Two Navy veterans have raised questions about the veracity of Maine gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles’ military record and sharply criticized his decision to wear a military uniform on Memorial Day.
Claude Berube, a retired Navy Reserve commander, expressed concerns about Charles’ claims regarding his military service in the aftermath of September 11 attacks.
“After 9/11 a lot of reservists asked for active duty,” he told The Maine Wire. “It was rare that anyone served less than a year and most did more.”
Berube said Charles should provide documentation supporting his claims about his military timeline.
“Every officer keeps their DD214,” he said. “Everyone knows where it is, if they have one. He was not a career naval officer, as he claims.”
A DD214 is a comprehensive summary of a U.S. military member’s service and is issued when a service member retires, separates, or is discharged from active duty.
Berube also argued that Charles’ decision to wear a military uniform on Memorial Day was inappropriate.
“It’s clear he was wearing his uniform for political reasons, which is wrong.”
Matt Jacobson unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1984 and in the Air Force from 1984 to 1992, followed by four years in the Air Force Reserve.
Jacobson told The Maine Wire that Charles is “claiming to be something he is not,” and said he was also offended by Charles wearing his Navy uniform on Memorial Day.
“It’s a problem for me,” he explained. “Him wearing his gift shop bought US Navy hat is wrong. A lot of people served, did real things, don’t make it into something that it is not.”
The Maine Wire asked Charles whether he would provide his DD214, and the candidate responded, “You don’t carry them around with you, but I will hunt up the DD214.”
When asked about criticism of his claim that he went on active duty after 9/11, Charles insisted it was true.
“We were active duty for a couple of months, several months. The goal of that active duty period was to retrain.”
Asked about charges that wearing his uniform on Memorial Day was inappropriate, Charles was emphatic that Navy regulations allowed it and said he personally encourages others to do the same.
“If you have a uniform and you’re going to march, I would argue you probably should march in it, even if you can barely fit into it, which sometimes has been my problem.”
Charles indicated that such criticism is not new for him.
“They say, ‘Well, you cut a video in your uniform.’ It had nothing to do with campaign. I cut a video, which I cut. I’ve cut these multiple years saying, remember the fallen on this day, and remember that every day should be Memorial Day.”
Charles ended the interview with a message for his critics, saying, “Let’s encourage people, and if you have a genuine complaint, make it real, but if it’s fake, don’t keep saying it.”
The Maine Wire has made multiple requests to Mr. Charles for access to his DD214, and although the publication has been assured it would be granted access, it had not received the document as of publication.
“Everything about what I’ve done I am incredibly proud of,” Charles insisted.
The knives are coming out for Bobby Charles .
The democrats are scared to death of this guy and will do and say ANYTHING to sink his campaign .
They are hoping to run against ANYBODY but Charles .
The shit going to get even deeper before next Tuesday I’m sure .
Put your helmets on folks .
The problem is that a DD214 may not be accurate if someone is loaned to another agency, i.e. “sheepdipped.”
I am a proud veteran of the United States Navy, where I served with honor from December 1998 to January 2009 (USNR).
On September 11, 2001, our unit lost colleagues in the Pentagon attack. I volunteered for active duty that day. That is who I am.
The documents below prove unequivocally when my service began, what I did, and how it ended. This should make clear my service.
My shipmates and fellow Naval Intelligence Officers have written letters telling the story of our service together. Their words speak for themselves.
Janet Mills has had 8 years to fight for Maine veterans. Instead they have been ignored, underfunded, and left behind. As Governor I will never forget what service means because I lived it. Maine veterans will finally have a Governor who has their back.
I have formally requested my updated DD-214 from the National Archives.
Letters of attestation from those who served alongside me:
— Captain Jeffery Kargol, USN (ret)
— Commander David Radi, USN (ret)
— LCDR Timothy W. Terry, USN (ret)
— LCDR Claudio Biltoc, USN (ret)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JCUepL1AA/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I received multiple DD214’s while I served active duty. Reserve and title 10
So we got two Reserve retirees complaining about another reservist. Got it. He can wear that uniform on Memorial Day if he chooses. As for a DD214, Berube sounds like a clown because Charles didn’t pull out a copy for them on the spot.
Mr. Charles,
With all due respect or perhaps any respect due. I think you are lying. I served 21 years in the Navy from 2002 – 2024. I retired as an SCPO, E8 qualified (SS/IWS), and had the privilege and honor of serving my country and community.
For clarification to anyone who is reading this article and post. Mr. Charles could easily get his official DD-214 from VA.GOV in 10 minutes, if it exists at all. Your inability to provide OQE or SDK’s is evidence enough to determine you are either lying about your service or inept as a Naval Officer. Anyone who has served knows how to do basic things like get their DD-214 or other required documents. This alone leads me to highly doubt your service in any capacity. How could you lead Sailors when you can’t even do the basics?
