Phil Hare Needs to Stop Calling Himself A Veteran

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 6-3-10 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare has drawn the ire of a veteran who wants the two-term Democrat from Illinois' 17th Congressional District to stop calling himself a veteran when he's not one.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) is back in the news two months after he was caught on VIDEO saying, "I don't care about the Constitution." This time, however, he's drawn the ire of a military veteran who wants the two-term congressman from Illinois' 17th Congressional District to stop calling himself a veteran.

In a letter to Blake Chisam, Ken Moffet informs the chief counsel and staff director of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of an incident during which he asked Congressman Hare if he was going to stop telling people that he was a veteran. The Moline, Ill., resident goes on to explain that Hare became enraged upon learning that, under the law, he doesn't qualify as a veteran.

Now, the world waits to see whether or not Congressman Hare continues to claim he is a veteran and, if he does, whether or not Chisam will recommend the House take any action against him for it.

[Doogle]

..another exposed rat

[OldPossum]

Nice, but you forget to give us the particulars as why the congressman is not considered a veteran.

[OldDeckHand]

It's an interesting, although perhaps controversial point of view. Hare (apparently) was a Reservist who completed his enlistment and was honorably discharged. But, he may never have served the requisite 180 days of continual active duty time. As such, he's probably not eligible for Veteran's benefits, although I'd have to check to see when the effective date of that particular statute is.

In any event, does that mean he can't call himself a veteran. I'm not sure.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Former reservists aren’t considered veterans?

[PeteB570]

I noticed the same thing. I was looking all over for just how he did or did not serve did but the story does not say.

[TankerKC]

I'm not sure.

I'd consider him a veteran. But who am I?

[ArrogantBustard]

I don't have all the facts, here ...

but in My Own Personal Definition of "Veteran", an honorable discharge is definitive. If you have one, you are one.

[Ecliptic]

If he did his 6 years in the reserves, he is a Veteran. Not an active Duty Veteran,but a Veteran.

[OldDeckHand]

"I'd consider him a veteran. But who am I? "

Yes, I believe I would too. Clearly, the privileged and the well-connected used those connections to get cushy reserve billets when they had high draft numbers. Be that as it may, there's nothing that kept the DOD from activating those troopers. As such, it's not really their fault they weren't activated. They certainly could have been.

In today's military, the Reserves and Guard components are so vital to the larger capabilities, it's almost impossible that every Reservist or Guardsman doesn't serve the requisite 180 days during any point in their 4-8 year contract. It's a bit of moot point, today.

[Grunthor]

According to the law? There’s a law? What is a veteran according to the law?

[Conan the Librarian]

DD 214 should do it.

I don’t have one, but, the Boss does.

[70th Division]

Yes he is a Veteran. I served in the reserves ‘68-'74. I am a Viet Nam veteran. The guy should get off the muscle and explain to the reporter “How it is” No Benni's but still served and a Veteran

[PhilCollins]

I was a navy reserve hospital corpsman, in a marine infantry battalion, in April 2004, and my unit was activated for 13 months. I was near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, Sept. 2004-Mar. ‘05. While I was there, I read that 24% of the active duty military had been deployed to the Middle East and that 27% of reserve and national guard members had been deployed to the Middle East.

[oldbill]

Moffet and McCarty are fools who don’t know what the hell they are talking about and are giving democrats ammunition to refute future LEGITIMATE cases of non-service among their members because of these false chaarges.

There is a difference between qualifying for VA benefits but it has nothing to do with “veteran” status. There are those with 20 year service collecting retired pay who don’t qualify for VA benefits.

[OldDeckHand]

"There are those with 20 year service collecting retired pay who don’t qualify for VA benefits."

VA medical benefits. All the rest of them, you get so long as you've served 180 days of continuous active duty time. The VA medical benefits can be much more tricky to acquire, primarily due to supply and demand.

[Bernard]

I did 6 years in the Air National Guard, but at the time you had to have 180 days of active duty service to be eligible for VA and education benefits. I don't know if that has changed in the 30 years plus since I was involved.

And I think I got a DD214 when I finished my 120 days of active duty, and a DD215 when I was separated from the IL ANG after 4 1/2 years, and another DD215 when I was separated from the MN ANG at the end of my total of 6 years.

So, if somebody asks, I tell them that I was in the Air Force and ANG, but I don't consider myself a vet, because of the distinction.

However, I do know the proper response to the command, "Attitude Check!", and I know how to use a John Wayne to open an old container of rations.

[OldDeckHand]

The caveat I should have added is that the 180 days must be served while on a federal activation, like the one Bush signed shortly after 9/11. State activations (and of course, I'm speaking about Guardsman), don't count towards VA Benefit eligibility. As such, since 1980, many Reservist and especially Guardsman are foreclosed from benefits if they didn't serve 24-months of active duty time. That was a relaxed a little with legislation passed a few years ago, and I think that 24-month requisite only applies to medical benefits.

Even still, the VA is so overburdened, people who serve years on active duty have difficulty securing care via the VA unless their condition is directly related to service injuries. It's a criminally uncovered problem with the VA.

[JRandomFreeper]

it's almost impossible that every Reservist or Guardsman doesn't serve the requisite 180 days during any point in their 4-8 year contract.

As a reservist after 2002, I served 3 different 179 day deployments. They were careful to keep it under the limit.

I had 4 years active as well, back in the '80s. So I'm covered.

A reservist that wore the uniform and has an honorable discharge, I consider a veteran, whether they did 180 days active or not. Whether they are eligible for benefits, is another story.

/johnny

[oldbill]

You need to study up on the law.

Guardsmen serve under two different status for federal duty in addition to state duty, Title 10 active duty and Title 32 active duty. It is an antiquared system in the law that results in some bizarre inequities.

For example, after 9-11, there were active duty and Air Guard pilots patrolling the skies over America. The active duty received full Title 10 credit for their service. The Guard guys doing the exact same mission were under Title 32 and did not get similar credit.

During the Vietnam War, there were actually Guardsmen serving in Vietnam, getting combat pay, who were still not credited for service that would qualify them for VA benefits or allow enrollment in the VA program.(One of them in my family, who has the Vietnam Service ribbon, but no VA benefits.)