Maybe he lacked that peculiar armour often endowed by wealth, birth or privilege that would help him survive a deception - or rather, almost certainly, a simple mistake - which was puny by the standards of the half-truths, omissions or downright lies that a politician can peddle his entire life without a blush.But Boorda was a uniquely American success story, an "Anyone-Can-Make- It" tale that epitomises that easily derided but potent "American Dream," which still makes Americans feel good about the society they have created.He was a man loved throughout the service, and nowhere more than among the ordinary seamen from whose ranks he sprang. "What are we going to tell them? he asked Rear-Admiral Kendall Pease, the Navy's chief spokesman, before answering his own question: "We'll just tell the truth."But then, abruptly, Admiral Boorda refused his regular lunch, rushed out of the building and drove himself to his home At about 2pm a shot was heard. A year ago, he discovered the error and stopped wearing them. At that point an insignificant tale might have ended - but for the National Security News Service and his own obsessive code of honour.NSNS, which provides the media with tips on the forces, had unearthed Admiral Boorda's transgression, and told Newsweek and ABC TV Newsweek asked to see the admiral to discuss the charges An appointment was made for 2.30.

The citations say that in 1965 he took part in a coastal shelling operation, and in 1973 helped "protect vital units and rescue downed airmen". The citations and decorations were in order, but the V-pins which for years the admiral wore upon them, denoting that he had put his life at risk in combat, apparently were not. Two hours later, he was pronounced dead at a Washington hospital of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The proud navy man had taken his own life with a single .38 bullet. It was aimed not into his mouth or at his temple, but through his chest, the very place where decorations and the two Vs had rested. Just before 12.30pm on Thursday, Admiral Boorda had learnt that the media was about to disclose that he had once improperly worn the V-pins on two decorations he had earned in Vietnam. The gesture was so swift, so devastating and, to non-military men at least, simply so unreasonable, that 36 hours later this city can still barely believe it.