Posted on 09/15/2004 5:29:26 PM PDT by MindBender26
Dan Rather is trying to wrap up his career at CBS News by attacking the service record of a young Texan who enlisted in the Air Force Reserve. This Texan then completed the very difficult pilot training program and later flew the dangerous F-102 supersonic jet fighter.
But what of the military record of another Texan, now a very controversial news anchor-star who condemns our president at every turn.
Little is know, because DAN RATHER WON'T RELEASE THE RECORDS.
We know this. Dan Rather enlisted in the United States Marines on or about January 22, 1954. It was the height of the Korean War. Young Americans were dying in a far-off Asian country.
Rather would have undoubtedly reported to Parris Island, South Carolina or the Marine Corps Depot at San Diego, California for Marine Boot Camp.
We all know the first few weeks in the Marines are tough, but now we have learned that Rather couldn't cut it! He was discharged from the Marines on or about May 11, 1954!
According to Rather, it was because he had rheumatic fever as a boy and the Marines were too stressful for him. That may be true.
Of course, this is the man who later climbed the mountains of Afghanistan as "Gunda Dan" and wrestled with security guards at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He still works full days at age 71, and at last report, no one has seen suplemental oxygen on the set at CBS. Dan and his rheumatic fever also endured the heat and "conditions" of Vietnam (made much easier by an air conditioned luxury hotel room in Saigon every night.)
So what's the truth Dan? Where is your substantiation that it was a medical problem? Where are the records? Certainly you have them? If you don't, I'm sure the Navy/Marines have them and will be glad to release them as soon as you give them the green light.
With you calling for the release of President Bush’s records (and helping promote obvious forgeries of his official Air Force records,) what possible excuse could you have for not setting an example and releasing your own records?.
If you won’t tell us, Dan, that's Ok. Others will.
This is an open call to anyone who trained with Dan Rather back in 1954. Were you in Marine Boot Camp with Rather? Was he a good Marine trainee... or a slacker? Why was he discharged? Was it medical, or something much more ominous?
If you or someone you know was with Dan Rather in the Marines, please let us know by private FReepmail ASAP. We’ll get the names to the right people.
Actually, we won’t need those eye witnesses, because surely, Dan will give us the official records to back up his story.... won’t you Dan?
If Rather is a USMC washout, that will explain many things. It may also explain why a man who spent four months in the Marines, then perhaps cut and ran, has a special affinity for another man who served four months in combat, then cut and ran.....
Frankly Dan, I hope this possibility isn't true. I hope you were a good Marine trainee. But time…. and the records… will tell.
....And boy is that a blessing!
Everytime Rather does down a notch, GWB goes up! Realpolitic 101
You're right on the motivation being the question and the motivation is NOT on his service, per se.
The glass houses argument won't fly.
The motivation is "Get Bush" and it so happens this is where they think they can do it (though God only knows why).
Gunga Dan was in the Army Reserve during the Korean war. After that, he enlisted in the Marines, but didn't complete boot camp.
Rheumatic Fever should have been detected by the Army Reserve physical.
Some are missing the point here. GWB is up, in part, because Rather is seen as "unfair." The more unfair Rather is seen,. the more it helps the Prez.
Out here, in the Golden State, we refer to a man like that as a "Girly-Man". Even if he is a Texan.
>The motivation is "Get Bush" and it so happens this is where they think they can do it (though God only knows why).
.... and the more we can show that those attacking GWB have no moral or military standing, the worse they look, and the better GWB does.
I hate Dan Rather as much as anyone and I hate to pee in your Post Toasties, but 1954 was AFTER the Korean War. Eisenhower got us out (of the shooting war) in July, 1953. One of your premises is incorrect.
Maybe its time to look at politics in the context of everything else. Nothing and no one is off the table. Rather has made himself the issue more than once,he is fair game.
FAHRENHEIT C/BS
This one is personal for me. My dad was Navy Recon in Korea. If Dan Rather is a sort-of Marine, that would just be the icing on the cake.
Many skirmishes still going on in '54. Brother caught a CHICOM round in Fall, '54. (He's Ok)
Also, boot training would have been tough; conducted by USMC Korean War vets.
What we have to do is expose what they have done: Presented what they knew to be forgeries and that they did it in collusion with the DNC.
>One of your premises is incorrect.
So is my BMI and height/weight ratio! :~)
Some are missing the point here. GWB is up, in part, because Rather is seen as "unfair." The more unfair Rather is seen,. the more it helps the Prez
"Maggot" or "Lady" will suffice. (Pleeze, Dan, don't cry.)
I am not missing the point.
"Stolen Valor" page 107.
Although the press often refers to Rather as an Ex-Marine, he did not finish Marine recruit training. He joined the Marines on Jan. 22 '54, but was discharged less than four months later, on May 11, for being medically unfit.
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