C_Mason_Weaver_Report_Part_One.pdf [ download version ]

C. Mason Weaver:  An Attempted Political Assassination (Part One)

By Kenneth Happel
An Investigative Report by Our-Republic.Net broadcast on the Rick Amato Show

“The Truth requires action.”
Mason Weaver

Cited by Clemson University, Center for Academic Integrity,
Quotes related to the Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity [http://www.academicintegrity.org/fundamental_values_project/quotes_on_honesty.php]

(1) Introduction

Last month I heard a dynamic, intelligent and patriotic candidate describe how our country had forgotten that God had given us inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They were inalienable because they were not given by man but by God and that men could not give them or take them away. He said that we, as Americans, need to wake up and stop being afraid of our own heritage as country built on faith. He called for us to regain our integrity and to fight for what we believe.

I was impressed. I was very impressed. The candidate was a conservative and I am a tea party member. He inspired me as few public speakers had inspired me for a long time. As a result I started following him and his campaign. His name is Clarence Mason Weaver and he is running for the United States Congress in the 53^rd Congressional District in San Diego, California.

Recently, I received an email about a website that claims to be dedicated to exposing lies made by Mr. Weaver about his life and in his campaign. The email included an internet address and asked if it was true. Because I write investigative research reports on tea party issues and publish them on www.our-republic.net, I receive this kind of heads up from time to time. This particular request caught my eye as important for several reasons, but one overriding value.

There is an on-going effort to paint tea party participants, paraphrasing our President, as “typically bitter old white men hanging desperately to God and our guns.” President Obama, former President Carter, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and a myriad of other political figures in the Democratic Party and on the left have said that “tea baggers” and conservatives, like myself, are racist.

Racism is a loaded accusation. I am a citizen of a country that has a racist history most recently promoted politically, during my lifetime, by members of the same Democratic Party that says I am a racist. I am part of a generation that decided that overt racism needed to be rooted out of our country before I die. I say overt racism, because I acknowledge that prejudice in all its forms will be here for as long as men, of any identity, express the meanness of their souls about those they feel are not the same as them.

One of the reasons I so love America is because I have worked with so many Americans insuring our civil rights, our liberties, our freedom and our national security. Some of those Americans no longer live and gave their lives in that purpose. At the beginning of this research I reasoned, if the allegations against Mr. Weaver would turn out to be true, Mr. Weaver needs to be stopped and exposed. If they are not true, this website’s accusations are not just vicious attacks; but, the heart and soul of what prejudice is really about. Hatred.

(2) The Target Website: Starting At The Beginning?

The internet address for the target website had an address that was almost exactly the same as that of the candidate’s campaign:

C. Manson Weaver’s campaign site URL: www.cmasonweaverforcongress.com.

Target site URL: www.masonweaverforcongress.com.

This is clearly intentional and it guarantees that search engines will pull it up and get it confused with the candidates own site. It also guarantees that the sites headline shows up at the start of internet search engine searches like that in Figure 1.

Figure 1: A Google search pulls up the target site and its message, “Liar Running
For Congress in San Diego” is second out of 292,000 links and immediately
after the candidates own website. This is intentional.

The website title, programmed into the website code is “C. Mason Weaver For Congress – Liar Running For Congress In San Diego (CA-53) and it shows up in searches as a headline and as the title to every window that one opens to the site

When you open the target site link, the headline is “Clarence Mason Weaver, Liar, unemployed, Failed Author & Congressional Candidate.” It then has buttons to topics including: Legal Violations, Lies, News and Press Releases.

Figure 2: Target site page header clearly says that Mason Weaver is a Liar, etc.

The home page featured article starts with “

“Mason Weaver is touting his record as a Vietnam Combat Veteran, Conservative, and an Author in his campaign for Congress — but what he’s really telling voters is a work of fiction.

To reveal the truth and facts behind Mason and his negative campaign tactics, we will be starting a publication of facts and revelations, which give telling insights into exactly who Mason Weaver is and why he should immediately resign his Campaign for Congress.”

Figure 3: The featured article title refers to four books Mason Weaver has written. These books
about his life describe his military service and injury. The lead article makes the direct
statement that Mr. Weaver’s military record, political beliefs and books are fabrications.

