Posted on 09/20/2004 5:27:26 AM PDT by DJ Taylor
Kudos. Sign a 180 Kenneth.
Heard this on Sean Hannity's show (rerun on Saturday) where Ollie North was blasting Dan Rather and calling Rather unAmerican. Ollie also stated that Rather washed out of the Marine Corps after 44 days....Dan couldn't hack it so he wimped out....Ollie North was burning up the wires...:)
Ollie was great. "Dan Rather is a LIAR..this is not political..this is personal!"
He was talking about Rather's "Wall Within" debunked report
Bravo!
One of the happiest looks I ever seen on my son's face was when we were walking down a street and another Marine of higher rank saluted back. Until that moment, he was just a recruit. Not even worthy of being alive. A mere worm. When he became a Marine he became one of them. Rather isn't a Marine.
Besides. There is no such thing as an Ex-Marine.
bump
As a long-time avocational student of military history (since age 10 or so), I can tell you that exact situation is far from uncommon. You see that again and again over the years , over the wars (see Band of Brothers for just one example), to the point that it is what Kerry did that seems uncommon.
Guess you don't understand media limosine liberals. Its the seriousness of the allegation that makes them require comment, not whether any facts exist to support the allegation.
So answer the question Mr. Rather, were you in fact cashiered out to the US Marine Corps for being a pansy bed wetter?
We have an inter-Marine Corps standing argument that all "Hollywood" Marines must wear their USMC boot-camp issued sunglasses FOREVER!
This is so we know who to ask about the next big hit movie!
(If you aint a Marine, you have no idea what I'm talking about, except for innuendo)
Parris Island Marines RULE!!! :-)~
Semper Fi
DJ Taylor - Welcome to Free Republic! I've certainly not heard this perspective in the past, and it's definitely an interesting one. It would certainly explain Gunga Dan's false bravado in the face of Rathergate -- every day it seems as if we pajama-wearing geeks have uncovered another skeleton in these RATs' closets.
You should definitely pass this along to Hannity, Rush, et al. If this sticks -- and it certainly could -- it would deal yet another huge blow to what few shreds of credibility Gunga Dan still clings to.
Great first post, and welcome again!
12 Weeks is minimum. Recruits can be recyled. If he was in for 4 months, he was likely recyled which is being put in another group that had an earlier start.
1. Discharge dates: a medical discharge can take some time in the military. I believe a medical hearing board has to review and recommend.
2. Why? Basic Training is physically and emotionally demanding. Everyone does not make it through (enlistee's anyway).
Then there is further training depending on your job speciality. Everyone does not make it through that either. When I was in technical training (a years worth) after Basic, you could only fail an exam once. After that, you were subject to being re-assigned 'at the Dept. Secy's pleasure.' During the Vietnam War, that could mean just about anything. And no, once they have invested some time and money in you, you don't just quit because you are dis-satisfied. I was required to sign a 6 year committment, of which 3 would be active duty.
Also, our tech school's ran 24/7 to pump out us through the system. Had my first difficult 8 week module midnight to 8am. Talk about sweating it out.
Having said all that, the Army went to great lengths to point out that you were basically a 'soldier' which meant that you could be pulled at any time to hump a rifle. Also while in Nam, our unit pulled guard duty on our compound, nearby patrols, and facility protection(destruction in the event of an over-run.) I also did things such as drive a 2 1/2 ton truck between various camps in-country.
I'd have to say that graduating in Oct. '92 was one of the biggest highlights of my life. Since then, I've earned two degrees and am now a Navy Chaplain. But there is no higher honor than being called "Marine."
ping
You are right about all of that. What you relate was all true up through the early 70s. STS (motivation platoon) was indeed hell on earth and those who were sent to it for one day by our DI came back with a truly renewed motivation to graduate, and their story had the desired effect on the rest of us. Dan spent 3 months there and I don't know about the 50s, but in 1969-70 three months was the duration of the training give or take a few administrative weeks. What was he doing all that time? The only thing I take issue with is the part about the "college boys". I enlisted in late 69 and quite a few of us were in that category, we enlisted for many reasons and were all highly motivated to become Marines. We ALL graduated, did quite well, I reached the rank of E-5 before going back to finish college, get an AF commission and complete my military career. Enlisting in the Corps was the best thing I did in my early years. Semper Fi.
How does CBS explain this?
A Democrat Party activist, Mental Patient, known Bush hater and Forger is an "Unimpeachable source" but a 250 multiple decorated Vietnam Veterans of all political persuasions are "partisan liars" - althouugh they don't address the charges or disprove a single one.
No Bias there, move on.
Yep. THAT was another "out" that was available. As soon as I started reading this post I thought to myself, "wait a minute...there was at least one another way."
Another tipoff: ALL of the college-educated platoon mates in his training serial failed to get through basic? 10 out of 10? Not likely, statistically or otherwise.
The Marine DI's may not have liked college-boys at that time, but the Marine Corps has always been full of a-typical people. I don't think that the Marines trashed an entire category of recruits in any era, just for the heck of it.
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