Rush Limbaugh & Vietnam

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[OldCorps]

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh a while ago and some liberal fool came on and said that Sen. John Kerry had "gravitas" (gag me, I'm so tired of that overused word) because he signed up for service with ___ Pershing and the guy who founded FEDEX. How does that give Sen. Kerry gravitas? It seems to me this vignette shows he (Sen. Kerry) is just a spoiled rich boy.

Then the liberal came up and mentioned Rush's being a draft dodger.

[Bluntpoint]

Ok. Lets lance and pack open terrorism.

[KansasConservative1]

Let me get this straight... Rush Limbaugh suffered from a Bill Clinton and that got him out of the war? Oh, O.k. I was just curious

[Chemnitz]

Please do not question Gore's service in Nam. Have you ever had a paper cut? They really hurt. I hate to think what a paper cut in Nam would have been like, with all the tropical molds and diseases around. It's not funny.

[Bluntpoint]

Hey Clinton, puss drainging from open sore is referred to as Purulent draninge not "pussy" drainage. Now back to your bimbos.

[NCLaw441]

I suspect the view illustrated by your table is an accurate liberal view. NOW would probably agree, too, except that, under "your" analysis, NO WOMEN have a valid opinion.
Way to illustrate the absurdity......

[wtc911]

You are correct. We all knew guys from town who didn't come back or who came back with crippling injuries. There was a world of difference between 1968 and 1970. The draw down was in full swing and the Government had already turned its back. Let's not even get into the stories of good men killed because the draftee next to him was high.

The real moral dilema faced by those whose number was called was this....get killed in a war that our "leaders" had decided not to fight or run to Canada (over 90,000 ran). The problem with those who ran is that there was a quota. If you ran they just took someone else, someone who would have been safe. If you ran and the guy who went in your place died then you were responsible. I've always wanted to research the last guy drafted from Arkansas in the year that Bubba ducked. I wonder what sacrifice he made so Bubba could get high in UK.

[twyn1]

Wow -- that was you ? You did a great job ! -- made a good point and Rush's response was much more eloquent then what I paraphrased here. My brother-in-law (& very nervous family) sat and watched the lottery -- he was "lucky" too and was not called to serve -- he went to college and later went on to serve in the Air Force for almost 30 years, at times flying tankers over potentially hostile Artic territory during the "Cold War" -- is he a chickenhawk ??

I refuse to judge anyone's decision to go or not go -- people are different, some are eager to sign up and serve, some are not, but will go if called -- I have two son's 18 and 22 and I don't know how I would react if we had a "Gulf War II" draft. That said, the Vietnam "peacenicks" and "protesters" were total scum and make up a lot of the hypocrites who are screaming "chickenhawk" at Rush (and others) now.

[itsahoot]

How many soldiers were shot and patched up and sent back into action during vietman?

Most, but none of them would have been accepted in a draft with those wounds.

The other thing is Rush had a real weight problem, I don't know if that affected the outcome, but it could have been a factor.

Unless you post your own service history, then cut the ChickenHawk crap.

Oklahoma National Guard 1954-1956--Crew Chief m-19 Gun Carriage.

US Army 1957-1960--Nike Missle Base Libertyville Illinois

Army Reserves 1960-1963--Regular stuff weekends and summers

US Navy 1963 to 1965--Cook on AO 62--Three tours on Yankee Station.

9 years 11 months and 16 days and I quit because it was gettin very dangerious and I had a choice.

[OldCorps]

Here's what's wrong with this picture:

Observations on the photo from a former soldier:

1. Uhhhh, he's pointing the business end of his weapon at his head! Hmmm.

2. This guy is a REMF--Rear Echelon MF because he looks well fed. Compare this photo with one of the many photos of infantry soldiers out in the field. An infantry soldier on patrol will look lean and mean (and dirty-see below). This guy has a baby look.

3. No steel pot. Absolutely required for a combat patrol. That he is wearing a booney cap means this is a photo op or the soldier is in the USAF.

4. Look at the jungle fatigues. Clean and brand new. Probably just provided by his batman (an orderly for aristocrats in the British Army of olden days).

5. Look how clean his hands and face are. Must have just got out of the shower.

6. His gear is tossed on his rucksack. there are straps all over the place which should have been rolled and taped (so as not to get caught in vines). When did you ever see a soldier with a sleeping bag flopping out of his rucksack? surely an amateur. Even if a soldier were to carry a sleeping bag on patrol (not something I ever heard of) it would be in a waterproof bag at the bottom of his rucksack.

7. Look at the barrel of the M16. It still has the cap put on it in the armsroom to prevent dust in the barrel. Also no magazine, thus the weapon is not even loaded. Maybe the unit does not trust him with real bullets...kind of like Barney Fife.

8. Where is the LCE (load carrying equipment)? This is where he would normally carry a canteen, ammo pouches, hand grenades (probably don't trust him), flashlight and 1st aid pouch. That he isn't wearing one means only one thing:

REMF!

[Ender@Game.now]

Very funny **untpoint. Your humor is as sophisticated as your politics. Don't bother to respond, I only post once in a while when a truly ignorant fool makes comments like yours.

[Theyknow]

You're correct that he should come clean. The reason I'm sure he doesn't is because he wants to avoid being called a hypocrite by the left for his relentless criticism of Clinton for draft dodging. Like it or not each are guilty of manipulating the system. There are differences, but the bottom line is all the public will remember.

[YaYa123]

You said; "So in other words Rush is saying that people like Dick Cheney and Trent Lott and Phil Graham and Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich and Danny Hastert and maybe even Rush himself would have served if they had been forced to serve? Thanks, I feel so much better about it now."

Back then there was a draft. Almost everyone who served was drafted, or in your words, "forced" to serve. Fine Americans all. As were the many who didn't serve in the military during that time. My husband, who had two Viet Nam tours, doesn't understand the anger some people still feel toward those who weren't drafted/forced, or didn't volunteer.

[Bluntpoint]

Ah, dude, I already did post my duty record. And again, thanks for asking. See post 130. Have a great day!!!

Remember, a spleen is a terrible thing to vent!

[donozark]

Approx. 2/3 of those who served in-country were volunteers. Myself included.

[donozark]

I do not necessarily believe people "hid out" by joining NG/Reserve during the VN War. Over 100 NGs were KIA and almost SIX THOUSAND Reservists were likewise KIA. Peace Corps? Now THAT was a different story...Ask Chris Matthews.

[Bluntpoint]

And my politics are....? Have a good day **der@**me.**w

[donozark]

From USA TODAY, Jan.1993.

"1 out of 16 babyboomer males saw combat in Vietnam. For every babyboomer killed in combat in VN, 10 committed a felony to avoid the draft. Was that generation against war or against personal participation? 80 percent of them supported the Gulf War."

[wardaddy]

Yep McGovern flew 35 missions in South Central Europe from North Africa and Italy. He semi crash landed his B-24 on a small Brit controlled isle off Yugoslavia after a bombing run over Vienna. He earned a DFC.

But his valor aside, his politics are about the worst this nation has ever seen.

Military valor often contributes to political wisdom but not always.

[Bluntpoint]

Speaking for my brother, guard duty was his last chance of avoiding nam. His number hit the lottery. Nam frightened him. He was and still is honest about that. I don't fault him.

I think this entire thread is more about honesty than bravery or cowardice.