July 28, 2001
RA 13409573
Department of Defense
1155 defense Pentagon
Washington , DC 20301
To whom it may concern:
Enclosed is a copy of a letter my wife received from Ms. Deborah Hair, special assistant to the president. My wife had sent a packet to Governor Jeb Bush's office which in turn, sent it to the President's office concerning my recommendation for the “Medal of Honor.” I have enclosed with this letter a transcript of the September 20, 2000 formal hearing of my case.
Please note the following:
Under the “Proceedings Page” it states; “Applicant and counsel if any did not appear before the board. I appeared in person!
On page #9, #4 it states; “The board did note that the applicant's commander stated in his June 30 1995 award recommendation that the Regimental commander dispatched an administrative team to interview and write recommendations for valorous acts performed”. This team came to the regiment long after I had transferred to the 187 th Airborne! I have enclosed a copy of my transfer from the 3 rd Division to the 187th .
The board stated that they considered statements from;
1. My ex assistant squad leader Rene Silva
2. My ex Platoon Leader Major (Ret ) Lewis Hotelling
3. A statement from Bernard Sarisohn stating; “He was ordered and did type my recommendation for the Medal of Honor in 1953”.
On page 10 #10 it states; Board unanimously determined there was insufficient evidence that his actions warranted the award of either the “Medal of Honor” or the “Distinguished Service Cross”.
The board made no mention of a statement from my ex sniper Thomas Innocenti, an eyewitness to my actions! His statement should have been mentioned. Without his affidavit the board did not consider ¼ of my evidence!
I have sent with this a letter from (Ret) Major Hotelling to then Vice President Al Gore dated 1/21/2000 . No answer was ever received to this letter! I have included a statement from Major Hotelling sent to attorney Gary Meyers on 2/17/01 .
In conclusion, I have enclosed an article about ex President Theodore Roosevelt Sr. titled “A Desire to Rewrite History”.To the present day there is a mandatory rule, that there be two sworn affidavits verifying the action. None were ever found on record and it is not likely that any would be unearthed 100 years later etc!
Yet last year Mr. Roosevelt was awarded the “Medal of Honor”!
I have three eyewitnesses statements to my actions, a recommendation for the “Medal of Honor” from my ex commanding officer who himself was awarded the “Distinguished Service Cross” and a statement from a retired attorney who states he wrote my recommendation for the “Medal of Honor in 1953!
Some how this just doesn't seem fair to people like myself.
Sincerely,Robert C. Barfield
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