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Extra extra! Fox News host aka US Sec of Defense and/or War sues American hero for telling the truth. Before becoming a Fox talking head Pete Hegseth served in the Army Reserve and the National Guard. He never rose to a command position and his “track record falls short of military standards.” He is the least-experienced defense secretary in US history. Mark Kelly’s record of service to country is beyond exemplary. Citations during his lifetime of service include the Navy Pilot Astronaut Badge, earned by fewer than 200 service members. The NASA Distinguished Service Medal, “the highest award bestowed by NASA and one of the rarest awards in the federal government.” Since the medal was created in 1959, it has been awarded fewer than 400 times. He retired from the Navy as a Captain, or an O-6. That's one grade below the admiral ranks. Fewer than 6% of US Navy officers reach this grade. He was awarded the Navy Pilot Astronaut Badge. The Astronaut Badge is the rarest skills badge in all of the US military. Fewer than 200 service members have earned it. Then there’s just some of his medals. The Defense Superior Service Medal, the second-highest non-combat-related decoration awarded by the DoD. He has two of them. The Legion of Merit. This is awarded to senior military leaders who have served exceptionally in positions of extraordinary responsibility. Given to senior officers whose careers have been marked by consistence excellence. The Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the military's highest awards for aerial service, given to those who “have distinguished themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.” Most military pilots will never receive one. Senator Kelly earned two. The Air Medal, awarded for single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement in flight. Senator Kelly earned four of them: two for individual actions, two as part of a strike/flight. That’s what the “V” device on his medal means: valor in combat. All of them were earned in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm. Senator Kelly flew 39 combat missions. He was also awarded the Navy Commendation Medal (w/ “V” for valor) for another combat mission during Desert Storm. Senator Kelly was such an incredible aviator that he was assigned as an instructor at the US Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland for two years, where he earned his second Navy Commendation Medal. In 1996 he was accepted into the NASA Astronaut Corps, where he spent the rest of his career as a shuttle pilot and commander. He earned four NASA Space Flight Medals for his four separate missions into space, and earned the more prestigious NASA Exceptional Service Medal for the consistency of his excellence while there. But the most impressive honor he earned is the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award bestowed by NASA and one of the rarest awards in the federal government. Fewer than 400 have been earned since its inception in 1959. So this is the guy that the national embarrassment that is Pete Hegseth has the audacity to call seditious and traitorous. Has the nerve to try and have demoted, humiliated, for telling troops they don’t have to obey illegal orders. That it is their duty under our Constitution to refuse to do so. All this as we read that when the US military attacked a small boat apparently coming from Venezuela on September 2, 2025, the first such attack of what now number at least 35, it used a secret aircraft that had been disguised to look like a civilian plane. This is a war crime. Instead of trying to besmirch a true American hero, Pete Hegseth should do the honorable thing and resign. Or better yet be sent to The Hague. He is a stain on our military and an abomination to our country. When you voted to confirm him why did you expect anything better?