[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?

[Ecliptic]

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

[Grunthor]

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

[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.

[EasySt]

How does it go?

A veteran is anyone who at some point in their life wrote a check to the United States, redeemable for any amount, up to and including their life...

Or something to that effect...

[ASOC]

THen of course there is the strange case of “Gunny” French - an Alaskan of many strange claims.....

His bio includes this:
Private, United States Marine Corps Reserve Platoon Leaders Course, 1977-1978.

Where he attended a 6 week “summer camp” designed to try and get college kids to join up in ROTC.

As I understand things, he was “invited to leave”.

Is he a Vet?

[usmcobra]

I must be missing something because when I was in, every reservist had to serve 180 days straight between the time they joined and when they actually went on reserve status.

If some how you didn’t(UA/AWOL) then your enlistment contract was invalid.