[caption id="attachment_12218" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Nixon and tapes - wikimedia commons"]
[/caption]Carol Forsloff - The information that Air Force General John D. Lavelle was posthumously
restored to the rank of full general tells us, "for
those who care about history, this is important news."
Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, a decorated Vietnam war veteran himself, praised the
decision by President Obama to posthumously restore Air Force General
John D. Lavelle to the rank of full general. Last October, Senator Webb
wrote Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley to encourage his timely
review of a recommendation by the Air Force Board for the Correction of
Military records to take this action.
“For those of us who care
about history, the vindication of General Lavelle’s conduct during the
Vietnam War is important news,” said Senator Webb,, who serves as the
chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Personnel
Subcommittee and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Early in 1972, while serving as the commander of the U.S. Seventh Air Force
with headquarters at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam,
General Lavelle authorized “protective reaction” airstrikes against
North Vietnamese military airfields.
Specifically, as described in Air Force magazine, Gen. Lavelle in 1971 assumed command of all air operations in Vietnam where he was known to be honest and capable.
"Seven
months later, however, Lavelle would be fired as a result of
allegations that he had ordered bombing missions into North Vietnam
which were never authorized. Congressional hearings arising from his
case raised serious questions of encroachment by the military upon the
principle of civil authority. Lavelle denied the allegations until his
death in 1979,"reports air-force magazine.com. Lavelle was demoted two
ranks by the military for having beyond civilian authority, the
President's orders.
months later, however, Lavelle would be fired as a result of
allegations that he had ordered bombing missions into North Vietnam
which were never authorized. Congressional hearings arising from his
case raised serious questions of encroachment by the military upon the
principle of civil authority. Lavelle denied the allegations until his
death in 1979,"reports air-force magazine.com. Lavelle was demoted two
ranks by the military for having beyond civilian authority, the
President's orders.
Recently,
however, hard evidence from White House recorded tapes reveals Lavelle
had the authorization from President Richard Nixon himself to conduct
the "preplanned strikes_ in North Vietnam in February and March 1972.
The tapes are also said to show that Nixon knew Lavelle had that
authorization and nevertheless allowed the demotion.
however, hard evidence from White House recorded tapes reveals Lavelle
had the authorization from President Richard Nixon himself to conduct
the "preplanned strikes_ in North Vietnam in February and March 1972.
The tapes are also said to show that Nixon knew Lavelle had that
authorization and nevertheless allowed the demotion.
The
Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Record’s review of the
disclosures contained in President Nixon’s White House tapes and other
documents confirmed the president had authorized General Lavelle’s
interpretation of the rules of engagement.
In other words, Lavelle had not violated military orders and had been demoted unfairly.
General Lavelle died in 1979, protesting his innocence with regard to the allegations.
Senator Webb made the announcement of his agreement with President
Obama's decision to restore Lavelle's rank. Webb was responsible for
advising Obama what had happened.
These are the medals Lavelle had been given during his military service.
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
When
Lavelle was demoted, and lost rank, he also lost thousands of dollars
of retirement pay. His family said he suffered terribly from what had
been done to him and the fact that neither the media nor historians had
followed up with it.
Lavelle's widow resides in Marshall,
Virginia.
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