Based on your medals and ribbons or lack thereof as well as not having a Warfare Device(s), further strengthens my belief. It is exceptionally rare to see a LCDR (05) with no warfare device. In fact you would be laughed at in almost all circles of service. A Warfare Device (AW/SW/SS/IW/SO/FMF) shows competence in some area of battle space. Last I checked, a LCDR’s should have competence. You wouldn’t think about wearing that uniform without displaying your Warfare specialty. Anyone who has ever served, knows that.
Furthermore your COM is also a medal and should be the first on your rack closest to your heart, followed by your 2 NAM’s and so on. This is taught in Officer Candidate School. I suspect you slept through that class or just didn’t attend.
As an enlisted leader I spent many years of my career educating Junior Officers and Senior Officers in their duties and responsibilities, that included properly wearing the uniform of a Naval Officer. Hence the saying “Ask the Chief”. If you ask me, I’d say you are lying about your service to gain some sort of sympathy or standing. If so Sir (I use that term loosely) I recommend you stop.
My final statement, if you did serve have more pride in your uniform. If you can’t wear it correctly, don’t wear it at all. Many people died to ensure our freedoms and liberties. Have enough respect for them to at least show up correct. Especially if you are going to wear it during Memorial Day. Finally, carry on smartly, if you can’t do that then just carry on.
V/R,
Kevin
SCPO RET
SSN 698, SSBN 730, SSN 767, SSN 797
He’s wearing his token medals like a hobo on the street. Every veteran who’s pulling his 40 year old whites out absolutely has a DD-214 handy. This guy wreaks of fraud.
I would rather have SCPO Kevin on my crew leading us enlisted, always have always will. Charles your a disgrace. You wear a uniform like your at a costume party. Square away that haircut at least. I agree with both of you on Memorial Day respect and honor, however the day was established to memorialize the warrior, not mock him. Last thought, UNSAT.
Kevin Caron, your critique of Lt. Commander Charles seems flawed when you say that his rank places him as a O5, when I believe that O5 is a full commander, all three full stripes. Perhaps your other points are similarly flawed. (As an ETR2, during the ‘Nam era, I never had to much worry about such 0 level details.)
Like I said …….The knives are coming out !
@Gardiner Schneider At least you took the time to read it, thank you for catching that. Unfortunately I cannot edit the mistake so now I must own it. Unlike Bobby, I can admit when I make a mistake. That’s the Senior Chief in me and the Honor, Courage, and Commitment to do what’s right. Even when it hurts. Also I have been out of the Navy since 2024, the O ranks start to blur a little. You are correct though, O4 not O5.
Shipmate and brother, I know it’s been many moons since you served and thank for that service. I just ask you to look at what he is presenting as his service and evidence and ask yourself, does that make sense? ETR2, I challenge you to watch the interview with a questioning attitude. If you say it passes the Navy sniff test, then I don’t know what else I can say to convince you.
Something isn’t right with his story and his evidence. I am a Republican and I can’t stand Janet Mills. I want what’s best for the State I love and was raised. I have the privilege of being born in Greenville and lived in Rockwood and Jackman. All places I love very much to this day. I live in CT, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just want the truth. I don’t think we are getting the truth from Bobby.
NNNN
This is the first time I’ve been really disappointed by the Maine Wire. Quoting two guys who are taking cheap shots is not a good look. One of them is a failed gubernatorial candidate and is probably jealous.
Bobby explains himself very well. He’s smart and very credible. Bobby is Maine native who is very accomplished and now wants to help Maine. That is a good thing. Whether you decide he’s your guy or not, stop attacking him. He’s a good guy. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment: don’t attack other republicans.
After listening for some time to what we considered a gross amount of hammering of Bobby Charles on the radio, I brought this Maine Wire article to the attention of my husband this morning. My husband, John Watkins, is a retired naval air commander. After graduating from Duke University ROTC he served honorably from 1970 to 1994. During active service he was assigned to the War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he served as a student and later as aide to the President of the War College. Later he went to the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. As well, he has taught at Duke, MIT and Brown Universities. The Duke and MIT assignments were part of his active duty. He generally knows what he is talking about. This was his response to me on the article:
2. Regarding the DD214. It is uncommon to carry it about on one’s person. It is
generally locked away someplace. John’s is somewhere in the house, but he
doesn’t know where it is. During active duty, John was told to guard it with a
great deal of security; however, he has never had to produce it.
Charles is a front runner in the Republican primary. It would be inappropriate if assumption brought him down. A wise Air Force Colonel once said that “ASSUME“ can make an ass out of you and me.
But was he wearing a reflective belt?
