Bush met military obligation [Bush Was At Alabama Base, Says Ex-Guardsman ]

The Birmingham News ^ | 02/11/04 | MARY ORNDORFF and BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE

[GeronL]

Kerry cheating??

looks like Kerry got carried away with an intern

[lepton]

There is now a WITNESS.

As I recall there were at least two in 2000. Whether a third came forward was a bit ambiguous.

[mountaineer]

Facts About Reserve Are AWOL From Media Coverage

Former Naval Reserve officer says many journalists are making uninformed comments about military service.

By Gene J. Koprowski

(February 11, 2004) -- Even after the White House released some of President Bush's pay records from the early 1970s, portions of the record of his military service are apparently missing. This, some in the press have averred, is suspicious. Someone powerful must be covering up something nefarious here.

Well, as a former Naval Reserve officer, I have to smile. The reality is that the guard and reserves are very flexible when it comes to scheduling drills -- especially for commissioned officers with needed skills -- and that reserve soldiers and sailors routinely make up drill dates during a particular fiscal year.

If they cannot make up the drills, but have properly notified their commanding officers, in advance of their drill weekends, they simply finish the fiscal year without the minimum amount of points.

Does this mean that they were "AWOL," (absent without leave)? Far from it. Rather, it means that they will simply have a harder time accumulating the required total points to retire with a military pension as a reservist.

During my time in the reserves, I recall officers and enlisted personnel routinely missing weekend drills, and rescheduling them, either on their own time, or by stacking them together the next month as a four-day drill weekend, or even by adding them to their two-week annual training tour.

The other thing that anyone who has ever been in the reserves or guard will tell you is that the individual member is alone responsible for keeping his service record in order. Many reserve officers have been passed over for promotion during the years because the Pentagon lost papers attesting to their duty stations, or medals, or performance evaluations, known as fitness reports, or FITREPS.

The Navy Reserve's own Web site even advises those who are close to a promotion to send copies of their official records to the promotion board!

So, to make an issue out of the fact that some records in the president's service record are missing is to make an uninformed comment. It does not reflect the reality that the soldiers and sailors who serve every month face.

An issue has also been made that Mr. Bush was not given a rating because he was "not observed" during a particular drill period.

This is taking military language -- and mangling it. Not observed is a common recommendation on fitness reports for personnel, also known as NOB. It means simply that someone served less than a year in a particular unit, and, if someone serves a short stint, regulations do not require the commanding officer to issue a detailed report of the soldier or sailor's performance during that period. It does not mean that no one saw him or observed him on base.

Usually, it is the military that is mocked for making a mess of the English language. But it looks like the press is doing a pretty good job of it with this. That's just my observation. I'd have to say the true facts about life in the reserves, and some much-needed perspective, are what have been AWOL from many of the media's articles on this important story.

---

Gene J. Koprowski covers science and technology for UPI from Chicago and is and a former U.S. Naval Reserve officer.

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/columns/shoptalk_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2088668

[EdoTerglav]

One cannot be AWOL while a reserve or Guardsman in a drill status. One is meeting the required number of drills (one weekend per month and two weeks active duty training some time during the year) or he is not. If one is in an unsatisfactory drilling status, the commanding officer of the drilling reservist or Guardsman can notify the individual that he will be separated from the service after 12 unexcused drills. Once notified, the individual can make up the unexcused drills and return to a satisfactory drilling status. (Thanks to Major Michael C. Griffin USMCR, of Charlotte, N.C., for reminding me of this.)

From Mackubin Thomas Owens on NRO

[Free Vulcan]

I love the smell of blowback in the morning.

Smells like....victory.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

BTW, could you answer a question on this? When they say the current records show nine days, do they mean nine pay days? Were the drills nine days or nine periods--which could be longer?

My experience was dated to the 80's, and Navy, not Texas National Guard, but the procedures were probably identical. One "drill" was 4 hours (or half a day). So, in a typical "weekend drill", a reservist would get 4 drill credits. The records documented how many drills you did, i.e. 50 per year was the minium for a "good year", i.e. a year creditable towards retirement. You'd get 1 drill credit per actual day of active duty, so you'd also get 12 to 14 drills for your annual "Active Duty for Training". By the way, the "admin drills" some speak of were essentially non-pay "freebees". Every hour you were "on duty" for the Naval Reserve, you were supposed to record "drills", for legal liability and retirement purposes. At retirement, 1 drill=1 day, and 365 days = 1 year toward retirement. So, when actual "retirement" payments are calculated, a Reservists is paid on the same pay schedule, except it's prorated for actual "days" (i.e. Active Duty days + drill days) served. So, a guy with say, 8 years active duty, who then transfers over to the Reserve, and finishes 30 years, might actually end up with about 12 years of retirement pay (i.e. 8 years, plus an average of 60 drills per year, times 22 years, divided by 365).

