In Doctor Ben Carson's new book, Gifted Hands, he claims he was offered a "full scholarship" and admission to the West Point military academy by General Westmoreland in 1969, but Carson wasn't admitted and he never even met Westmoreland.
Politico obtained records from West Point and the Army which show Carson couldn't have met the general because the general wasn't even in the same city on the night in question.
“More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt” – his high school ROTC director – “introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point.”
But, according to records of Westmoreland’s schedule that were provided by the U.S. Army, the general did not visit Detroit around Memorial Day in 1969 or have dinner with Carson. In fact, the general’s records suggest he was in Washington that day and played tennis at 6:45 p.m.
Carson could have said he misinterpreted the words or gestures of the general's "impressive entourage," but he didn't even meet the general. Carson attended a banquet in Detroit while the general was playing tennis in Washington D.C. The entire story is a fabrication.
The Carson campaign has confirmed that Carson was never accepted to West Point but it doesn't appear that his campaign has admitted that he never met General Westmoreland.
Carson's campaign says the doctor was "invited to meet General Westmoreland" but he "can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”
There is an easy explanation for why Carson "can't remember with specificity" the brief conversation he had with Westmoreland. He can't remember it because it never happened.
Carosn's book, Gifted Hands, is also the source of his claim that he once tried to stab a family member. This is the book he suspended his campaign for two weeks last month to promote.
The lies and lunacy keep coming.
Update... Carson's campaign now says Politico's story is an "outright lie." The fact remains he never met Westmoreland.
Here's video of Carson saying he was given a "full scholarship."
I was offered a full scholarship to West Point, got to meet General Westmoreland, go to Congressional Medal of Honor dinners. But decided really my pathway would be medicine.
He was never offered a scholarship and he didn't meet the general.