Jasper Lake: Afterthoughts.

Just got the news about Jasper Lake today. No really surprised about it but there are few things I wanted to respond too.

Betsui and Lake said the issue is a misunderstanding. They insist they were misinformed by the Kirkpatrick aide, who told them Lake had been nominated for the Medal of Honor and suggested asking for donations.

Yea and none of that sounded suspicious? I will ask anyone here who has served that was told that they were receiving something and not get it. I know I have been told I would receive a second ARCOM and CMB. Did it happen, nope.

The Rumor Doctor talked to Lake’s niece, Gailene Betsui, who said an aide to former U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., secured the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other awards, which were mailed to Lake. Betsui said all documentation she had from Kirkpatrick’s office had been lost.

Except that what does a single US Congresswoman has anything to do with the approval of these awards? She has no place in the approval process, let alone issuing the medals out. Lake being in the Army should have known this. Because the only time that I ever got a full metal was with the permanent orders. No one gets random medals in the mail, more so when they are the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Or you could go with the simple solution that they bought them at any random buyer. Oh an lets remind ourselves again the awards like the Purple Heart do not get sent out without documents.

Approved awards of the Purple Heart require the publication of permanent orders according to AR 600–8–105, citing each recipient. A DA Form 4980–10 (The Purple Heart Medal Certificate) will include the following information: The recipient’s name and grade, date wounded in action, and date certificate is signed. All Purple Heart Medal certificates will bear the signature and signature block of the Secretary of the Army on the right side. During wartime, the signature and signature block of the commander authorized to award the Purple Heart will be on the left side. All other Purple Hearts awarded will bear the signature and signature block of The Adjutant General of the Army.

But they continue with shifting the blame to Jon Doe aide.

Betsui and Lake said the issue is a misunderstanding. They insist they were misinformed by the Kirkpatrick aide, who told them Lake had been nominated for the Medal of Honor and suggested asking for donations.

Again, what made you believe that a aide to a single Congresswoman would have any power approve a MOH by herself? Or that it would require money to do it. However it seems that it was the other way around with Betsui trying to lobby to the Congresswoman

Jasper’s niece Gailene Bitsuie, 26, took time from her own schedule to work on securing Specialist Jasper Lake’s award as well as continuing to advocate for his United States Congressional Medal of Honor. With the help and support of the Kayenta Veterans Organization, on January 07, 2011, President Joe Shirley Jr., signed into law by Resolution of the Navajo Nation Council CJA-01-11, which reads: “Relating to Human Services; supporting the recommendation of awarding Specialist Jasper Lake the United States Congressional Medal of Honor for his wartime actions during Operation Enduring Freedom and in defense of his fellow soldiers in the 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade (SBCT), 25th Infantry Division (L) and the United States Army, the United States of America and the Navajo Nation.” The lobbying for the award continues at the state level with U.S. Representative and Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s office.

But I love this part.

Lake, originally from Arizona and now an iron worker in New Mexico, said it was his decision to take the petition off the Internet.

“When I read it, it didn’t seem right, so I had them take it all off,” he said.

But not enough for him to send messages on Twitter directing them to his blog, the same one that was asking for money.

Category: Phony soldiers