Defended himself well from this “non-issue.”
Truly, in fairness to Mr. Charles, my beef with him is not showing up with his uniform on Memorial Day. That’s legal under USC now for even non-retired veterans who “served during a time of war.” Now he’s not claiming to have served in war, because he most certainly did not, but his service period overlapped with GWOT, so there it is.
And I’d be a hypocrite; I wore my uniform to a Memorial Day function when I ran for state house. But I was also a drilling Guardsman at the time, not to mention I already had DD214s from active duty and served under two periods of eligibility for the National Defense Service Medal, as well as an actual campaign medal. But it’s legal, even if I think it’s in bad taste. I assiduously avoided talking anything politics, and didn’t do a social media post about it lest people think I was using the day. It’s solid advice I’d give Mr. Charles in future endeavors.
No, my central axe (and not the shiny, virgin one he uses in commercials) to grind is the claims about having trained the Iraqi police while at state. If he had just phrased it differently, i.e. “I contributed to the overall mission of training the Iraqi police,” I could abide. But I’m sorry, during my deployments, and during the deployment of my good friend, who literally wrote the book on the 80th Division, the Iraqi Assistance Group and all branches of the service did the mainstay of the work training the Iraqis. My unit was at JSS Nasr Wal Salam with the Iraqi police, and if I were Mr. Charles, I wouldn’t want to be claiming credit for that. Maybe they improved after I ended up leaving theater early for treatment, but my friends said notsomuch. Training security forces was a very significant distraction from the Army and Marine combat missions, but we had whole configurations centered on it that transcended his meager State Dept. program budget by orders of magnitude. The success of those programs coupled with the drain on our combat mission was, in fact, what prompted the creation of the Security Force Assistance Brigades within the Army. “I trained the Iraqi and Afghan police…” no, sir, you most certainly did not. Maybe you should get credit for trying, I suppose, but your response to legit criticism here is not inspiring.
I’m admittedly not particularly partisan. I like Janet. I definitely like Jonathan Bush, mostly because i work in healthcare IT, and I’ve worked with his stuff quite a bit. For me, Mr. Charles’ bluster and quickness to claim credit for work that’s either questionable or attributable to everyone else but him is a deal breaker.
I served 20 years on Active Duty in the US Navy. I am retired. I have a dress uniform and I wear it during parades and funerals. This is perfectly legal.
Seems like all is fair in love and politics. It’s easy to find a naysayer for any issue especially when it comes from competition.
At the beginning of this silly season, Bush is out just because of the name. Charles is a little too slick for my liking. However, would we prefer another 4 years of Mills like crazy. Jackson wants to give your vote to NYC. Bellows thinks she can tell you who you can vote for and willingly torpedoes citizen initiatives she don’t like. This is nothing but two nitpicking demoKKKrats trying to “swift boat” with anything that will stick to the wall. His uniform blah, blah, blah. How about responding to his ideas? Can’t do that now can you. You might let the cat out of the bag about how much more $$$ you want to and are willing to let be stolen from the working taxpayers the few that are left. Bobby Charles has my vote, and he is still a little too slick for my liking.
I was good friends with one of Bobby Charles’ commanding officers when Bobby served in the Navy. We could not exchange stories of their job responsibilities, however it did involve an intelligence unit and my friend, since deceased, was stationed as a Navy Captain at the Pentagon.
Where’s the scrambled eggs? LCDR, right? Navy Achievement, National Defense, something under that and another I”m not familiar with. Is that a Battle “E”?
I’ve been out in front on this guy, don’t let me down dude.
Not a lot of sea time (by the looks of the fruit salad) which doesn’t mean much. Being as though the Navy’s mission is far reaching.
Yet Platners DD214 from the USMC show 1 year duty in Europe and Afghanistan and 5 months Sea Duty. Army DD214 in unavailable,A year overseas duty sure doesn’t jib with his claims of 4 tours as a Jarhead and 1 as a grunt. No one questions that
Oppo ads are calling him “Bob Charles,” which completely changes the aura of “name identity.” And scrambled eggs, of the lesser variety, cuts in at O-5, not O-4.
At my Town pier the Town has posted a sign ask us NOT to feed the seagulls, But the State feeds the home less and illegals; Why?
Mr Caron, Frankly I find your comments disrespectful and disgusting. So you gigged his gigged his rack display. Big deal. That’s the crime of the century now isn’t it? A team member would assist his brother brother in arms not berate them and call them a liar over a misaligned rack? Your comments were much about you. A hero in your own mind. .
Remember your ABCs: Anyone But Charles. The man is a phony trying to deceive all Mainers now that his lobbyist firm is tanking. All the other republican candidates are way more qualified, authentic, and trustworthy. ABC!