(3) What Has Mason Weaver Said About Being A Vietnam War Veteran?

I and most Americans are very grateful to our veterans for protecting our freedom. I am especially moved by veterans, as a Christian, because I believe our Lord told us that, “No greater love hath any man, than he lay down his life for another.” I decided to start my research into the validity of these accusations with the target website’s first claim, “Mason Weaver is touting his record as a Vietnam Combat Veteran” because that would be the single most damning fact to me.

Searching the Mason Weaver campaign website [www.cmasonweaverforcongress.com] reveals the following references to the candidate’s military service:

From the About Tab

“Clarence Mason “Weaver” is a native of St. Louis Missouri, but took residence in San Diego, California during his service in the United States Navy. A victim of a hate crime inflicted by a white shipmate, Mason had approximately 2800 pounds of steel purposely dropped on him in an attempt on his life. He recovered physically and even emotionally, forgiving the offender and encouraging the man to forgive himself (watch the full story on The Coral Ridge Hour), but was declared disabled and discharged from the U.S. Navy.”

From the Issues Tab, WAR subheading

“As a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, I understand the high costs of war, paid by the soldiers and their families as well as the nation they protect”

From the book It’s Ok To Leave The Plantation, Chapter One: My Journey from Liberalism to Conservatism

“I entered the military because racist teachers would not allow me to enter college. I endured openly racist military officers and enlisted men, and still obtained promotions. Finally, I began to associate myself with other frustrated and angry black men. We compounded our anger and began to look at ourselves as victims of a slave master instead of military men.”

“My self-esteem was at an all-time high. I was the first of my parents’ children to enter college or the military

“I never had a problem working with competitors; they made you stronger. I had served in Vietnam and understood the difference between a competitor and an enemy.

“I still did not feel the total anger with America as everyone else did. I thought it was because I was older than most of the other students and had been to Vietnam.

From the book It’s Ok To Leave The Plantation, Chapter Two: Wisdom comes not from the journey, but from the experiences along the way

“Soon after the fire, our family went their separate ways. It was not because of the fire, but marriages, military, and other obligations resulted in the family moving out of that great home.

“I approached the coach and informed him I was not coming back for my senior year and would finish high school in the military.

From the book It’s Ok To Leave The Plantation, Chapter Three: A Historical Perspective

“Most young men face uncertainty days before joining the military while
their country is at war. I faced additional anxiety because my country
seemed to be at war with herself.

“Black Americans lead the world in almost every field: from entertainment to politics, from Colin Powell’s effective leadership of the world’s greatest military (40% Black Americans), to United Nations ambassadors.

From the book It’s Ok To Leave The Plantation, Conclusion and Raw Data

“Clarence Mason Weaver brings the following experience and expertise including: Radio Personality Newspaper Columnist Motivational Conference Speaker/Lecturer Lecturer Political Consultant Business/Investment Expert U.C. Berkeley Graduate: Political Science Vietnam Veteran: U.S. Navy

From the Press Release: C. Mason Weaver wins the latest debate!

“He also reiterated his years as a Vietnam veteran in the U.S. Navy, and the power of forgiveness, when he was nearly fatally injured by the intentional acts of a shipmate, resulting in Weaver’s honorable medical discharge from the military.

Each reference claims he is a Vietnam War veteran. Some claim he was disabled while serving in the Navy and while he was a Vietnam War veteran. None of these texts on the campaign website includes any claim by Mr. Weaver to have been a Vietnam War combat veteran. The videos on the campaign site were all reviewed without any difference to the text results.

The next step was to see what claims were made in the past and in other venues. A series of Google searches for references turns citations returns thousand of references that Mr. Weaver claims he was a veteran. An example of a typical reference is

From Tea Party Candidates 2010 UPDATED 4/22/10 Posted by Jason on October 9, 2009 at 6:39pm in State & Local [http://rebuildtheparty.ning.com/forum/topics/tea-party-candidates-2010]

“CA-53 Mason Weaver (Business Consultant & Navy Veteran)

There is one citation that is quite different from the rest. It refers to Mr. Weaver being thanked by the Vietnamese American Veterans Association for his service in Vietnam:

From Vietnamese American Veterans Association thanks C. Mason Weaver for his Service In Vietnam [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6OMHgZyEIs].

