Medal recipients’ Social Security numbers accidentally posted online
Medal recipients’ Social Security numbers accidentally posted online
The Social Security numbers of Army recipients of the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross were inadvertently posted online by a Pentagon contractor and were available to the public until they were discovered by a Vietnam veteran who researches military medal awards.
The Social Security numbers of 31 winners of the military’s top two awards for valor in combat were posted by a contractor conducting medals research for the Pentagon. The information was removed Friday after the Pentagon learned of the breach through the efforts of Doug Sterner of Alexandria, Va., a Bronze Star winner who has spent 14 years researching medals.
The 31 Social Security numbers were posted on a link that contains details of the 518 recipients awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star since Sept. 11, 2001.
“I was stunned — I’m very upset this information got out there,” said Sterner, 62.
Sterner said Google searches of several medal winners’ names led him to the link, where the Social Security numbers were included along with names, ranks, units and brief narratives of battlefield heroics in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Erik Muendel, chief executive officer of Brightline Interactive, an Alexandria, Va., company that has compiled information on medal recipients for the Pentagon, said he didn’t know how the Social Security numbers ended up online. He said the company was supposed to receive only unclassified information.
“We are investigating exactly how it occurred,” Muendel said. “We’re getting a lot of heat over this.”
He declined further comment.
Thousands pray
for U.S. at ‘America
for Jesus’ rally
PHILADELPHIA — Thousands of conservative Christians gathered Saturday on Independence Mall in Philadelphia to pray for the future of the United States in the weeks before the presidential election.
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and Family Research Council president Tony Perkins topped a full day of speakers at “The America for Jesus 2012” prayer rally.
Robertson, a former Republican candidate for president, called the election important, but didn’t mention either major political party or candidate by name.
“I don’t care what the ACLU says or any atheists say. This nation belongs to Jesus, and we’re here today to reclaim his sovereignty,” said Robertson, 82, who founded the Christian Coalition and Christian Broadcasting Network, and ran for president in 1988.
Organizers plan another prayer rally Oct. 20 in Washington, D.C., two weeks before President Barack Obama faces Republican Mitt Romney in the presidential election.
China expels Bo Xilai from its top legislature
BEIJING — China has expelled disgraced politician Bo Xilai from the country’s top legislature, paving the way for criminal proceedings against him.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the Standing Committee of Chongqing’s Municipal People’s Congress has decided to remove Bo from his post as deputy to the 11th National People’s Congress.
Delegates to that body have immunity from arrest and prosecution.
Bo’s removal is largely a formality after he was ousted from the Communist Party on Friday, accused of crimes including taking bribes and abusing his power.
Bo’s fall from grace has been spectacular. He had been a prime candidate for a top post in China’s leadership until a scandal broke involving his wife’s murder of a British businessman.
By wire sources