DID BUSH WEAR A RIBBON HE DIDN'T RATE? (re: Walt Starr)

[Kadie]

DID BUSH WEAR A RIBBON HE DIDN'T RATE?

(NOTE: See separate update, >here<.) Mark Kleiman links to a Democratic Underground post claiming that a photograph of Bush as a 2nd lieutenant shows him wearing a ribbon (the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award) that he didn't rate.

The author of that post, Walt Starr, appears to have done some homework -- assuming we take him at his word. He claims that he contacted the "Air Force History support (sic) Organization," and was informed that both the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group (Bush's commands during the relevant time period) received the AFOUA only once, and that was for the period from October 1, 1973 through September 30, 1975. Bush detached from the 111th on October 1, 1973, as a first lieutenant, so the 1 Oct 73 - 30 Sep 75 award can't explain the ribbon shown in the photo. Did Bush cheat?

I don't know. But I did find this reference to the 147th that indicates that it has won the AFOUA at least three times, the third having been in 1982. According to this report, the 147th won an AFOUA in 1966. (But is that "received the award in 1966 for its actions during "? It sounds that way, but if the reporting is sloppy it could refer to an award for a period beginning in 1966 and ending at some later date -- a period that could include part of Bush's service. He began service in the 147th Combat Support Squadron, which I gather was part of the 147th FIG.) 1966, 1975 and 1982. That makes three, and Bush wasn't obviously a member of the 147th during any of the periods for which the awards seemingly were given.

more...
http://stopthebleating.typepad.com/stop_the_bleating/2004/08/did_bush_wear_a.html

[Walt Starr]

1. I just posted a response to the update

Just a quick comment here about the temporary wear issue. the Air Force does not currently allow it. All attempts to get an answer from the Air Force about whether they ever allowed it result in the same answer, the Air Force does not allow it.

The other thing is, the 111th earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (later renamed the Presidential Unit Citation) for action during the time period of February 22-23, 1945. If temporary wear was allowed at the time, Bush should also have been wearing the PUC.

The DUC is documented in AFPAM 36 2801V1 where the AFOUA for February 1, 1965 - March 31, 1966 is also documented. I have a request in at the National Archives for a copy of AFR 35-10 and AFM 900-3 dated on or before November 7, 1970.

[donkeyotay]

2. let's ask him!!!

We'll get to the bottom of this; We'll just have a reporter ASK boosh if he got the ribbon!

Thanks for all your hard work Walt. Not to worry now though, the press corpse is all over it.