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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Key guard records missing, inquiry finds

Matt Kelley Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Documents that should have been written to explain gaps in President Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service are missing from the military records released about his service in 1972 and 1973, according to regulations and outside experts.

No such records have been made public and the government told the Associated Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that it has released all records it can find.

Challenging the government’s declaration that no more documents exist, the AP identified five categories of records that should have been generated after Bush skipped his pilot’s physical and missed five months of training.

“A report from the Texas Air National Guard to Bush’s local draft board certifying that Bush remained in good standing. The government has released copies of those DD Form 44 documents for Bush for 1971 and earlier years but not for 1972 or 1973. Records from Bush’s draft board in Houston do not show his draft status changed after he joined the guard in 1968

“Records of a required investigation into why Bush lost flight status. When Bush skipped his 1972 physical, regulations required his Texas commanders to “direct an investigation as to why the individual failed to accomplish the medical examination,” according to the Air Force manual at the time.

“A written acknowledgment from Bush that he had received the orders grounding him. His Texas commanders were ordered to have Bush sign such a document, but none has been released.

“Reports of formal counseling sessions Bush was required to have after missing more than three training sessions. Bush missed at least five months’ worth of National Guard training in 1972.

“A signed statement from Bush acknowledging he could be called to active duty if he did not promptly transfer to another guard unit after leaving Texas. The statement was required as part of a Vietnam-era crackdown on no-show guardsmen. Bush was approved in September 1972 to train with the Alabama unit, more than four months after he left Texas.

In a directive from June 29, 1973, an Air Force personnel official pressed Bush’s unit for information about his Alabama service.

“This officer should have been reassigned in May 1972,” wrote Master Sgt. Daniel P. Harkness, “since he no longer is training in his AFSC (Air Force Service Category, or job title) or with his unit of assignment.”

Then-Maj. Rufus G. Martin replied Nov. 12, 1973: “Not rated for the period 1 May 72 through 30 Apr 73. Report for this period not available for administrative reasons.”