Now that you're quite bored by this discussion, remember one thing: When the media talks about drills Bush did or didn't do, they are talking about retirement points, not legal service requirements! Missed drills can be excused. Drills can be rescheduled. Drills can be done off site. And, remember this: Add 1 weekend a month (4 drills) times 12, plus two weeks (12 days) active duty equals 60 drills, plus 15 more points gratis for just serving, makes the average points per reservist 75. Only 50 are required. So, Bush could have had "good years" at 50 points, missing a bunch of drills. Or, he might have done 3 weeks Active Duty for a school, or something else. All these details are a S-M-O-K-E --- S-C-R-E-E-N, to innoculate Kerry about the charges certain to come regarding his treasonous actions AFTER leaving the Navy. Every time a Democrat leader has a "morals" problem of some type, they attack an honorable Republican leader for doing something worse.

Get the pattern; this is not about Bush, this is about Kerry's own shame.

Again, few, very few military officers would write themselves up for a cut finger received while opening an ammo pouch during a fire fight, or for shrappnel picked out by the medic with tweasers. EVEN FEWER would complain "I got three owwwees, can I go home now..??", leaving their boat crew to face the VC with a far less experienced leader. I wouldn't have. NO officer I served with would have. I may have cowered with fear the whole time (River patrol duty was nearly the nastiest duty in the Navy during that war), but I couldn't have walked out on my guys. (Annidote: My reserve unit was re-called to active duty two months after I left for Desert Shield/Storm. I voluteered to return to my old position, but the C.O. thought my relief had enough time and experience to do the job. I'm not some "wierd" patriot. I had two small babies I couldn't bear to leave, but I had my crew to think of.)

Only true "whackos" would travel to Saigon as a Junior Officer to talk to the Theater Commander, OVER AND ABOVE HIS CHAIN OF COMMAND! Kerry had a geninely high estimation of himself. The only officers who jetted into the war zone, switch jobs from tedious ship board duty to a fun "beach job", and then rotated out of combat six months early, were the "perfumed princes" who were there to punch their ticket, and then go on to bigger and better (i.e. political) things. As a former Navy Officer, I resent Kerry, and everything he stood for. Kerry's a hero?? Well, so was the Oaklahome terrorist McVay, and Gen. Benedict Arnold too!

This whole garbage about Bush being AWOL is Michael Moores personal creation. What has Moore ever done that deserves the least bit of credibility? Compared to Bush, Moore belongs in the loony bin.

SFS

[Hon]

"This whole garbage about Bush being AWOL is Michael Moores personal creation."

Actually Moore is the one to bring up the "deserter" canard.

But the whole story is the creation of (a convicted libeler) by the name of Walter V. Robinson of the Boston Globe.

[Darlin']

"Joe LeFevers, a member of the 187th in 1972, said he remembers seeing Bush in unit offices and being told that Bush was in Montgomery to work on Blount's campaign. "I was going in the orderly room over there one day, and they said, `This is Lt. Bush,'" LeFevers said Tuesday. "They pointed him out to me ... the reason I remember it is because I associate him with Red Blount." Red Blount's son, Winton Blount III, said Bush was the campaign's deputy manager and spent a lot of time in Birmingham and north Alabama. "He was a very active part of that campaign," said Blount. "And as my aunt said, she hoped people would act as nice in other people's homes as he did."

Hon, thank you so much for all of your hard work on this story. You've been on top of it from the start. :)

In additon to fulfilling his Guard committment, young Lt Bush worked hard in the campaign and charmed the good folks in Alabama with his lovely manners. hehe. Ain't life suh-weet ?

[Lady In Blue]

Another witness ping!

[deport]

Thanks.... I heard today that John Kerry served in Vietnam and got some kind of a medal which he threw away.......

[Bellflower]

I have no idea if this is right but on a thread a while back someone said that if you do the math that Kerry was protesting the war while he was still in the service. Does anybody have any idea if there is anything at all to this?

[Defender2]

Thanks for posting this.