The video of the meeting in the above video is followed by a link and statement that restates the key elements of the video, Mr. Weaver received the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star.

“masonweaver: December 08, 2009 — The San Diego Vietnamese American Veterans Association thanks Congressional Candidate C. Mason Weaver for his service in Vietnam 1969. C. Mason served on board the USS Klondike and in the city of Vung Tau while in the US Navy. Mason received the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star.” [ masonweaver is the link ">www.youtube.com/user/masonweaver">

I and others searching thousands of links and making multiple searches have not found one reference to Mr. C. Mason Weaver ever having claimed, himself, to be a combat veteran, nor have I found any other reference to others claiming that he was a combat veteran.

Mr. Weaver has clearly claimed to be a Vietnam War veteran and has been cited by others as a Vietnam War veteran. The only reference to a citation was the one by the Vietnamese American Veterans Association that says that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star and publically thanked him for it. We will come back to what this means later in this report.

Having discovered no clear evidence that Mr. Weaver has ever claimed to be touting his record as a “Vietnam Combat Veteran”, the next step was to see if there was more explicit evidence somewhere else in the target website. The feature article continues with:

Figure 4: The feature article body as it appears on the website. The second chapter is linked
to a detail page on the site. The detail page can also be reached through all the
other link given with reference to Mr. Weaver’s military service.

The body of the feature article is a lesson in defamation; however, the important bit to this report is the second chapter, “Mason Lies About Past Naval Service as a Vietnam Combat Veteran.” The link is to the same page that the “lies” tab and the or the “Lying About Serving Vietnam War” Button.

(4) The Target Website: The “Lies About Vietnam Service” Page

Following the Chapter two link [http://www.masonweaverforcongress.com/mason-weaver-lies-vietnam-war-veteran] the detail page header, shown below, appears.

Figure 5: The page title is “Lying About Serving in Vietnam.”

Under the title is a picture of a woman, apparently in a protest, holding two large and prominent black and white signs that said “LIAR.” The impression is clear. The photo seems to be people protesting the candidate’s lies.

Underneath the “Liar” photo, the text starts with,

“On many occasions, Mason Weaver has falsely claimed to have been a “Veteran of the Vietnam War” and a “Combat Veteran.” He has continued to make such claims, despite outcries from several highly respected veterans organizations, including the well known Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.

To make such fictitious and exaggerated claims about his term of military service, or how he really received his medical discharge from the Navy, is a clear disservice to those who have sacrificed their lives in service to their country.”

I know about the existence of the Combat Veterans For Congress political action committee or PAC because they endorse a number of candidates I know and support in the San Diego area. So the assertion that this group had raised outcries about Mason Weaver was quite a surprise and a very great concern. So what had Mason Weaver done in the service? The page in the target website said,

“Mason Weaver’s military service history record is very simple and easy to follow; his military record is that of a simple radio repairman (RM1). One who was relieved from duty after being reckless on the job, recklessness which resulted in an accident where a large piece of steel fell on to him, leaving him unable to work and temporarily disabled.

From 1968-1969, Mason Weaver worked on the repair ship USS Klondike (AR-22), which repaired vessels in San Diego, Long Beach and San Francisco.

Then, from 1969-1971, Mason Weaver served on the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37), a floating repair shop for ships of the U.S. Navy either, in port or at sea. The Samuel Gompers operated in the San Diego area until March 13, 1970, when she deployed to the Western Pacific. Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, was her base of operations for servicing fleet units until returning to San Diego on September 13, 1970, where she remained through November of 1971.”

The website then continues to give three examples in support of the above, each of these is from
the Mason Weaver Campaign website or from his book It’s OK To Leave The Plantation or both.

1. It’s OK To Leave The Plantation – Chapter One

“I never had a problem working with competitors; they made you stronger. I had served in Vietnam and understood the difference between a competitor and an enemy. An enemy was to be destroyed without mercy. You could not work with him, compromised with him nor tolerate him. The enemy was to be challenged.”

2. Mason Weaver’s Official Issue & Policy Positions

“As a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, I understand the high costs of war, paid by the soldiers and their families as well as the nation they protect.” Take note, not only does Mason lie about his service in the Vietnam War here, he also tries to tie his disability to a the war.

