Posted on 09/11/2004 11:12:23 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Frank Jones says he's angry about newly revealed memos that indicate President Bush got preferential treatment in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam war, but he's not surprised by favoritism in the Guard.
Jones, a Republican from Troy, N.Y., served in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971 before doing 16 years in the Guard himself. As the presidential election nears, Jones says controversy over both candidates' military records and the mounting death toll in Iraq are important issues.
"I'm really in neither camp at this point," he said. "However, I do see a direct correlation to Vietnam. The body count is really starting to get to me."
Some current and retired members of the National Guard and other military services say the newly revealed Bush documents do not bother them, while others say they are troubling.
The documents, which became fodder for Democratic critics last week, indicate Bush was suspended from flying with his Texas Air National Guard unit because he missed a medical exam and that he missed six months of training. Questions have been raised about the documents' authenticity.
Lt. Col. Jim Driscoll, spokesman for the Georgia Army National Guard, said retired service members may comment on political issues such as the Bush documents, but most current reservists and active-duty service members will hesitate to voice their political opinions.
"It would be inappropriate," he said. "The president is our commander-in-chief and so we have to be very careful from an ethical perspective of how we express our political opinions."
Some who served in the National Guard say it is common practice to miss drills - even up to six months - because of job conflicts, family problems or illness.
Ralph Bradley, 56, a Republican from Albany who served three years in Vietnam in the Air Force and 17 years in the Georgia Army National Guard, said members are encouraged to make up drills so they don't lose pay or retirement benefits.
"There's all kinds of situations ... that cause a person to go out of state for a period of time," he said.
Army Reserve Sgt. Tim Wilding, 37, of Jefferson City, Mo., agreed.
Back home for two weeks of leave from Iraq, Wilding said he remains a staunch Bush supporter despite allegations Bush may have tried to get out of Guard drills for several months in 1972.
"A lot of guys don't serve for four or five months at a time," he said. "They've got other stuff going on. They'll make it up later on, or they just won't get paid. That's really no big deal to a lot of National Guard soldiers."
Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in Vietnam.
A group sponsoring television ads challenging his wartime record contends Kerry's own gunfire caused the wound that brought his first Purple Heart. Navy records and other veterans do not support the charge.
Ahmad Majied of Albany says the latest allegations about Bush's military record are more troubling to him than allegations about service honors leveled at Democratic challenger Kerry.
Majied, a Democrat from Albany who served 30 years in the Navy, including five years as a SEAL in Vietnam, said the memos support his belief that Bush was a "playboy" during his service years.
"He had enough money to get what he wanted," Majied said. "I think his main concern was not to go to Southeast Asia. I bet he never dreamed it would come back to haunt him."
Neal Eubanks of Leesburg, who served 39 years in the military - 23 in the Air Force and 16 in the Georgia Army National Guard - said the presidential candidates should move beyond their military records and focus on the issues, such as the economy and unemployment.
"You don't see Korean veterans or World War II veterans or Grenada veterans always talking about 'I served here and I served there,'" said Eubanks, 67, a Bush supporter.
---
Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga., David Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo., and Michael Gormley in Albany, N.Y., contributed to this report.
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - 7 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Tallahassee.com, FL - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Centre Daily Times, PA - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX - 8 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... The State, SC - 9 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos philly.com (subscription), PA - 9 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX - 11 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... The State, SC - 5 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos philly.com (subscription), PA - 12 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos San Jose Mercury News (subscription), CA - 4 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... philly.com (subscription), PA - 12 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Miami Herald (subscription), FL - 4 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos New York Newsday, NY - 13 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Austin American-Statesman (subscription), TX - 13 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US servicemen react to Bush Guard memos Times Picayune, LA - 13 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA - 14 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX - 15 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Kansas.com, KS - 15 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Monterey County Herald, CA - 16 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Kansas City Star (subscription), MO - 16 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Kentucky.com, KY - 16 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US servicemen react to Bush Guard memos Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - 12 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 16 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Bradenton Herald, FL - 16 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC - 12 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... San Jose Mercury News (subscription), CA - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Biloxi Sun Herald, MS - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Duluth News Tribune, MN - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Service members' reactions mixed over memos from Bush's Guard ... Miami Herald (subscription), FL - 18 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos ABC News, United States - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Worcester Telegram (subscription), MA - 17 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Bush’s Bounce Back MSNBC - 18 minutes ago ... Kerry, who has had his own service impugned by a group of swift boat veterans, has seen his four months in Vietnam become a net positive among independent, or ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Newsday, NY - 18 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Grand Forks Herald, ND - 21 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Wilmington Morning Star, NC - 21 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
US Servicemen React to Bush Guard Memos Wilmington Morning Star, NC - 22 minutes ago ... Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
No shame, is there?
Not that he needs it.
None.
The LIE is all they have.
What is that?!
Allegations of suspect conduct during the Vietnam war also have been leveled at John Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in ...
Sooner or later sKerry is going to have to sign the 180
bump
Hysterical, They got a Rino from NY and a guy named Ahmad to slam Bush. SO basically phony Republicans and guys who want Islam to win are peeved about Bush because of forgeries perpetrated by Kerry and CBS.
Who is the reporter behind this? He needs tro be canned!!!!
When will we see another Tom Hays byline do you think?
"He had enough money to get what he wanted," Majied said. "I think his main concern was not to go to Southeast Asia. I bet he never dreamed it would come back to haunt him."
Neal Eubanks of Leesburg, who served 39 years in the military - 23 in the Air Force and 16 in the Georgia Army National Guard - said the presidential candidates should move beyond their military records and focus on the issues, such as the economy and unemployment.
"You don't see Korean veterans or World War II veterans or Grenada veterans always talking about 'I served here and I served there,'" said Eubanks, 67, a Bush supporter. ***
___________________________________________
News the Dems need. Gosh, I wonder how many remarks were pro-Bush and left off the page.
Liberal democrat in sheep's clothing. Any real man who can say such BS is a left-wing liberal. Oldest trick in the Democats book.
Oh, it's the AP. DId they mention the forgery controversy. I only skimmed this hideous article. Given the great probability that these are false, the AP really shouldn't go running around asking people questions like they are real.
This is madness. And nobody even at the AP wanted to put their name on it.
This is an ongoing attempt to deceive the elecorate.
No SHAME!!
The LIBERAL media is going to roll this right over the truth.
More than the anti-ones they printed, I'd say.
This will get nastier.
By ELLIOTT MINOR
Associated Press Writer
Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga., David Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo., and Michael Gormley in Albany, N.Y., contributed to this report.
http://www.ap.org/
There, now it's more accurate.
[Ahmad Majied of Albany says the latest allegations about Bush's military record are more troubling to him than allegations about service honors leveled at Democratic challenger Kerry. ]
..................
Go figure.
We'll never know. I'd bet there wuz a bunch of 'em tho.....
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