President restores rank of Vietnam general after declassified info exonerates him
By Pauline Jelinek, APWednesday, August 4, 2010
Obama restores rank of disgraced Vietnam general
WASHINGTON — More than 30 years after his death, an Air Force general has been exonerated for bombing missions he ordered during the Vietnam War.
Gen. John D. Lavelle was busted two ranks and removed from his command in 1972 amid allegations that he ordered unauthorized bombings in North Vietnam and helped keep them secret.
The Pentagon said Wednesday that the Nixon tapes and other information declassified and released in 2007 showed President Richard Nixon had authorized the bombing. An Air Force board that works to correct military records also found that Lavelle was not involved in falsifying records.
The Defense Department says President Barack Obama has nominated Lavelle, who died in 1979, to have his full rank restored on retirement rolls.
