Rep. Gordon did not serve in Gulf War

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Embattled state Rep. Daniel Gordon did not receive the Purple Heart or serve in the Middle East but did spend four years as a U.S. Marine, according to military records obtained Friday by the Target 12 Investigators.

The records show Gordon served in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 1987 to November 1991, specializing as an aircraft technician and achieving the rank of private first class. He receives a military pension of $123 a month, a VA spokeswoman confirmed.

Gordon was stationed at four U.S. bases in South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and California as a Marine. His only overseas service was six months at a Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan, according to the records. Gordon had told reporters he sustained shrapnel injuries outside Baghdad during the first Gulf War.

The Portsmouth lawmaker received two awards - a National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - but no Purple Heart for a combat injury. The Associated Press first reported the discrepancies earlier Friday.

The date of birth on Gordon's official legislative biography also appears to be incorrect. It says his birthday is May 12, 1969, but police and military records list it as April 12 of that year.

The biography also contains a minor error about Gordon's educational background. He took a digital course through San Diego State University in the fall of 2006, not 2005, university spokesman Greg Block told Target 12.

Gordon did not respond Friday to a direct question about his military service posed to him on Twitter, but he posted a photograph of a U.S. Navy training certificate from 1989 that shows he completed a Jungle Environmental Survival Training course at a Naval Air Station in the Philippines.

In a tweet, Gordon initially labeled the AP's initial report "yellow dog journalism." He later posted another message: "I'm tired. You win. You've beaten me & my family into submission. Write whatever you want."

Gordon has been in the headlines since state police arrested him last week. Target 12 revealed Monday he has faced criminal charges in Massachusetts 18 times since 1993 and been in and out of jail cells there since 1999. Gordon has dismissed calls for his resignation from Gov. Lincoln Chafee and a host of others.

Gordon attended one formal military school, the Marine Aviation Training Support Group on Whidbey Island in Washington, where he learned aircraft repair and took a one-week training course in flight-deck firefighting that is listed on his General Assembly biography, according to the records obtained by Target 12.

Gordon also completed five Marine Corps Institute correspondence courses, the records show. The courses are designed "to help broaden [Marines'] basic information about the Marine Corps and they factor into promotions for junior Marines," but are not formal training courses, a military spokesman said.

Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com and writes the Nesi's Notes blog. Follow him on Twitter: @tednesi

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim