Al Gore in Viet Nam (Gun Safety---NOT!)

[RockChucker]

Non-sense. I was in the army and we did all kinds of stupid things with unloaded weapons.

Safety is out the window (until loaded).

and...

At least he showed up, which is 99% of the effort.

[Mad Dawgg]

"No soldier in the boonies would have a weapon with no magazine in it.

Does no magazine rule out a round in the chamber?

[muawiyah]

You are making my point ~ being there was 99% of the effort and no former prosecutor will ever change my mind on that.

Guess we can always rely on the MPs to come to the conclusion that guys with honorable discharges are scum. Never did like MPs anyway!

[antiRepublicrat]

Bodyguards?! Where did multiple MPs come from? These urban legends really start to grow, don't they?

The factual account is that Alan Leo, his photographer buddy in Vietnam, said he was asked by higher brass to look after Gore, and there is no reason not to believe him. Leo also doesn't believe that Gore ever knew of these arrangements. Leo also states that the term "bodyguard" was inaccurate, and showing up in pairs after the action was SOP. Mike O'Hara, another reporter with Gore, stated that Al Gore had the choice of staying at base where he would be safe, but Gore decided to take missions out to the field where he was exposed to possible danger and actual fire.

"[If he were sheltered] We all would have known it. If you're not pulling your weight, you're an outcast. [Gore] was one of the best-liked guys in the unit." -- Mike O'Hara

Gore's service was honorable and under dangerous conditions. This was far more than Bush who used his connections to get an unprecedented entry into the Guard several days before his student deferrment expired, only to fly F102s two years after their combat use in Vietnam had ended, and three months before all overseas F102 units were ordered shut down.

Not that I like Gore -- I can't stand a weasel who would sell his "yes" vote on the Gulf War resolution for more air time -- but the truth is the truth.

In retrospect, I retract the weasel statement since I kind of like weasels. Let's just say "slimy, spineless, self-interested political hack."

[Chu Gary]

Algore was a "reporter" and was a REMF. He was only in VN for four months before Senator Daddy got his silly ass out.

[RetiredArmy]

You got that right. That is what I was trying to tell the fool above. One guy questioned Algore having MP guards. I have read an account where his commander said he had MP guards. I did not make that up. I don't tell lies. The facts are there.

[MrJehovah]

Just because one is a photojournalist in the military does not make him a paper pushing little dolt. Al Gore, is of course, but there were plenty of other photojournalists in war who followed along side by side with infantrymen, getting their stories first-person.
Our first duty is to be a soldier, then a writer.
I just come back from Iraq, and while not even comparable to Vietnam, I was sent in the Marines 3rd MEF. I wasn't in a safe zone, wasn't in the rear with the gear, and did get shot at along with the rest of the boys while taking over An Nassareeyah.
My point is despite the fact photojournalists weren't labeled "bullet-sponge" on their MOS, they weren't hiding in the bushes watching their brethren die. They fought along side everyone else for the most part.