[blackie]

GWB Is The Man!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[finnman69]

Ex-Guardsman Says Bush Served in Ala.

Friday February 13, 2004 5:46 PM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3744759,00.html

By ALLEN G. BREED

Associated Press Writer


A retired Alabama Air National Guard officer said Friday that he remembers George W. Bush showing up for duty in Alabama in 1972, reading safety magazines and flight manuals in an office as he performed his weekend obligations.

``I saw him each drill period,'' retired Lt. Col. John ``Bill'' Calhoun said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from Daytona Beach, Fla., where he is preparing to watch this weekend's big NASCAR race.

``He was very aggressive about doing his duty there. He never complained about it. ... He was very dedicated to what he was doing in the Guard. He showed up on time and he left at the end of the day.''

Calhoun, whose name was supplied to the AP by a Republican close to Bush, is the first member of the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group to recall Bush distinctly at the Alabama base in the period of 1972-1973. He was the unit's flight safety officer.

The 69-year-old president of an Atlanta insulation company said Bush showed up for work at Dannelly Air National Guard Base for drills on at least six occasions. Bush and Calhoun had both been trained as fighter pilots, and Calhoun said the two would swap ``war stories'' and even eat lunch together on base.

Calhoun is named in 187th unit rosters obtained by the AP as serving under the deputy commander of operations plans. Bush was in Alabama on non-flying status.

``He sat in my office most of the time - he would read,'' Calhoun said. ``He had your training manuals from your aircraft he was flying. He'd study those some. He'd read safety magazines, which is a common thing for pilots.''

Democrats have asked for proof that Bush, then a 1st lieutenant with the Texas Air National Guard, turned up for duty in Alabama, where Bush had asked to be assigned while he worked on the U.S. Senate campaign of family friend Winton ``Red'' Blount.

Pay and medical records released by the White House this week failed to quash allegations that Bush shirked his Guard responsibilities.

The 187th's former commander, retired Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed, has said he doesn't remember Bush ever turning up on base, and more than a dozen members of the 800-person unit, including its commander, told The Associated Press this week they have no recollection of Bush. Critics have made much of the fact that the White House has failed to produce anyone who could remember seeing Bush there.

Calhoun said he contacted Texas GOP leaders with his story in 2000 when the issue was raised just before the November general election.

``I got on the phone and got information and called Austin, Texas, and talked to the Republican campaign. They said I was talking to the campaign manager,'' he said. ``I told him my story and said I would be glad to provide information to that effect. At that time they said ... The story is not true. And we don't think it's got enough weight to stay out as a story.' And they said, 'But if it does we'll call you back.' And I never heard from them again.''

Last week as the issue raged again, Calhoun sent an e-mail to the White House offering to tell his story. ``I got a response back, one of those automatic responses,'' he said. It wasn't until his wife contacted Georgia GOP officials that Calhoun's name surfaced.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Friday that the White House was not making any effort to try to locate people who might have served with Bush. He also accused reporters of trying to raise new lines of questioning, beyond whether Bush served in Alabama.

Critics have suggested that Bush used his family connections to get the safe Guard assignment ahead of thousands of others. But Calhoun said Bush never mentioned his congressman father while they sat together at Dannelly.

``I knew he was working in the senatorial campaign, and I asked him if he was going to be a politician,'' said Calhoun, who is a staunch Republican. ``And he said, `I don't know. Probably.'''

Calhoun has not made any donations to Bush this election season or during the 2000 season, according to campaign finance records.

[GretchenEE]

The welcome peal of a good news ping

[Alberta's Child]

. . . young Lt Bush worked hard in the campaign and charmed the good folks in Alabama with his lovely manners.

I know a few people who have had the opportunity to meet Bush personally at various times throughout his adult life, and though these people come from all points of the political spectrum, they all agree on one thing -- George W. Bush is one of the most easy-going, likeable people they've ever met.

[firewalk]

bttt

[gramho12]

Thanks for the positive ping - you are such a good girl! I am so sick and tired of not only the media trash but the wimpy Republicans. The only one to really jump down someone's throat was Colin Powell.

I have contributed to Bush-Cheney, but not to the Republican Senate. I sent a note back that when they find their balls I may contribute again.

[ohioWfan]

I tell you, Gretchen, this is going to come back to haunt the Dems.

They're so anxious to defeat the President that they've lost their collective minds..........

[ohioWfan]

Good idea, gramho. The Repubs in Congress are sitting on their hands here.

A letter from moi is forthcoming........