Bush flew the F102 Delta Dagger, shown here on the right, in this "Century Series" photograph taken in 1957.
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Posted on 09/07/2004 1:14:12 PM PDT by 68skylark
"Only in an election year ruled by fiction could a sissy who used Daddy's connections to escape Vietnam turn an actual war hero into a girlie-man," writes Frank Rich in the "Arts" (!) section of the New York Times.
So Frank Rich thinks George W. Bush is a sissy because he flew fighter jets in his youth. And what did Frank Rich do when he was younger? Why, he was a theater critic!
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Bush flew the F102 Delta Dagger, shown here on the right, in this "Century Series" photograph taken in 1957.
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Yeah, I think I remember that pretty well. We lost several aircraft around that time.
Our military has always been adaptable, all through history. I guess we modified our tactics since then.
A most interesting pic. Was there any further info to go with it? Must have been a pretty solid structure...
What an incredibly powerful picture.
How do these people walk around given the size of their balls?
"A staggering amount of people still didn't know that John was a Vietnam veteran--it was extraordinary," McKean said. "We felt like John's story wasn't breaking through, and it was a critical part of who he was and a critical part of the campaign."
Part of the problem was the candidate. Kerry rarely opened up about Vietnam, leaving the glory for his crewmates to share. But he concentrated on overcoming his own Brahmin-bred modesty, advisers said, talking more than ever about how he had "bled for his country" and killed Viet Cong.
Lt. George W. Bush's Instructor Pilot Speaks Out
Published: 10-31-00 Author: Frank Baillie
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39ff11284381.htm
excerpt:
The F-102 claimed the lives of many pilots, including a number stationed at Ellington during Bush's tenure. Of the 875 F-102A production models that entered service, 259 were lost in accidents that killed 70 Air Force and ANG pilots.
~snip~
Bush and the National Guard: Case Closed
excerpt:
All that flying involved quite a bit of work. "Being a pilot is more than just a monthly appearance," says Bob Harmon, a former Guard pilot who was a member of Bush's group in 1971 and 1972. "You cannot maintain your currency by doing just one drill a month. He was flying once or twice a week during that time, from May of 1971 until May of 1972." While the work was certainly not as dangerous as fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, it wasn't exactly safe, either. Harmon remembers a half-dozen Texas Air National Guard fliers who died in accidents over the years, in cluding one during the time Bush was flying. "This was not an endeavor without risk," Harmon notes.
~snip~
Bush's drills with the Alabama Guard confirmed
excerpt:
"We crashed a couple of guys while George was down there," said Mr. Campenni, who now runs an engineering consulting business in Herndon. "In those days, we were using obsolete airplanes in the Guard. That was hazardous work. We were losing people."
~snip~
FR is the place to come for info!
Yeah, here are two links:
10th Mtn. Div. Shows its Mettle In Operation Mountain Resolve -- "Defend America" article.
Is Frank Rich one of those people who trashed Mel Gibson and the Passion of the Christ?
I don't even want to think about the concentration and skill level it takes to safely park the ass end of a 30 year old Chinook on top of rickety Afghani mud condo at altitude, between trees, and possibly under fire. Unreal!
http://www.seanet.com/~johnco/bush102.htm
I'm 58 years old and living on my wrist on a POW braclet is LCDR Dominic "Spike" Spinelli, lost in North Vietnam on 30 Sep 68, a few days after I was comissioned. I have worn this hunk of metal to remember every day that free men (pilots too) gave their lives for me and all Americans. Tommy says it all for every person who has ever donned a uniform and been called a "brute." Than God for all the Tommys!
I agree 100%. Our Guard and Reserves are the best cowardly draft-dodgers in the whole world!
BTTT
Easier this way Click ----->http://www.seanet.com/~johnco/bush102.htm
As a former Navy Reservists with several HONORABLE Discharges, I resent Frank Rich's comment too.
Rich was a theatre critic??? How dangerous is that, my what a great patriot he is (fascitious statement)...Not that there's anything wrong with that (as Seinfeld's gang says). Rich must belong to the Pink coalition.
I may be wrong, but wasn't he the first American ace of the Viet Nam war, and also one of the first instructors at "Top Gun?"
Mark
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