spokesman.
Mims said the claims were "not true. I verified that (Thursday). Lieutenant Bush received Air Force Outstanding Unit Award while he was in basic training with the 3724th Basic Military Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas."
Starr sent UPI a copy of a file of his research, including correspondence he had with the Air Force seeking to obtain the service records of Bush.
"This means, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that George W. Bush was photographed wearing a ribbon he clearly did not earn," wrote Starr. He said awards earned by the unit were given before Bush joined the unit.
Mims said that personnel records in the military are often incomplete due to "clerical errors."
"But I did verify that that unit did get the award while he (Bush) was there," said Mims.
The sergeant added that the photo in question was "taken after pilot training."
Mims said he confirmed his information about the medal with the Air Force's history office. "It's all there in black and white, we've spelled it out," said Mims.
The White House, through Duffy, said: "Lieutenant Bush at the time was completely authorized to wear those ribbons he has in those pictures. He could only wear those ribbons if he has the wings. He earned his wings in 1969."
When contacted by UPI Monday about the Air Force's statements, Fertik refused to comment.
The news of the Air Force and White House disproving the allegations about the Bush medal came Friday, as CBS News and other news organizations were reeling from the disclosure that they had published or aired possibly forged do ents about Bush's military service record.
The source of the CBS story has not been disclosed, but CBS is conducting an internal investigation into the controversy.
--
(Please send comments to [email protected].)
Copyright © 2001-2004 United Press International
When did a denial become proof of anything?
The news of the Air Force and White House disproving the allegations about the Bush medal came Friday, as CBS News and other news organizations were reeling from the disclosure that they had published or aired possibly forged do ents about Bush's military service record
The Air Force and the White House last week in interviews with UPI said the allegations were misleading. White House spokesman Trent Duffy referred UPI to the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado where Technical Sgt. Rob Mims is the spokesman.
Mims said the claims were "not true. I verified that (Thursday). Lieutenant Bush received Air Force Outstanding Unit Award while he was in basic training with the 3724th Basic Military Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas."
Starr sent UPI a copy of a file of his research, including correspondence he had with the Air Force seeking to obtain the service records of Bush.
"This means, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that George W. Bush was photographed wearing a ribbon he clearly did not earn," wrote Starr. He said awards earned by the unit were given before Bush joined the unit.
Mims said that personnel records in the military are often incomplete due to "clerical errors."
"But I did verify that that unit did get the award while he (Bush) was there," said Mims.
The sergeant added that the photo in question was "taken after pilot training."
Mims said he confirmed his information about the medal with the Air Force's history office. "It's all there in black and white, we've spelled it out," said Mims.
That really isn't proof. I don't take peoples words for things when it comes to politics.
Except for that of Dan Rather, the Boston Globe, and the NY Times. And of course their "do entary evidence."
This was an AF spokesman. Asked and answered. Verifiable.
If you give me a sec I'll open up Word and type you up a certificate of commendation for GWB.
Personal insults do not an argument make. Seriously I ask a valid question and you just through a tantrum WTH is up with that?
My you have thin skin. Not suprising you should attempt to change the subject.
answer the question unitl you do you are the one who changed the subject.
Aww, is the littlegetting mad? Don't get mad.
Oops, I guess that was a personal attack. Well, you've earned it.
Some emoticons for you: :dog
:spam2
Simple question: Is there proof beyond someones word that I can look at, to show me he earned the medal?
Give me 20 minutes and Microsoft Word XP and I'm sure we can whip something up for you.
**** Despurado!
You know what happens if an AF spokesperson tells a lie like you're insinuating? He gets court martialed and handed a dishonorable discharge.
Feel free to continue to believe the BS opinion artists at the liberal media rags you site, I'm gonna go with the AF spokesperson whose paycheck is on the line.
Oh yeah he'd get court martialed for supporting the president. File that one under not very likely.
OK, I've enjoyed too much laughter at the poor bas 's expense.
Unlike Clinton's testimony a few years ago, the military actually takes things like lieing pretty seriously.
lol, you're right Joe - the Democrats got caught napping.
This BS mean nothing to me.
Everyone is arguing about that doesn't matter.
I'm more worred about the future and how Dubya and Kerry plan to pay for their programs and cut the deficit and get us out of Iraq.
I want to know how things are going to be here at HOME!
I thought about starting a new topic for this, but I felt it was consistent with the le of this thread.
Democrats.org
Along with several articles on their website, the Democrats have actually produced an ad questioning Bush's Guard service.
After all of the whining about the Swift Boat Vets, the DNC is openly advocating what they condemned only weeks ago.
To date, the official RNC website (GOP.com) and the official George W. Bush Campaign site contain a grand total of zero (0) news releases related to the SBVFT. None.
Meanwhile, the DNC website (Democrats.org) contains four (4) news releases and one video related to Bush's National Guard service in the past TWO DAYS... Eleven news releases in the past week.
I can't believe the DNC is utilizing their funds in this manner when they could be using them to attack President Bush on different issues that actually occurred during his Presidency... one of the most controversial Presidencies in the History of America.
Spurm,
Excellent points. I will only add that the DNC and Kerry himself actually started the 'Bush was AWOL' campaign back in February of this year.
Also, I highly doubt that the guard issue has been brought up because of the Swift Vets. It probably was planned all along.
actually it was Moore in the debates. But before that there were questions in the 2000 election.
McAuliffe certainly brought it up and Kerry definitely was quoted as asking Bush about it earlier this year.
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