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Incoming top Marine removes awardsGeneral says he earned but cannot document three ribbons
From Jamie McIntyre
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The incoming commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Michael W. Hagee -- challenged about combat awards and ribbons he has worn that he might not have earned -- said Tuesday he had taken three of them off his uniform. The three ribbons he removed were for awards he could not prove that he won, but he said he believed he had earned them. "It was an honest mistake," he said at a news conference. Pentagon sources told CNN that discrepancies turned up in a review Hagee requested after he was nominated for the top Marine post. A check of his military service records revealed no documentation for three awards that he had worn in his last command. At the news conference, Hagee said he should have checked that his ribbons were correct. "I should have had this done much earlier. All sorts of excuses on why the system does not work properly; all sorts of reasons why you're too busy," he said. "There's no excuse -- my fault." Sources identified the awards as a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, a Humanitarian Service Medal and a Navy Unit Commendation. Hagee might have qualified for the first two awards -- the second while in Somalia -- but there was no supporting documentation in his record. For the Navy commendation, Hagee had submitted paperwork but had been approved for a lower commendation, not the award he wore. The review of his record also revealed that there might be other awards for which he is eligible but does not wear. Marine officials said there are problems with the system of handling applications and documentation for awards, and that requirements for such awards change frequently. Hagee said the awards process needs to be examined. "Once I become commandant we will look at that; we are already looking at that particular system and how we can better improve it," he said. Hagee is scheduled to be sworn in Monday as the 33rd commandant of the Marine Corps, succeeding Gen. James Jones, who will become supreme allied commander in Europe. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Hagee briefed him on the situation. "I have complete confidence in him and look forward to having him assume his responsibility as commandant of the Marine Corps on Monday," Rumsfeld said in a statement. In June 1996, then-Chief of Operations Adm. Jeremy Boorda committed suicide after reporters questioned his wearing of a "combat V device" that he might not have earned.
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