3. Mason Weaver’s Summary of the CRFW CA-53 Candidate Forum

“He also reiterated his years as a Vietnam veteran in the U.S. Navy, and the power of forgiveness, when he was nearly fatally injured by the intentional acts of a shipmate, resulting in Weaver’s honorable medical discharge from the military.”

The website then concludes,

“This site is dedicated to telling the truth and exposing the lies, election law violations and negative campaign tactics of “C. Mason Weaver,” a Candidate for Congress in the 53rd Congressional District of California

Tell “Mason Weaver” you have had enough of his lies! Call him at 760-535-2640.”

[5) The Target Website: The Accusations

The details page gives a specific list of accusations. It states that Mason Weaver:

• Was only a radio repairman
• Is not a Vietnam War veteran and claims to be,
• Is not a Vietnam War combat veteran and claims to be,
• There has been a public outcry by several veterans’ service organizations including Combat Veterans for Congress PAC (political action committee),
• Misrepresents the seriousness of his injury
• Misrepresents the connection between his injury and his service.

What Was Mr. Weavers Military Record?

According to the target website, Mr. Weaver was a radio man, RM-1, injured at the end of his career by a sheet of metal falling on him,

”his military record is that of a simple radio repairman (RM1). One who was relieved from duty after being reckless on the job, recklessness which resulted in an accident where a large piece of steel fell on to him, leaving him unable to work and temporarily disabled.”

Mason Weaver says in Chapter One of his book, It’s Ok To Leave The Plantation, says that he was a ship fitter at the time he was injured, “I had a hard job as a ship fitter, pipefitter and welder.“

USS Klondike (AR-22)

Searching ship crew lists reveals multiple references that the target website statement is incorrect in a number of facts. Mason Weaver was an RM-1 while on the USS Klondike (AR-22) as reported by the USS Klondike (AR-22) official website (among others), and…

However, the target website is incorrect in its description of the rating RM-1. It is not a “simple radio repairman...” The United States Navy says the duties of a radio man RM rating are not repairing radios (that rating is RT) but rather the transmission, reception, encryption and deciphering of radio messages.

Table 1: US Navy Descriptions of RM and RT Rating Duties

[http://ussinaugural.org/crew/ratings&pay/ratings.htm]

The Wikipedia describes a radioman’s duties as,

“The Radiomen of the US Navy operated the navy’s ELF, VLF, LF, HF, UHF, and SHF systems, particularly the tone-modulated radio-teletype (RATT) equipment and associated peripheral equipment, such as various types of Teletype Corporation teletypes and teleprinters. Radiomen were also responsible for the prompt delivery of special handling code FLASH, CRITIC, LIMDIS, PERSONAL FOR, various classified message traffic, and other specifically designated messages to their commanding officers shipboard and the associated chain of command.

Radiomen were also responsible for antenna maintenance at both ship and shore based stations. This task was considered most favored because it led to the Radiomen being able to work outdoors and also working aloft on the ship’s mast or from the side of the ship.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioman],

USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37)

On the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) Mason Weaver was exactly what Mr. Weaver claims. Multiple sources agree to this. One source is the following US Navy record from the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) crew list [http://www.navysite.de/crewlist/search.php?formid=searchform].

The position Mr. Weaver had on the USS Samuel Gompers is defined by the Division R1. Division R1 on US naval ships is the ship fitters shop. All naval personnel up to pay grade E-3 are considered apprentices for the rating they and are being educated and trained to obtain the rating at pay grade E-4.

The real question is why the target site left out the duties on the USS Samuel Gompers? Mr. Weaver says he was a ship fitter in Division R1 on the USS Gompers and was injured there. The ship fitters shop works with huge thick slabs of steel and aluminum and is a very dangerous environment. If Mr. Weaver is portrayed as a simple reckless radioman accidently hit by a slab of steel,

“…his military record is that of a simple radio repairman (RM1). One who was relieved from duty after being reckless on the job, recklessness which resulted in an accident where a large piece of steel fell on to him, leaving him unable to work and temporarily disabled.”

