The underlined, red section above is key.
This commander is ACKNOWLEDGING that Lt Bush is legitimately putting the physical OFF until Alabama.
The commander is ACKNOWLEDGING that there might NOT be flight status there for Lt Bush.
The commander ALLOWS a Lieutenant to tell him IF. (IF -- read that.) It is a contingency. And the COMMANDER accepts it.
I'd love to see this entire memo instead of these carefully crafted excerpts from it.
Exactly. When I first read the memo last night that jumped out at me. Killian does not say he told Bush he couldn't do that.
Once again, the media is misrepresenting the significance and meaning of the memo.
The title of the story says Bush "Refused a Direct Order" no commander would have taken that the way this is written.
The whole thing is a Big Steaming Pile of Media Spin.
May 19, 1972
Memo to File
Subject: Discussion with Bush; 1st Lt. Bush
1. Phone call from Bush. Discussed options of how Bush can get out of coming to drill from now through November. I told him he could do ET for three months or transfer. Says he wants to transfer to Alabama to any unit he can get in to. Says that he is working on another campaign for his dad.
2. Physical. We talked about him getting his flight physical situation fixed before his date. Says that he will do that in Alabama if he stays in a flight status. He has this campaign to do and other things that will follow and may not have the time. I advised him of our investment in him and his commitment. He's been working with staff to come up with options and identified a unit that may accept him. I told him I had to have written acceptance before he would be transferred, but I think he's talking to someone upstairs.
END OF MEMO