Posted on 09/17/2004 12:56:21 PM PDT by Cableguy
The man cited in media reports as having allegedly pressured others in the Texas Air National Guard to help George W. Bush is speaking out, telling ABC News in an exclusive interview that he never sought special treatment for Bush.
Retired Col. Walter Staudt, who was brigadier general of Bush's unit in Texas, interviewed Bush for the Guard position and retired in March 1972. He was mentioned in one of the memos allegedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry Killian as having pressured Killian to assist Bush, though Bush supposedly was not meeting Guard standards.
"I never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to," Staudt told ABC News in his first interview since the documents were made public.
The memo stated that "Staudt is pushing to sugar coat" a review of Bush's performance.
Staudt said he decided to come forward because he saw erroneous reports on television. CBS News first reported on the memos, which have come under scrutiny by document experts who question whether they are authentic. Killian, the purported author of the documents, died in 1984.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Thanks for the answer. It looks at it from an NG perspective.
Bet this WMD discussion over the last few years has held your interest.
Rather's going to interview Elizabeth Edwards?
Staudt said he continues to support Bush now that he is president. "My politics now are that I'm an American, and that's about all I can tell you," he said. "And I'm going to vote for George Bush."
No offense, but I doubt Matt needs our help to alert him to info that ABC publishes on an open page.
I don't think the ever expected him to come forward because he had stated before that he wasn't going to get involved.
Surprise!!!
It works because the news reporter is so ignorant of the military as to not even get the mans rank right. The man is Brigadier General Staudt period.
"A Brigadier General is a one-star general (like Commodore is a one-star admiral). It is considered a temporary rank"
No that is incorrect in regards to a brigadier general. It is not a temporary rank. However, the Navy rank of Commodore is actually an honorary title not a true rank - usually it is a senior Navy Captain who is put in charge of a group of ships - his being one.
The navy has two levels of Rear Admiral (Upper and Lower half). A (lower half) Rear Admiral is a one star rank equivalent to Brigadier General in the Army, Air Force, and Marines.
bump
He was breveted to Brigadier General; his permanent rank was Colonel. Same thing happened to Patton after WW1--he dropped back down to Captain from Colonel.
How about calling them DNC-BS ?
Less, that happens frequently at the lower grades. But in the Guard, the more likely scenario is the one I described. If you don't retain the rank because you didn't meet the requirements for doing so, than you don't retain the right to be referred to by the higher rank. But many Guard Colonels are promoted to BG by the state before they retire. It just isn't federally recognized. But you will be addressed both ways just as this individual is. The feds will call him Colonel, and his friends and former Guardsmen will call him General.
Excellent post. Thank you. The RATS and Rather must hate this particular, fine retired TANG officer.
You're right. RADM (U) RADM (L)
Commodore isn't a rank, it's a title for an officer who commands several ships or squadrons, I think.
I can check with my cousin to be certain. When her husband ( A USN Captain) commanded a wing, he was referred to as "Commodore", because there were 6 or so squadrons under his command.
They will ignore it. He is a Bush supporter and Mapes is on record saying being such is being "biased" and deemed unworthy of journalistic consideration.
"Bet this WMD discussion over the last few years has held your interest."
It sure has. BTW - I used the WMD acronymn because it is in vogue with civilians. In the Army I would be called a NBC specialist (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical warfare). I never have liked the WMD term - I don't think it is properly descriptive. A MOAB can be a WMD.
I wished I was still serving - had to get out in 1993 because of health problems. With all those young guys deloying and me sitting safe at home - I feel ashamed.
LOL !
Commodore from Encyclopedia:
The military rank of commodore is used in some navies for officers who command more than one ship, but are not senior enough to be made admirals.
Commodores begin the star ranks: In many navies they are known as One Star officers. (Admirals rank upwards with more stars.) Commodore derives from the French commandeur, which was one of the highest ranks in orders of knights. Its use in the Dutch navy dates from the end of the 16th century and it was used for a variety of temporary positions until it was fixed as the lowest "flag officer" rank in 1955. The Dutch airforce has adopted the British spelling.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.