Found Bush Military Records Fail to Dispel AWOL Charges

Wasn't Paid in Alabama

Some of President Bush's missing Air National Guard records during the Vietnam War years, previously said to be destroyed, turned up on Friday but offered no new evidence to dispel charges by Democrats that he was absent without leave.

The Pentagon, which had announced two weeks ago that the payroll records had been accidentally destroyed, blamed a clerical error for previous failure to find them.

In May 1972, Bush moved to Alabama to work on a political campaign and, he has said, to perform his Guard service there for a year. But other Guard officers have said they have no recollection of ever seeing him there.

The documents released on Friday by the Pentagon included two faded computerized payroll sheets showing Bush was not paid during the latter part of 1972 and offer no evidence to place Bush in Alabama during the latter part of 1972.

The Democratic National Committee called the "supposed discovery" of Bush's payroll records late on Friday -- on the eve of the Democratic National Convention -- "highly questionable."

"If the Bush administration continues to search, maybe they'll find answers to the long list of unanswered questions that remain about George W. Bush's time in the Air National Guard. Bush's military records seem to show up as randomly as he did for duty," said DNC spokesman Jano Cabrera.

LA Times Reports White House Spin

Payroll records show that he wasn't paid for the five months in 1972 when he was assigned to an Alabama guard unit, indicating that he didn't show up for duty. But the same records show that he wasn't required to attend because he had already accumulated enough credits to meet his obligation for that year.

If true this contradicts previously released records. This is a White House spin that ignores that payroll records were wanted for proof he served in Alabama. These records show he didn't.

Bush needed time in Alabama at the end of 1972 to be not AWOL but a deserter. Even in the reserves they don't let you go for over seven months without showing up. See my previous report on Bush approaching the 'Red Zone' which includes this link to "page 5 for the first quarter of 1973 in the same pdf show Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 11-14 as code 22.

A RESERVIST WHO HAS NOT BEEN PAID FOR ANY TYPE OF DUTY FOR SEVEN MONTHS OR MORE IS CATEGORIZED IN THE RED ZONE AND IS CONSIDERED A NON-PARTICIPANT.

His commanding officers must have known this as regulations state:

A RESERVIST WHO HAS NOT BEEN PAID FOR ANY TYPE OF DUTY WITHIN A WINDOW OF BETWEEN THREE AND SEVEN MONTHS IS CATEGORIZED IN THE YELLOW ZONE. IDENTIFICATION OF YELLOW ZONE MEMBERS SHOULD CAUSE UNIT COMMANDERS TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE IF CORRECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN.

This is from a Coast Guard reserve regulations document availablbe online but the requirements are the same for all reserves.

The AF and Army Reserve requires:

3.1.2. Training Requirements for Members of the Army and Air National Guard. Members of the Army and Air National Guard shall:

3.1.2.1. Assemble for IDT and instruction at least 48 times each year.

3.1.2.2. Participate in training encampments, maneuvers,or other exercises for not less than 15 days a year,unless excused by the Secretary concerned.

Is there a statement from the Secretary of the Air Force excusing him from duty?

For more on my examination of previously released records see here.