The reader is left with a very different impression than a more accurate description would leave. For example,

While on the USS Gompers, Mason Weaver worked in the ship fitters shop where structural steel and ship system piping fabrication occurred. Mr. Weaver was involved in an accident where a large piece of steel fell on him, disabled him and permanently ended his ship fitting career in the US Navy.

The claim about the Navy investigation resulting in a charge of recklessness, has not yet been independently substantiated or denied. Mr. Weaver maintains he was deliberately attacked.

The point is the target website leaves the impression that reckless Mr. Weaver, the simple radioman, was somehow recklessly wandering in a dangerous metal working area when a large metal plate fell on him and caused him some temporary disability.

(6) Was C. Mason Weaver a Vietnam Veteran?

The question concerning Mason Weaver’s service is what allows one to be called a veteran, a Vietnam War veteran or a combat veteran? It was clear that even the writer of the target website acknowledged that the candidate C. Mason Weaver had been a veteran. That is, he was enlisted in the United States Navy and had served his country as a member of the military.

The next question is what did Mr. Weaver do while in the navy and did that make him a Vietnam veteran or a combat veteran (even though I can find no evidence that Mason Weaver has ever called himself a combat veteran or evidence that anyone else has called him a combat veteran except this target website)?

The target website says,

“From 1968-1969, Mason Weaver worked on the repair ship USS Klondike (AR-22), which repaired vessels in San Diego, Long Beach and San Francisco.

Then, from 1969-1971, Mason Weaver served on the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37), a floating repair shop for ships of the U.S. Navy either, in port or at sea. The Samuel Gompers operated in the San Diego area until March 13, 1970, when she deployed to the Western Pacific. Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, was her base of operations for servicing fleet units until returning to San Diego on September 13, 1970, where she remained through November of 1971.”

The multiple records we found, including crew lists cited previously show that Mason Weaver was assigned according to the following table.

This information indicates, Mr. Mason Weaver

• Was on the Klondike from 1968 to 1970 and not from 1968 through 1969 as stated in the target website, and
• Was on the Samuel Gompers for 1970 to August 1971 and not 1969 through 1971 as the target website says.

These dates are important to the Vietnam veteran question if they conflict with either ship’s service dates in the Vietnam War zone.

USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37)

The USS Samuel Gompers was researched first (for no special reason).  The target website link led to a Wikipedia article about the ship

“Samuel Gompers operated in the San Diego area until 13 March 1970 when she again deployed to the western Pacific. Subic Bay was her base of operations for servicing fleet units until returning to San Diego on 13 September 1970. She remained there until 2 November 1971 when she steamed west on another deployment.

After making port calls at Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka, she moored at Subic Bay on 24 November. The tender operated out of that port until 12 July 1972 when she sailed for Pearl Harbor and San Diego. During the seven-month deployment period, Samuel Gompers made two trips to Da Nang, South Vietnam, from 9 to 16 April; and from 22 to 30 April.

When she reached her home port on 31 July, she remained there to provide repair services to fleet units until mid-July 1973. At this time, she moved up the coast to Portland, Oregon, and was in dry dock having significant modifications to service areas far below the waterline. She was reported to be the largest vessel ever to cruise up the Columbia River. The Gompers remained there until returning to San Diego in early December.”  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_Gompers_(AD-37)]

During the time both the target site and Mr. Weaver say he served on board the Gompers, it was not directly involved in the Vietnam War and the ship did not go to Vietnam until after Mason Weaver had left the US Navy. The ship was a destroyer repair ship and traveled all over, but was harbored most often in Subic Bay in the Philippines. There is independent verification that Clarence Mason (Weaver) was on board and left the USS Samuel Gompers in August 1971, before the Gompers went to Vietnam and received a Vietnam War unit citation.

USS Klondike (AR-22)

The USS Klondike link on the target website also led to an article on Wikipedia.

“Klondike continued to repair the ships of the Pacific Fleet into mid-1969. Her last Far Eastern deployment began on 25 February 1969 when she departed San Diego. The Klondike made two trips to Portland, Oregon for the annual Rose Festival, in 1967 and 1968. She also make a WESTPAC cruise in 1967/1968.”

This account provides no means of understanding the WESTPAC operations the ship participated in during Mason Weavers service. The references given in the Wikipedia article revealed that there was a difference between the previously mentioned crew list accounts for the period 1968 and 1969 and the Wikipedia article content for the same period.

