This guy?
Posted on 01/21/2019 6:13:32 AM PST by TigerClaws
I have seen two references as to the age of (Native American) Nathan Phillips, the professional protester who has once again stumbled into the limelight of racial politics. He was allegedly harassed by college students in 2015.
Several new stories say he is 64 years old and I have seen a 2000 article from an Omaha newspaper saying that he was 45 years old. So let’s say he is 64.
Most stories about Nathan refer to him as a Viet Nam vet. Several refer to him as a Marine. I am 66 years old and know personally, of no one my age who went to Viet Nam. Several friends joined the various services right after graduation – 1972.
Here is one of the hundreds of articles about the protester confronting the boys from Covington Catholic High School. The Journal Star has apparently not seen the video of Phillips confronting the students (below).
I checked some sources about the last combat troops in Viet Nam. Here is one a person has put his name to. It has details.
Steven,
Thanks for taking the time to ask this!
The question asked when the last US ground combat troops left Vietnam. We gave the correct answer, ie 1972. The last American combat unit was a task force from the 3d Bn, 21st Inf Regt and battery B, 3d Bn, 82d Field Artillery Regt which had been stationed in Danang (I commanded battery C, 3d Bn, 82d FA and B btry was our ‘sister’ battalion). These were the last US ground combat units in Vietnam, and I was there when they left in August of 1972. As a matter of fact, when my unit disbanded in June 1972, we sent B Btry about 15 of our guys who stayed with B Btry until it left in August. Of note: these C btry guys took along a US flag that had flown over my firebase and put it up over the B Btry firebase where it flew until the task force departed in Aug 72. Therefore, the last American flag to fly over a US firebase in Vietnam was mine.
Some American troops (no combat troops) were still in Vietnam until they left in 1973.
Thanks again for the question.
Jerry Morelock Armchair General Senior Historian
Being a Viet Nam era guy who had a draft number pulled, I began to notice guys much younger than me claim to be Viet Nam vets. Some would have had to be 15 or 16.
At 64 years old now, Nathan Phillips would have possibly been 17 years old when the last US combat troops were leaving that country. He should point that out to a reporter.
Nathan Phillips likes to talk about politics and race. How about some journalist finally asks him about his service in Marine Corps duty in Viet Nam?
Stolen valor?
Heap big trouble for him if true.
Thanks for your Math work. As a Vietnam Vet., I resent anybody trying to falsely claim that status including that creepy Senator from Connecticut. I hope someone asks this guy to produce a DD Form 214 or some other proof of his Vietnam service.
I’m 64 (65 in 2 days) and I’m a Viet Nam era vet. I was in the Army, but I wasn’t in Viet Nam. I joined in 73 and it was officially over in 75.
There was technically still a draft. Nobody, however, was getting drafted and had not for some time. I remember registering for selective service, remember having a low lottery number, but I wasn't concerned about being conscripted and neither were my parents concerned.
I suppose somebody born in 1955 could have volunteered for the service and gotten sent to Vietnam. I don't imagine there are very many examples of that though. Vietnam era veterans perhaps.
Now see? Here is the problem right here:
“...How about some journalist...”
You would have better luck saying “how about we ride to interview him on a unicorn?”
With the exception, MAYBE, of Sharryl Atkisson there are no journalists any longer.
Just hacks, playing a never-changing agenda.
He needs to produce his DD214.
I think he could have been 16 if parents approved.
Vietnam Era Vet. is a whole lot different than being a Vietnam Vet (Having served there).
If he is 64 he is
I’m 65, my draft number was 243, my good buddy had a 4. Neither of us served or got close to Vietnam.
This guy?
to young
What a POS this worm is. Totally detest blumenthal.
Bingo !
Anybody can request his DD-214 through a FOIA filed with the office that keeps records on military personnel. Don’t recall the name of the office, but its in St. Louis.
I am not a veteran, but it seems to me that “Vietnam vet” is the most loosely applied military term in the media. I expect Afghanistan/Iraq vet to end up the same — every old liberal running his mouth is a Vietnam vet and every other illegal immigrant pending deportation is an Iraq vet...According to the media, Basically anyone who was in the military in any capacity approximately during and slightly after the US was involved in Vietnam is give the title. Not to take away from the service of anyone, training is dangerous, accidents happen, etc, but to my mind a “Vietnam veteran” would be someone who was deployed to Vietnam or SE Asia either in combat or in support of the mission in Vietnam. I could be wrong. Briefly had a coworker who described himself as a Vietnam vet but was deployed to the DR, never to Vietnam.
You are right, I am a Vietnam era vet, but never served in Vietnam. My tour of duty was Korea.
Animal Mother to Nathan Phillips: “seen any combat?”
Phillips: “seen a little on... TEEVEE!”
With the end of active U.S. ground participation in Vietnam, December 1972 saw the last men conscripted, who were born in 1952[71] and who reported for duty in June 1973. On February 2, 1972, a drawing was held to determine draft priority numbers for men born in 1953, but in early 1973 it was announced by Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird that no further draft orders would be issued.[72][73] In March 1973, 1974, and 1975, the Selective Service assigned draft priority numbers for all men born in 1954, 1955, and 1956, in case the draft was extended, but it never was.[74] Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger, believed to be the last drafted enlisted ranked soldier still on active duty, retired in 2011.[75][76] Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ralph E. Rigby, the last Vietnam War-era drafted soldier of Warrant Officer rank, retired from the army on November 10, 2014 after a 42-year career.[77]
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