[Lee_Marvin]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?

[kevkrom]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?

I don't have links, but yes, he volunteered (while serving in TANG), but was turned down because they had enough volunteers that they were requiring a minimum number of flight hours that Bush had not yet logged.

[Michael.SF.]

I am not sure on Bush, but I did hear a rumor that Kerry served in Vietnam.

[Brilliant]

I think that Bush has denied that he volunteered to go to Nam. I'm not sure where the heck Barnes is coming from.

[Indy Pendance]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1200739/posts?page=28#28

Third paragraph in this post.

The mission of the 147th Fighter Group and its subordinate 111th FIS, Texas ANG, and the airplane it possessed, the F-102, was air defense. It was focused on defending the continental United States from Soviet nuclear bombers. The F-102 could not drop bombs and would have been useless in Vietnam. A pilot program using ANG volunteer pilots in F-102s (called Palace Alert) was scrapped quickly after the airplane proved to be unsuitable to the war effort. Ironically, Lt. Bush did inquire about this program but was advised by an ANG supervisor (Maj. Maurice Udell, retired) that he did not have the desired experience (500 hours) at the time and that the program was winding down and not accepting more volunteers.

Also check here

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=bush+volunteer+vietnam&btnG=Search

[tanknetter]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?

The program Bush asked to join was called "Palace Alert". It was designed to take ANG pilots and put them out on operational TDYs. Mostly in SE Asia, including Vietnam.

Guys from Bush's unit went, as did other F-102 pilots (the F-102 did see combat in Vietnam, mostly in the intercept role but also conducting some limited air-to-group missions). Bush was turned down because he didn't have the minimum number of flight hours.

[Fee]

There was a program that allowed Air NG pilots to volunteer for Vietnam. A group of names were placed on a list, and certain numbers were selected. GWB wanted to be placed on the list but was rejected because he did not have enough air time. By the time he qualified, the war was drawing down.

[CMAC51]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?

Bush flew the F102 which was an interceptor, not the type of plane normally flown in Viet Nam. At one point they did organize a squadron called the "Palace Guard" which would be used to experiment with a new use of aircraft in Viet Nam. Bush volunteered for the squadron but was turned down in favor of more experienced pilots. The use of the squadron was relatively unsuccessful and short lived.

This was really Bush's only opportunity to volunteer for Viet Nam without going through the process of qualifying on a different aircraft. It is important to remember that at the time we were involved in the "Cold War" and more military in that time frame served Cold War duties than served in Nam. The F102 was one of the most dangerous aircraft to fly at that time, combat or not, and was vital to our air defense against strategic bombers. Bush served his country in a vital capacity and should be commended for it.

[tiki]

I don't know if I should bother.

It was something that one of his ex-commanders said. He volunteered but the plane that he piloted was not being used in Vietnam.

[bert]

yes.... it was repeatedly written during the Rathergate scandal.

Recall if you will a disgraced Dan Rather resigned after his staff was fired for lying on CBS News about fradulent documents claimed to be real.

( Couldn't resist the paragraph above, needs to be said over and over.)

[Tribune7]

A friend of Bush say they inquired about participating in the Palace Alert program in which ANG pilots would serve in Vietnam but were turned down due to lack of experience.

Someone might want to tell Diane Reihm.

AFAIK, Bush never brought this up, but someone who had served with him.

[N8VTXNinWV]

This has been played out soooooo many times. Is this horse not glue yet?

[Jaxter]

"I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?"

Bang HERE!

If anybody has Fred Barnes' email address, feel free to send him this link.

[Admin Moderator]

Nice try.

"Lee_Marvin aka glossolalia, et al, banned.
Jim"

[JoeGar]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?

Bush flew the F-102, an interceptor for which there was little need in Vietnam. Two volunteers were needed from Bush's squadron to fly 102s from Ton Sun Nut in Saigon. He volunteered, along with others, but two more experience, more senior officers were chosen to go.

[Safetgiver]

He volunteered, but his plane was not of the type being used in combat over there. Training on another would not have been cost effective.

[Eva]

Bush did volunteer but didn't get to go because they were phasing out the jet that he was qualified to fly and didn't need any more pilots. Bush was assigned to stateside duty and more or less seemed to lose interest after that.

[WhiteGuy]

I've never heard that Bush had voluneered to go but was turned down. Any more info on this?


It's really irrelevant and tiresom.


Our president did not serve in viet nam, it needs to be dropped.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I heard it during RatherGate.