Because the author is an editorial contributor to Wikipedia, the author accessed the internal edit history of the Wikipedia file and the references used to check Wikipedia articles (this history is why Wikipedia is so accurate). I reviewed the edit history of the USS Klondike file and discovered the following information had not been included [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/25/2522.htm]:

“During the Vietnam War the USS Klondike (AR-22) participated in the Tet Counteroffensive from March 31, 2010 to April 24, 1969.”

Further, in the unit history section of military.com a crew member, Lloyd Kessinger, posted,

“The Klondike was still doing destroyer service in 1968 and 1969 because we were in Vietnam in the middle of 69. We did repair work to a river supply boat that collided with a destroyer, the Klondike received a bullet hole in the aft section from one of the river boat guns.”

http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/history.do?ck_unit=80028&id=201908&historyId=824573

The USS Klondike (AR-22) and her crew were given the following Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons during the ship’s commission.

Figure 6: “Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right. Top Row -
American Campaign Medal – Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal – World War II
Victory Medal Bottom Row – National Defense Service Medal – the Vietnam
Service Medal (1) [with one Bronze Star for the Tet 69/Counteroffensive]
and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

This then explains why, in the section about what others have said about Mr. Mason Weaver’s service record, the Vietnamese American Veterans Association thanked C. Mason Weaver for his service in Vietnam and cited his receipt of the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6OMHgZyEIs].

The article in Wikipedia was edited to include the following facts and their references as follows:

Removed : ”Klondike” continued to repair the ships of the Pacific Fleet into mid-1969. Her last Far Eastern deployment began on 25 February 1969 when she departed San Diego. The ”Klondike” made two trips to Portland, Oregon for the annual [[Portland Rose Festival|Rose Festival]], in 1967 and 1968. She also make a WESTPAC cruise in 1967/1968. She was decommissioned on 15 December 1970.

Added : During the Vietnam War ”Klondike” participated in the Tet Counteroffensive from March 31, 1969 to April 24, 1969. She repaired a river supply ship that collided with a destroyer and was struck in her aft section by enemy fire from river boats.<ref> unitpages.military.com/unitpages/history.do ?ck_unit=80028&id=201908&historyId=824573, Retrieved 4/29/2010</ref> For her service in [[the Vietnam War|Vietnam]], the ”Klondike” was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star for the Tet 69/Counteroffensive and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. <ref> www. navsource. org/ archives/09/25/2522.htm, Retrieved 4/29/2010</ref>

The article now correctly reflects the ships proud Vietnam War history as the naval records and crew members have recorded it.

The Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star for the Tet Counteroffensive and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal are awarded to soldiers, marines, airmen, naval aviators and naval personnel under the following rules as described by the U.S. Navy, Naval History & Heritage Command, [http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn.htm]

Figure 7: Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star
for the Tet 69/Counteroffensive and the Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

“The armed forces’ Vietnam Service Medal (at left in photo above) was established by Executive Order 11231 from President Johnson’s desk on 8 July 1965. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army’s Institute of Heraldry.

The service medal was awarded to all members of the armed forces who service in Vietnam and contiguous waters and airspace between 3 July 1965 and 28 March 1973…

To qualify for award of the VSM an individual must meet one of the following qualifications:

(1) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.

(2) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days aboard a Naval vessel directly supporting military operations.

(3) Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations.

(4) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.

Vietnam and contiguous waters, as used herein, is defined as an area which includes Vietnam and the water adjacent thereto within the following specified limits: From a point on the East Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with China southeastward to 21 N. Latitude, 108° 15′E. Longitude; thence, southward to 18° N. Latitude, 108° 15′E. Longitude; thence southeastward to 17° 30′N. Latitude, 111° E. Longitude; thence southward to 11° N. Latitude; 111° E. Longitude, thence southwestward to 7° N. Latitude, 105° E. Longitude; thence westward to 7° N. Latitude, 103° E. longitude, thence northward to 9° 30′N. Latitude, 103° E. Longitude, thence northeastward to 10° 15′N. Latitude, 104° 27′E. Longitude, thence northward to a point on the West Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia.

