A decorated soldier and the son of a World War II combat engineer, “Kip” Ward, 63, will lose one star and retire as a three-star lieutenant, but not before he repays $82,000. He will lose $1 million of his pension.
Military vehicles were used to take his wife on shopping trips.
The government footed the bill for his posh hotel stays.
He attended shows on Broadway. The tickets were courtesy of a “prohibited source” with defense contracts.
Taxpayers paid for his extracurricular activities during his 79 official trips to Africa, Europe and across the United States.
During a trip to Germany, he and his wife stayed in a $750 suite in Bermuda where they refueled the plane – paid for by the U.S. government.
The four-star chief started his career in Army infantry 41 years ago. He was based in Stuttgart, Germany and was bestowed the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit and the Army Commendation Medal, among others. –yvette caslin