Donald Rumsfeld is a former Naval aviator. Did you know this?

site ^ | 2002?

[dennisw]

He is an alumnus of Princeton University and former Naval aviator who first went to Washington, DC, in 1957 to serve as administrative assistant to a congressman. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois in 1962 and was re-elected in 1964, 1966 and 1968. He resigned from Congress in 1969 to serve in the Nixon administration. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium, for a year before returning to Washington in 1974 to serve in the Ford administration. Under Ford, he was named the 13th secretary of defense, the youngest person to serve in that position in this country’s history.

[annyokie]

Deanie! Long time, no see, sweetie! Glad you're back!

You have mail.

[Carolinamom]

Rummy is a looker now. You should see pictures of him when he was younger. Drop dead gorgeous!

[Archdean]

Pale rested and Ready? I remember the Ready but the Pale and Rested thingy!! what's up with that?

[annyokie]

Pale: no yardwork, yet. Rested: Not around you! ;)

[Buffalo Head]

If someone is a carrier qualified Navy fighter pilot, that is all you need to know about them. Every last one of them has the right stuff. Period!

[Fractal Trader]

This is a bit off topic, but I have searched all over to find his religious affiliation. It is easy to find for almost all senior members of the administration, but his is specifically absent on all Google searches I have tried. The obvious guess would be Jewish, with a second possibility that he is Episcopalian.

What say you, Freepers?

[dennisw]

He's not Jewish. His people are from Germany.

[Fractal Trader]

That doesn't say anything. There are lots of German Jews in the United States having Germanic surnames.

[dennisw]

FINE! My bet is $500 that Donald Rumsfeld not Jewish. Are you ready to put $500 on the table?

[lawgirl]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fractal Trader]

No bets. As a German, the likely candidates would be Lutheran or Catholic (less likely). There is absolutely no indication through Google searches that he is either.

It is much more common for people of Jewish descent to hide their religous background. I would suggest that the odds are the Rumsfeld is Jewish.

[agincourt1415]

I just love watching Rummy BAR B QUE reporters in the morning, it smells like...... it smells like VICTORY.

[Taxman]

Just to set the record straight:

"Of course to be an IP you have pretty good nerves or you'd never let the students fly the plane."

True. It was one of the most rewarding avocations I have ever pursued. In multi-engine aircraft, the Aircraft Commander is always an IP; he is always teaching his co-pilot and the rest of the crew how best to utilize the weapon system (IOW, fly and fight the damn thing!).

I was an IP in the E-1B, the E-2A, the C1-A and the TS-2A FRom 1967 until 1975 in the Regular Navy, and an IP in the E-2B from 1977 until 1981 in the Naval Reserve. I was a Fleet Qualified Landing Signal Officer and Carrier IP, as well. Been there, done that.

"You most especially wouldn't let them land on a carrier with you on board."

A multi-engine IP rides "Shotgun" for the students, and we not only let them land on the carrier, we teach them how to do it!

When I went through Pensacola, initial carrier landings for both the prop and the jet students were solo hops. Now, that was fun!

BTW, carrier landings, IMHO, are the most fun any man will ever have with his clothes on!

I made the remark when President Bush was running for the office that "He is a Fighter Pilot. Anyone who has trained and been operational in F-102s (particularly Air Guard 102s!) has got his stuff together. This guy looks, acts and thinks like a fighter pilot, and his detractors are overlooking that."

We also should remember the old adage: "You can always tell a fighter pilot, but you cannot tell him much!" LOL!

Been proven right, have I?

And I am proud that the SECDEF is a retired Reserve "Brown Shoe" Captain. He has his stuff together, too!

I would, jsut to satisfy my curiosity,like to know the airplanes he flew, though.

[oyez]

BTW, carrier landings, IMHO, are the most fun any man will ever have with his clothes on!

Then you might know something about the pucker factor.

[zilberzee]

I read in a biography somewhere (I will try to find it) that he is Presbyterian and that he and Joyce were married at the Methodist Church in Chicago. His relatives who were interviewed when he was in Munich three weeks ago are plentiful in number, and have been in their village for generations -- that is definitely not a Jewish scenario. Virtually all of Germany's Jews were wiped out by the Nazis. Read my article 'Enigma Variations' about Rummy on JewishComment.com

[DensaMensa]

His roots are in northern Germany not far from the Danish border, and that's where his major relatives are located. Big article on this in American media a month or two ago.

[Taxman]

Ruined, just RUINED! any number of seat cushions!

[deport]

Another of Rumsfeld answers to a reporters question.......

Reporter: Mr. Secretary, is bin Laden alive or dead apparently, now? And if he is alive, is the United States winning the war on terrorism?

Rumsfeld: Charlie, the answer to the question, 'Is he alive or dead' - the answer is, 'Yes, he is alive or dead.'

[oyez]

Bolter, bolter bolter!

No fun to hear that in the back seat where you can't see what's going on.

[sfRummygirl]

You Naval aviators are so damned cute. See, we girls knew this about Rummy for months and months, while the rest of the public couldn't figure us out! Trust us Freeper girls. We know a good one when we see it.