There are a total of 17 campaign stars authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal. Personnel are authorized one bronze campaign star for each qualifying campaign with a silver star worn in lieu of five bronze stars:

• Campaign Star # 10:  Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 February-8 June 1969)

Qualification number two is how the USS Klondike and her crew were given the Vietnam Veterans Service Medal with one bronze campaign star for campaign number ten (10). Was Clarence Mason Weaver a Vietnam War Veteran? Yes.

(7) What Was/Is the Position of the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC?

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC website provides a history of the organization,

“In August 2009, the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC a Non Profit and Un-Affiliated PAC was founded by Congressman Barry M. Goldwater Jr., Reverge Anselmo, and Capt. Joseph R. John to support two fiscally conservative Combat Veterans For Congress in two different states.  The PAC was filed with and approved by the Federal Election Commission on November 8, 2009, and we have increased our endorsement to 28 Combat Veterans For Congress in 19 states.

The target website says about them,

“On many occasions, Mason Weaver has falsely claimed to have been a “Veteran of the Vietnam War” and a “Combat Veteran.” He has continued to make such claims, despite outcries from several highly respected veterans organizations, including the well known Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.”

Multiple internet searches revealed not one single indication that the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC has ever issued an outcry about C. Mason Weaver. To complete the issue during the research phase, I wrote the following message, seeking information, to the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC using the contact page on their website,

“Dear Combat Veterans.

First of all thank you for your service and your stand for our constitution and our country. I am Kenneth Happel and I publish a website that does investigative reports into tea party issues [www.our-republic.net]. I am writing a report for the website and I may publish the report in the San Diego Examiner (nonpartisan reporter) as well. I can be reached at 760-630-3332 / kmhappel@cox.net. I also run an independent, non-partisan precinct working tea party [www.vistateapartypatriots] group and am trying to find out, to the degree possible, the truth.

I am looking into a website that has recently appeared and is clearly intended to discredit and damage the campaign of a C. Mason Weaver who is running against your endorsed candidate, Michael Crimmins, and another Republican candidate, Anderson.

The website [http://www.masonweaverforcongress.com/category/lies/] uses candidate weaver’s name and format so that it’s URL is one letter different than candidate Mason Weaver’s own campaign website and creates both confusion and makes devastating claims.

Among other things, this website claims:

“On many occasions, Mason Weaver has falsely claimed to have been a “Veteran of the Vietnam War” and a “Combat Veteran.” He has continued to make such claims, despite outcries from several highly respected veterans organizations, including the well known Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.

To make such fictitious and exaggerated claims about his term of military service, or how he really received his medical discharge from the Navy, is a clear disservice to those who have sacrificed their lives in service to their country.

Mason Weaver’s military service history record is very simple and easy to follow; his military record is that of a simple radio repairman (RM1). One who was relieved from duty after being reckless on the job, recklessness which resulted in an accident where a large piece of steel fell on to him, leaving him unable to work and temporarily disabled.”

I was wondering if such outcry had occurred from Combat Veterans For Congress and in what form. This website lists your website as a reference link, implying that you agree and that is why I am writing you directly. There is a picture on this site that leads one to think it may be a picture of people in your group protesting Mr. Weaver. They are carrying large signs saying “Liar!” The article title is, “Lying About Serving in the Vietnam War.”

Mr. Weaver has said “…I had served in Vietnam”, “As a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War…” and has had written about him “his years as a Vietnam veteran in the U.S. Navy.” I have not yet found any reference where he says or he claims he was a “combat veteran” of any kind.

I have been able to verify that Mr. Weaver was stationed in Subic Bay on the USS Samuel Gompers (DA 37) during the Vietnam War and worked on naval ships, both in Subic Bay and at sea that were directly and indirectly engaged in the conflict. He certainly was engaged as a seaman in support of naval operations that included Vietnam. I would like to understand how your organization sees such overseas service.

The article on the website states that he was a “radio man RM-1.” While I have not yet obtained an official copy of his military records, during my research, I have found multiple sources including veteran’s meet-up and crew list websites where he was a ship-fitter (GS). I have also found multiple references to him, about him and from him about being on board and having been injured on board while in service.

