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?
I arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in June of 1971, I was 20 y.o. That would have made Phillips 16 at the time. I left Camp Alpha in Dec. 72 so Phillips would have been 17. Just barely old enough to be in the Marines, let alone Viet Nam.
Ypsilanti is only a medium sized town of less than 20,000.
There should be records available. Someone should be able to find when Phillips was born.
He probably has a drivers license.
An actual, verifiable birth date would be very useful. How about High school year books for 1970-73?
There are records out there.
A real birth date would be very helpful.
My brother in law was a Vietnam era vet. However, he never once saw the jungle. He had flat feet.
I hope you are right and they see the error of their ways and close this loophole. I was shocked at how easy it was for me to obtain the vet status on the license. I wish I could just answer the question for the CDL designation like that... (heh, heh).
About your DD-214, yes I keep my original (now days they have digital copies, unlike when we got them and you had the pink copy given to you), I’ve made numerous photocopies and keep one of them in my wallet. If you ever lose your DD-214, it’s not hard for you (or your spouse/kids) to obtain a copy from vetrecs.com
Very interesting take and good catch!
My oldest brother is 64 years old and I recall his was the last high school graduating class in the U.S. that had draft numbers drawn - he had a number, IOW.
But, shortly thereafter, it all ended and he never had to report.
Shouldn't that read: Ward Churchill playing with his organ
Never had a draft lottery number.
I turned 18 in July 1967. Went down to the local post office on my birthday, registered for the draft then went upstairs and enlisted in the Marines. Shipped for boot camp two weeks later. Boot camp was only eight weeks long then (having been shortened from 12 weeks). If I recall correctly, I received my draft notice in Training Week 5 or 6.
So I was more or less fated to serve.
That “someone” could be you, for all practical purposes. DD214 is public record, at least the “short” version. Request via FOIA, I suppose. Records branch, St. Louis, MO.
A copy is usually notarized and (should be) placed on file with the county recorder. It is indeed an important document. That way if the veteran loses his copy or it is destroyed, he or she doesn’t have to request one from the government. St. Louis has copies (microfilm probably, maybe digitized by now) but this can take a while.
Bingo.
“Mr. Phillips served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1972-76”
Chief Stolen Valor heap big liar.
There should be strong laws against this type of fraud. It's like someone claiming to be a Native American! What type of person would do that?
It’s possible he served in the same unit as Richard Blumenthal.
I mean, you never know.
I think he is abusing the “Vietname ERA vet” label.
I am an era vet. I joined in 1970, never went to Vietnam, but my paperwork from the VA calls me an era vet.
I am meticulous in pointing out what that means. I would consider myself a false valor thief to claim I was a Viet vet.
I am also an era vet of the Persian Gulf war, and I was on the ground in the Panama invasion and in the Persian Gulf tanker conflict in 1987-89 with Iran.
A lot of stolen valor idiots out themselves when they draw too much publicity, and then get closer examination.
From Wikipedia....
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]
I would advise anyone to take their DD 214s to their county seat and have their documents recorded. I have had to get certified copies a couple of times.
Good suggestion.
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