Knives for Navy reservists approved

About 40 U.S. Navy reservists in North Idaho will get commemorative Buck knives for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan despite initial concerns by the Navy that the gifts were too expensive.

Members of the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, based in Hayden, are to get the knives at a ceremony Saturday.

An official with the Navy had said the knives could be prohibited as gifts because they exceed a $20 limit the Defense Department sets on gifts.

But Lt. Adam Bashaw, a Navy spokesman based in New Orleans, said that’s not the case.

“Unfortunately, it was a misunderstanding and the word got out wrong,” Bashaw said.

Bashaw said the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps finished its investigation earlier this week and approved the $133 knives as gifts.

“We’re very supportive that the community in Idaho is doing so much to support our sailors coming back home, and we’re thrilled about the ceremony on Saturday,” Bashaw said.

Some 500 of the knives have already been given to veterans in the Inland Northwest, including those wounded or killed, since the program began in 2005.

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin received an e-mail this week from Navy Capt. Michael Kidd, commanding officer for Reserve Component Command Northwest in Everett, who said the gifts were OK as long as they were not from a prohibited source and were offered to all members of a particular unit, not just to those of higher rank or pay.

Graham Crutchfield, a retired Marine, organized the commemorative knife program. They are paid for by donations from individuals, service clubs and businesses.

“It’s such a relief,” Crutchfield said.

“I am glad they’ll get the recognition they deserve.”