A father of a Washington Democrat running for the House of Representatives has accused his son of lying about his service as a nuclear submarine officer and says the politician actually has “contempt” for the military.
Former Marine Brett Shavers, 55, of Kirkland, has accused his former Navy seaman and Washington State House hopeful son Clyde Shavers, 33, of Oak Harbor, about lying about being a submarine officer.
“Clyde was never a submarine officer, not even for a day,” Brett wrote in a scathing letter to his son’s opponent. “Prior to Clyde’s announcement that he was running for office, he had asked me how he could explain his failure in submarine officer pipeline training.
“I have stressed to Clyde that he needs to be honest and just say that he has gone through the many weeks of training. But campaign materials show that Clyde instead chose to claim he was a submarine officer.”
In an archived version of Clyde’s website, he claimed to have served “more than eight years” as a “nuclear submarine officer and public affairs officer with tours in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”
His website has since changed and reads: “Hey [was] drafted into the nuclear submarine community and later moved to public affairs officer in 2015.
‘After Nuclear Power School and NPTU Prototype, his deployments have included US Naval Forces Central Command/US 5th Fleet in the Middle East and Destroyer Squadron 7 in Southeast Asia.’
Former Marine Brett Shavers, 55, of Kirkland, has accused his former Navy seaman and Washington State House hopeful son Clyde Shavers, 33, of Oak Harbor (center) of lying about being a submarine officer to be. Clyde is running as a national representative for LD10
Clyde (pictured) served in the US Navy for eight years. He claimed earlier in his campaign to have been a nuclear submarine officer, but naval records obtained by do not show he completed all the training for the title
The politician graduated from the Navy Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina in 2013 and a Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, New York – near Albany – in 2014. However, to become a submarine officer, Sailors would need to complete the Basic Submarine Officer Course in Groton, Connecticut, but his records do not show that he ever took the course (pictured: official Navy records)
Clyde’s Navy records, obtained by , show the politician graduated from Navy Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina in 2013 and a Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, New York — near Albany — in 2014 .
Upon completion of the two courses, students qualify as a technical officer of the watch.
However, to become a submarine officer, sailors would have to complete the Basic Submarine Officer Course, a 12-week course in Groton, Connecticut.
Clyde’s naval records do not indicate that he ever spent time in Connecticut and therefore would not have been able to complete the submarine officer course.
“Clyde has nothing but contempt for the military,” Brett wrote Sunday in a letter to Greg Gilday, his son’s opponent. “I’ve seen Clyde’s use of veteran status heavily used as a seal of affirmation of honor and integrity, even when he or his campaign consistently uses the phrase ‘son of a Marine’ for credibility.
“I can’t think of any words that would come close to overemphasizing Clyde’s negative view of the military, his contempt for soldiers and his dislike of wearing the uniform. This is from conversations I had with my son when trying to convey to him the honor and privilege of being able to wear such a uniform fell flat on his ears.
The Marine, who served four years, also claimed his son “never wanted to go into the military” and that Clyde allegedly “expressed outright hostility toward the military and the people in it.”
“I appreciate his service, of course, but not the abuse,” Brett wrote. “This is the most difficult letter I have ever had to write because it is about my son, my wife’s son and my daughter’s brother. We have nothing if we don’t have integrity. We have nothing if we have no honor.
In an archived version of his campaign website, he said he had served as a “nuclear submarine officer and public affairs officer” (above). It has since been updated and reads: “He [was] convened into the nuclear submarine community and later transitioned in 2015 as Public Affairs Officer’ (below)
“We have only the truth to guide us. As parents to Clyde, it is our duty to teach him the importance of these values, even when we personally risk being attacked, defamed or discredited. Our love for our children does not falter, but neither does our values.
Clyde has since responded publicly to his father’s letter on his official Facebook page, writing: “My father is writing [of] A politically motivated and inaccurate letter was one of the most painful experiences of my life.’
He also told the Herald Net that he does not “disdain” the military and is “very honored” to be inducted into the US Naval Academy [to] Serve my country.”
“I have stayed in the military beyond my service requirements because of my dedication to the country and the brothers and sisters who have served by my side,” he told the outlet.
The House hopeful also claimed his father’s “far-right leanings” led him to Washington DC on Jan. 6. Brett confirmed to the Herald Net that he traveled to DC but was not involved in the rioting.
has reached out to Clyde and Brett for comment.
Brett wrote a letter to Greg Gilday, his son’s opponent, claiming his son had lied and that Clyde also had “contempt” for the military. The Marine, who served four years, also claimed his son “never wanted to go into the military” and that Clyde allegedly “expressed outright hostility toward the military and the people in it.”
![Clyde denied these allegations and said he was honored to be inducted into the US Naval Academy [to] Serve my country.” He said, “I have stayed in the military beyond my service requirements because of my dedication to the country and to the brothers and sisters who have served by my side.”](https://www.spamchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1667503523_337_Father-of-Houses-nominee-for-WA-State-Democrat-says-son.jpg "Father of House's nominee for WA State Democrat says son LIES about his military history 11")
Clyde denied these allegations and said he was honored to be inducted into the US Naval Academy [to] Serve my country.” He said, “I have stayed in the military beyond my service requirements because of my dedication to the country and to the brothers and sisters who have served by my side.”
Clyde also told the Herald Net that he “never said” he was assigned to a submarine, only that he “was assigned to be a nuclear submarine officer.”
He also told the outlet that he decided to pursue a different path in the military after completing his second nuclear power training course and serving six years as a public affairs officer.
Brett also claimed his son’s only connection to his county was the “current bed and breakfast” where he is reportedly staying, but Clyde has denied these allegations.
“I moved to Oak Harbor in April 2021 to live in a veterans’ community home in Washington after returning from service in the Middle East and continuing my law school,” he told the Herald Net.
Clyde graduated from Yale University with a law degree but failed the bar exam.
The Herald Ne has withdrawn its support from Clyde and is now supporting Gilday.
He also slammed his opponent online for using the letter against him and produced an unofficial record (pictured) of his service to prove he was in the military