I don’t know why this route was chosen by those opposed to Mr. Weaver, but the result is very damaging to those of us who hope a conservative, limited constitutional government, fiscally responsible candidate will get elected to be the candidate…

If you have not issued the public “outcry” referred to on the site, would you issue a public denial and include me in you broadcast. I will make abundantly clear that your organization is blameless. If you did, may I have a copy of the public “outcry”?

Thanks once again,

Ken Happel “

The Combat Veterans For Congress answered [the color and text formatting is as received],

“Kenneth,

Thank you for your interest in the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC. We do not denounce any Veteran or any Combat Veteran; we honor all veterans for their patriotic service to their country.  We do respond to requests for accurate information on any individual who says he is a Combat Veteran.  We were asked to comment on whether Mason Weaver was a Combat Veteran by a party whose identity is held in strict confidence.  We responded that Mason Weaver is not Combat Veteran using the definition that DOD uses; we also specifically told Mason Weaver that although he was not a Combat Veteran and could not endorse his candidacy when he asked for our endorsement, that we honored his military service to his country during the Vietnam conflict.  Mr. Weaver has not been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon, a medal with Combat “V”, a Purple Heart Medal, or any other medal awarded for gallant action in combat.

Respectfully,

Joseph R. John

President and CEO

JRJ And Associates, Inc.

They clearly state that they do not denounce or make outcries about veterans and that Mr. Weaver is a veteran. Therefore, the target website is incorrect. They acknowledge C. Mason Weaver as a veteran during the Vietnam conflict and detail the difference between being a Vietnam veteran and a combat veteran. Having received a Combat Action Ribbon is defined as the Department of Defense criteria for being a combat veteran.

What is a combat action ribbon? “The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy (or Colonel in the Marine Corps), have actively participated in ground or surface combat. The Combat Action Ribbon is also awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard when operating under the control of the Navy.”[http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Combat_Action_Ribbon].

Is C. Mason Weaver a combat veteran according to Combat Veterans For Congress? No.

Did Mr. Weaver Lie About Being a Combat Veteran? No.

Is Mr. Weaver’s applying for the group’s endorsement lying about his military r NOT TRUE

• He is not a Vietnam War veteran and claims to be…………………. NOT TRUE
• He is not a Vietnam War combat veteran and claims to be…………… NOT TRUE
• A public outcry by several veterans’ service organizations………… NOT TRUE
• Combat Veterans for Congress PAC made a public Outcry………………NOT TRUE
• He misrepresents the seriousness of his injury…………………….NOT TRUE
• He misrepresents the connection between his injury and his service…..NOT TRUE

The initial conclusion is, every accusation made on this website about Mr. Weaver’s military record, that we have checked, is a lie. It is clear that this website was designed to destroy the candidacy of C. Mason Weaver, designed to ruin his personal reputation and to destroy his ability to earn a living as an author.

Our answers to the following questions, to date, are:

Is C. Mason Weaver a Veteran?………………………………………….. Yes.

Is C. Mason Weaver a Vietnam Veteran?…………………………………… Yes.

Was C. Mason Weaver Injured During His Military Career?…………………… Yes.

Was C. Mason Weaver Disabled By The Injury?……. ………………………. Yes.

Was C. Mason Weaver Disabled During His Ship’s Vietnam Deployment?…………. No.

Is C. Mason Weaver a Disabled Vietnam Veteran?…………………………… Yes.

Did Mr. Weaver Lie That He was a Combat Veteran? ………………………… No.

Has there Been An Outcry Over By Combat Veterans For Congress? ……………. No.

Is There Any Record That Other Groups Have Made an Outcry?………………… No.

Has C. Mason Weaver Lied About His Military Career?………………………. No.

Not one single assertion or accusation made by the target website been found to be true.

The only possible conclusion is that the creator of this website is determined to destroy Mr. Weaver’s reputation.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

We have received no compensation of any kind for this research.  There is no financial or other benefit received or expected other than we believe that all men are created equal and ought to be treated as such by their fellow Americans.

Kenneth Happel / Lynne Welke, Our-Republic.Net

Additional notes since first posting:

The image of the protesting woman in the photograph with the “Liar” signs causes some interesting questions when enlarged.

Does anyone know this poster’s origin? Notice the words “[loss/love?] of human life

Or the text onhte sweatshirt or  this organization logo?