Former National Guard pilot from Memphis doesn't remember Bush

AP ^ | 9/8/04

[ambrose]

Former National Guard pilot from Memphis doesn't remember Bush

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Bob Mintz says he was pleased to hear another young flier was joining his Air National Guard unit in Alabama in 1972.

The new pilot, a lieutenant from Texas, was supposed to have influential connections and might be a good guy to party with.

But Mintz said he never saw the lieutenant and did not realize until four years ago that he was George W. Bush, the future president of the United States.

Now the president's military record during the Vietnam War is under scrutiny, and Mintz is one of those raising questions about whether his obligations to the National Guard were met.

Mintz is featured in an advertisement unveiled today by a group called Texans for Truth that asks -- "Was George W. Bush A-WOL in Alabama?"

Mintz is now a retired lieutenant colonel and part of more than a dozen former members of the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group who say they never saw Bush.

Bush's spokesmen have said the president fulfilled all his Vietnam-era military obligations and served honorably.

The 63-year-old Mintz lives in Germantown, a suburb east of Memphis.

[TheBigB]

UNLESS YOU WERE IN BUSH'S OWN PLANE, YOUR OPINION DOESN'T COUNT!!

[kayak]

Excellent!

[Captain Peter Blood]

How many people remember everyone from any kind of military base they were on, especially 30 plus years later?
I was in Army ROTC in college and right now I could not tell you who was there or anything else except for what few people I may have hung out with.
Just because this guy doesn't remember Bush does not mean he wasn't there. After 30 plus years all of our memories can play tricks on us and are not as good as they were in our younger years.
I find all of this a very Cheap Shop especially Dan Rather and his Hit Piece tonight on 60 Minutes II.

[igoramus987]

He also said, to Jim Angle of FOXNEWS, that he hasn't made up his mind about whom he's voting for.

Kerry or Nader?

[PhiKapMom]

How dumb can AP be? Pres Bush wasn't a pilot in Alabama -- no planes available and Pres Bush was not transitioning to another plane. I don't imagine since he wasn't flying he hung out on the flight line!

Who owns AP?

[Dog Gone]

It's just ludicrous that a statement by someone that he doesn't remember someone from over 30 years ago, who he might never have even met in the first place is evidence of anything.

This tactic won't work with the Americian public, 99% of whom can't remember what they ate for breakfast yesterday, and aren't bothered by that.

[gg188]

http://www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=2834&onthefly=1

[OKSooner]

This is only gonna matter to people who have drunk the koolaid anyway.

[DoughtyOne]

If I had served, I'd probably remember those guy's names too.

[rllngrk33]

Gee, I wonder how many swift boat vets have heard of Kerry being in Vietnam don't remember seeing him there.

[FlipWilson]

I really don't care if Bush was there or not. Honestly, I am fatigued by this issue. I am actually happy the MSM have brought this up again. It clearly shows that they are in the bag for Kerry and cannot be trusted. It will just make victory in November that much sweeter.

This election is about more than just Bush v. Kerry. The MSM have lost their power and they don't like it. They are going to get it back no matter what it takes and by whatever means necessary. If only the MSM would realize that at this point the best they can hope for is a phyrric victory.

[Dog Gone]

That's a very good point. Bush either told me or told the press, I forget which, that he showed up for weekend BS classroom desk detail in Alabama which was totally useless and totally boring. He already knew that he was through being a pilot in the Guard since the plane was being phased out and the military had no need to train him in a new plane.

[GailA]

Heck I can't remember one person I went to HS with from 1962-1966.

[oyez]

Germantown is full of helpful idiots, some are ex military. I figure Mintz using his military training mainly to the a commercial license. There are a lot of FedEx jockeys of questionable background.

[PhiKapMom]

When pilots get desk duty, they don't go near the flight line or at least the ones I worked with didn't unless they were promoted out of flying status.

[lysie]

Donna Shalala spoke at a career day event at our local high school when she attended Syracuse University. I was a speaker, also. I don't remember her being there and for darn sure she doesn't remember me. The only reason I know it was her is because once day I was going through some papers my Mom saved. Her name was on the career day program.

[faithincowboys]

How much did they pay this SOB? I hope selling the Country out was worth it.

[lazysob]

I don't believe Kerry was even in Vietnam. I was there and I didn't see him. I work with a guy that was in Vietnam and he didn't see Kerry either. So, using dummycrat logic, Kerry was AWOL.

[tortoise]

I remember almost no one I served with and that wasn't even remotely 30 years ago. This doesn't mean that the guys that I served with were AWOL.

[catpuppy]

Gee, I wonder how many swift boat vets have heard of Kerry being in Vietnam don't remember seeing him there

That's because John Audey Murphy Sergeant York Forbes Kerry was in Cambodia on super secret missions known but to himself, the Joint Chiefs and God.