ShareThisBy DAN BROWNING
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Retired senior military officers have rallied behind an effort to block a high-level award for an outgoing Minnesota Air National Guard general, citing an investigation that substantiated several findings of misconduct.
The National Guard Bureau in Virginia notified Minnesota last week that it would not approve a Legion of Merit award for Brig. Gen. Terry Heggemeier, but gave no reason for the decision.
Heggemeier is scheduled to retire on Nov. 20, closing a career that began in 1970 and included 129 combat missions over Vietnam as a weapons officer.
In recognition of his service, Adjutant Gen. Larry Shellito nominated Heggemeier for the award, the military's highest non-combat honor.
That nomination came despite an investigation by the Air Force inspector general's office, which substantiated allegations that Heggemeier had:
_ Wrongfully gained access to the e-mail and personal folders of members of the 133rd Airlift Wing in Minneapolis.
_ Made unauthorized flights as a crew member between November 2002 and July 2003.
_ Flown as a crew member in 2003 without maintaining his required qualifications and without an instructor's supervision. In addition, he wrongfully received unauthorized flight pay.
The complete report has not been released, but the Star Tribune obtained copies of the portion of findings sent to David Stegmaier, a retired Air Force Reserve colonel who lodged some of the allegations.
Heggemeier declined to comment, as did Shellito. In a prepared statement, Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard, said the Legion of Merit recommendation was based on the contributions Heggemeier has made "to our state and this nation over the totality of his career."
The opposition to Heggemeier, who oversees the Minnesota Air National Guard, highlights continuing polarization within the upper ranks of the state guard. Those divisions date back to at least 2002, when Heggemeier's wife accused Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti of sexually harassing women. Andreotti retired months later, and an Air Force investigation substantiated a single allegation of conduct unbecoming an officer.
Through a spokesman, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who controls the Minnesota National Guard, declined to comment on the dispute.
Retired Brig. Gen. Mark Ness, who preceded Heggemeier as chief of staff of the Minnesota Air National Guard, said last week that he had received numerous calls and e-mails complaining about the Legion of Merit nomination, especially in light of the inspector general's findings, which he said are circulating widely among current and former Guard members.
Ness, a Northwest Airlines pilot, said the flight violations are quite serious, especially for a former wing commander like Heggemeier. "If I went out to Northwest and flew an airplane unqualified, you know, if my qualification expired, I'd be in jail," he said. "But then to willingly get paid for it when he's not in a flying position, that's even more serious. I don't know of a military organization in the country that would stand for an individual to do that."
Ness said it's difficult for military folks to air their "dirty laundry."
