On October 21, 2024, I submitted a fact-based and well-reasoned Letter to the Editor to the Idaho Mountain Express. Not surprisingly, the paper never responded to me given its recent censorship of my submissions. It’s interesting to note that they used to publish all my letters and guest opinions but for reasons unbeknownst to me, that all changed a few years back.
One would have thought that the paper of record had an interest in reporting on local events, but that is obviously not the case.
~ Leslie Manookian
Idaho Mountain Express
Letter to the Editor Submission:
It should be obvious to all that a candidate for public office should have no qualms about releasing their un-redacted military record, excluding information that might be sensitive to national security, yet Morgan Ballis has not done so. A candidate with nothing to hide would volunteer this information.
According to the Navy and Marine Corp Medal Manual, a Good Conduct Medal is redacted when there has been problematic behavior. On Ballis’ DD 214, Ballis’ Good Conduct Medal contains a redaction, which suggests there was conduct that was subject to redaction.
Moreover, when testifying under oath, Ballis claimed to have 2 Navy Achievement medals and 3 good conduct awards, but if my reading of his DD 214 is correct, his record only shows one of each. Were Ballis to be elected sheriff, how would any county residents be confident that he would testify honestly when he has already demonstrated his willingness to do otherwise?
If Ballis won’t release his DD 214 what does that tell you?
If any of this information is incorrect, all Ballis has to do is to release his DD 214 and prove me wrong. I would be very happy to be wrong.
