The Navy has stripped a retired San Diego Navy Captain of the Silver Star he was awarded for heroic actions during the Vietnam War, according to the Marine Corps Times. This isn't just any Navy veteran, either, but Capt. Wade Sanders - who served as a former deputy assistant Navy secretary. He was also a former swift boat captain and ardent supporter of Sen. John Kerry during his 2004 presidential run.
The reason for the highly unusual award revocation? Navy spokeswoman Capt. Patricia Kunze says:
“Had the subsequently determined facts and evidence surrounding both the incident for which the award was made and the processing of the award itself been known to the secretary of the Navy in 1992, those facts would have prevented the award of the Silver Star.”
Interesting. What's also interesting is that Sanders pleaded guilty in 2008 to one count of possessing child pornography, and is currently serving time in prison. Sanders claims he was only doing research for a book.
For more on the story, take a look at this video report from San Diego television station NBC 7/39:
