[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 RETIREMENT OF REAR ADM. JOHN E. GORDON

 Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, on April 19, 1994, the Senate 
confirmed the nomination of Adm. Frank Kelso, the Chief of Naval 
Operations, to retire in grade. During the debate on the nomination, a 
number of Senators raised issues concerning Admiral Kelso's 
accountability with respect to matters related to the misconduct at the 
1991 Tailhook Symposium. At one point, a Senator indicated that no one, 
other than a victim of the misconduct, lost his or her job as a result 
of Tailhook. In response, I noted that a number of individuals, 
including the Secretary of the Navy, resigned as a result of Tailhook.
  In the course of my remarks, I stated that ``the Navy JAG, the Judge 
Advocate General, resigned over this.'' I made that statement based 
upon the fact that the retirement of the Judge Advocate General was 
announced at the time that the Navy made public its initial reaction to 
the DOD inspector general's report on the Navy's conduct of the 
Tailhook investigations. Subsequent to my remarks, I have been informed 
by the Navy that the then-Judge Advocate General, Rear Adm. John E. 
Gordon, did not resign in response to the Tailhook report.
  The Navy has advised me that Rear Admiral Gordon was appointed to be 
the Judge Advocate General on November 1, 1990, and was immediately 
scheduled for retirement on November 1, 1992, in accordance with prior 
Navy practice. Rear Admiral Gordon formally submitted his request for 
retirement on September 9, 1992, prior to the September 21, 1992 
issuance of the DOD/IG report, and retired on November 1, 1992, in 
accordance with the date originally set in 1990. The Navy has further 
advised me that no official adverse action was taken against Rear 
Admiral Gordon.
  To put this matter in perspective, the Navy has advised me that in 
the aftermath of the Tailhook matter, 29 Navy and Marine Corps 
personnel were punished under article 15 of the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice--nonjudicial punishment--and 3 flag officers received 
letters of censure from the Secretary of the Navy. Sixty Navy and 
Marine Corps personnel received nonpunitive administrative letters and 
19 received informal counseling.
  I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the record.
  

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