Purported memos and what's known - San Francisco Chronicle

[Kadie]

Purported memos and what's known

Matthew B. Stannard
Tuesday, September 21, 2004



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A look at what CBS reported, based on the alleged memos, and some of what has been reported consequently by CBS and other news organizations.

WHAT CBS SAID: In a memo dated 8/18/1973 and titled "SUBJECT: CYA," Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, a former leader of Bush's Texas Air National Guard squadron, allegedly wrote that Col. Walter Staudt, who was brigadier general of Bush's unit in Texas, "has obviously pressured (Retired Maj. Gen. Bobby W.) Hodges more about Bush. I'm having trouble running interference and doing my job. ... Staudt is pushing to sugar coat it; Bush wasn't here during rating period and I don't have any feedback from 187th in Alabama. I will not rate. Austin is not happy today either."

WHAT WE KNOW: Marian Knox, a secretary for Killian, told CBS that while she thought the memo was false, Killian did keep a "cover-your-back" file and the "sugarcoat" reference was "absolutely the way felt about that." Retired Col. Staudt told ABC news that he "never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to." Retired Maj. Gen. Hodges, originally cited by CBS as a confirming source, later told reporters that the "sugarcoat" statement rang false, and that Staudt, who had retired 18 months before the date of the memo, did not interfere with Guard business. Killian's son, Gary, said of the CYA memo that, "No officer in his right mind would write a memo like that."

WHAT CBS SAID: In a memo dated May 4, 1972, and addressed to Bush, Killian allegedly ordered the 1st lieutenant to report for an annual physical examination.

WHAT WE KNOW: Knox told CBS that Bush was ordered to the examination and failed to take it, to Killian's dismay. "He was upset about it. That was one of the reasons why he wrote a memo directing him to go take the physical," she said. The White House has said he did not take the physical because he was "transferring to a unit in Alabama to perform equivalent duty in a nonflying status" and that Bush fulfilled his Guard obligations and was honorably discharged. The Pentagon is still looking for documents on this issue in response to a court order stemming from a lawsuit by the Associated Press, which has said that past Pentagon document releases have not included records that should have been generated at the time, including an investigation into Bush's failure to take the examination.


more...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/21/MNGET8SAA21.DTL

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. Did James Bath also transfer to Alabama?

For anyone who has in-depth knowledge about Bush's Guard duty, where did James Bath go after he also failed to report for the physical and was ordered suspended from flying on the same day as George Bush? Did Bath accompany Bush to Alabama? And did Bath receive an honorable discharge?

[Kadie]

2. I don't know.

But here is a kick for this thread. Hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions.