Kirk downgrades claims of his military recognition

I expressed skepticism that Mark Kirk was the Navy's "Intelligence officer of the year" in 1999.

1. There doesn't seem to be such an award.
2. Why would a reserve intelligence officer beat out a whole bunch of active duty officers?

In addition to writing about my skepticism here, I did some calling around.

On May 18, I contacted a prominent journalist who has both a local and national beat. This journalist expressed interest in the story and said s/he'd make some phone calls.

How did Kirk's website read on May 18?

The U.S. Navy named Kirk “Intelligence Officer of the Year” in 1999 for his combat service in Kosovo.

How's Kirk's website read today?

Kirk was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his Kosovo service in 1999.

Kirk formerly represented that he won the Navy's top award for intelligence officers. He was the best.

Now, Kirk claims to have gotten a medal. For all we know everyone in the command who was at least a lieutenant got a Navy Com.

Formerly Kirk chose words that made it sound like he did something exceptional in combat.

After a journalist asked him (his campaign) about the award Kirk's sole claim is that he was in theater.

Kirk has made many claims about his military service in the past. I suspected pretty much every claim was at least misleading.

Based on my experience, reserve intel officers are about the most expendable part of the whole Navy. If every reserve intelligence officer simply evaporated, I doubt it would disrupt operations of the Navy an iota.

Pick any other officer designator, e.g. pilots, surface warfare officers, nurses, health care administrators, etc., and it would be a problem for the Navy if they all disappeared. Reserve intelligence officers? Yeah, whatever.

Kirk dialing back from "intelligence officer of the year" to a Navy Commendation Medal is more than semantics. Kirk was lying about his record.

I look forward to the day when Mark Kirk gives an extended interview about his military service to a journalists who knows about the military and is prepared to ask him about details.

This interview will show that Mark Kirk has consistently misrepresented his accomplishments in the military.