[Tress]

This seems to be the re-edited apology that SOCNET is going to accept and endorse though everyone there does not seem happy with it:

STATEMENT FROM DAVID OH

I apologize to the public for any confusion or misimpression I created which suggests that I served as a Special Forces qualified Green Beret or Special Forces Officer. I did not serve in such a capacity.

I proudly and honorably served the Nation as a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to a National Guard Special Forces unit during a time where the organizational headgear was the green beret, I was not Special Forces qualified. I was a Special Forces candidate throughout my service, including my active duty service at Ft. Bragg during Operation Desert Storm. My temporary coding as an 18A Special Forces Officer was for manpower purposes within the unit's NQP (Non-Qualified Personnel) company for Special Forces candidates and not for qualified A-Team members. While this may not seem important to people unfamiliar with the military, it is an extremely important distinction that I failed to make clear.

I am aware of the distinctions within the terms “Special Forces” and “Green Beret” but I did not properly maintain them over the years. My carelessness and lack of attention to detail was to my benefit and misleading to the public. It was disrespectful of those "Green Berets", Soldiers who are Special Forces qualified. These elite Soldiers serve, or have served, on a Special Forces A-Team or another capacity within the Special Operations Community. These are men I admire and respect, greatly. I have benefited from their camaraderie and failed to return the respect they deserve.

I sincerely apologize to the "Green Berets", the Special Forces Community, the US military, Veterans, and the voters of Philadelphia. I will return any contributions made to my campaign under the misimpression that I was "Special Forces", a "Green Beret" or a "Special Forces Officer". Though I served in the 20th Special Forces Group, I was none of these things. I release any organization which endorsed me under the same misimpression. I am running two full page ads to reach out to the public. I am reordering campaign literature and destroying existing ones that are unclear. I will review my websites, videos and other information sources to ensure that they are not misleading to the public.

I would not want to win this election with a cloud that I gained votes or money through deceit or vagueness.

I am proud of my honorable military service to my country. I ask for your forgiveness. I will try to be more attentive, respectful and clear in all my actions in the future.

Respectfully,

David Oh