Useful Fools: Bush Haters Slander My Dead Comrades

Useful Fools web site ^ | January 27, 2004 | John Moore

[FreedomPoster]

Every time a Bush hater attacks his military service record, they are slandering my dead comrades, people who died in military aviation serving their country. They are slandering me, my brother and my friends, and slandering the men and women currently in the National Guard and Reserves. There is always the implication that somehow Bush’s service was "the easy way out". WRONG! The easy way out was to avoid service, as most of my current friends did, rather than piloting a flying coffin, the F-102! And most people of my generation did avoid service, which was also not dishonorable. Bush could have totally avoided military service also had he desired.

They say that Bush "took the easy way out" by "using his connections" to fly in the Texas Air National Guard. My childhood best friend, John Robert Kelley also took this "easy way out." They had his memorial service in Albuquerque in July 1972 after he died in a training accident, flying a fighter jet in the New Mexico Air National Guard (the "Tacos"). Yep, that was the easy way out! John loved life. He was a fun guy, always with a prank or two, athletic and very intelligent. The last time I saw him, he was scheming how to get me a ride in his jet. Oh, and John didn't use any connections to get into the ANG, because it wasn't necessary. Every time I hear Bush slandered, I sadly remember this loss, and wonder at the lack of respect for the military so common on the left.

I took a similar route. I joined the Naval Air Reserve in 1966 (2 year active duty commitment, just like a draftee, and 3 year active reserve requirement) I was going to join the army, but the allure of airplanes changed my mind (to the relief of my parents). I didn't need any connections either. My friend Joe and I just drove to the Naval Air Station, walked in to the recruiting office, and enlisted!

When you join the military, you roll the dice. What you end up doing, whether you end up in danger, whether you end up in discomfort, or whether you end up in some paradise is largely a matter of luck. Of course, during the Vietnam years, the odds were decent that you would end up over there. The only thing joining the Naval Air Reserve guaranteed was that you would be involved with Naval Aviation, and that in normal times, you would have two years of active duty, but you could be instantly called up over a period of six years. National Guard folks had no more guarantee that we did.

Joe ended up in the Tonkin Gulf, fueling aircraft on the dangerous and hot deck of an aircraft carrier. He got double hazardous duty pay. He is a Vietnam Veteran. I ended up flying in a P-3 Orion. The P-3 is a combat aircraft, with lots of sensors and lots of weapons. Its primary mission is submarine hunting and surface surveillance, although it was used in the Afghan war (35 years after my time) as combat air support for the SEALs. It was used in Vietnam (Operation Market Time) for surface interdiction.

With a little luck, and my already existing electronics skills, I was able to land a job as an aircrew member – radio operator and on-board technician. I only got regular hazardous duty pay, so I guess I too took the easy way out. I am a Vietnam Veteran. By the way, flying jobs were all voluntary in those days (except perhaps in the Army).

But the message the Democrats are sending is that Joe and I and John took "the easy way out."

Tell that to the families of my squadron mates who were killed in training crashes.

Tell that to the survivors of the person to first take me up in a P-3, a fine petty officer with a wife and several kids.

Tell that to the Air National Guard members and Naval Air Reservists who were sent to fight in Vietnam.

Tell that to the Guard and Reserve members during the cold war who were on 24 hour call to defend their country anywhere in the world.

Tell that to the National Guard and Reserve folks in Iraq.

Tell that to me (Naval Air Reserve) or my brother (National Guard).

Tell that to John Kelley’s family!

Of course, we also hear the Bush “went AWOL” or, to hear Michael Moore put it, was a “deserter.” These are slanderous lies, as anyone who has been in the military and knows the rules understands. If Bush had gone AWOL, he would have been prosecuted. He clearly wasn’t a deserter. Check here for all the evidence you need! Bush served honorably, flew more hours than was required, and was a good pilot according to his commander.

They say Bush didn’t serve his entire “required time” and that makes him somehow AWOL or a deserter. I didn’t serve my full 3 years of Reserve duty either, because I wasn’t required to and there weren’t any P-3’s around where I lived (I now regret this, btw). I simply asked to be let off early because I had 2 jobs and was going to college, they had me fill out a form, and that was it.

Part of the slander against Bush is that not all records exist for a period of his service. Once again, my experience parallels his. I ordered my military records recently, and there is NO evidence that I ever served in my second reserve squadron. When I joined the squadron, they couldn’t find my records, and I never, ever got paid for service in that unit. I guess I'm AWOL too!

Finally, many who criticize Bush hold up John Kerry as a contrast. See here for information about Kerry's immediate post-war activities.

[FreedomPoster]

Since the Bostom Globe article today again raises the issue of Bush's military service.

[FreedomPoster]

Ping, since you were on the thread at Useful Fools.

[FreedomPoster]

Ping, for a strong rebuttal statement regarding Dubya's military service. Might be useful for one of your compilations.

[Howlin]

Thanks.

And here's the link to the Kerry remarks!

http://www.tinyvital.com/BlogArchives/000392.html

[Howlin]

From the VA blog link:

I am constantly amazed by the individuals who run their mouths on web sites and know not of what they speak. A case in point is those of you who constantly state that Bush is cutting the VA Budget for Veterans. Your source? John Kerry! Please let me share with you the facts.

1990 Census: 27,619,205 Veterans still alive.
2000 Census: 26,549,704 Veterans still alive.

A reduction of 1,069,501 live veterans

Veterans Administration Budget Under George Bush: (Source-US Office of Management & Budget)

2000: 47,087,000
2001: 45,050,000* *Budget submitted by W Clinton
2002: 50,880,000
2003: 56,946,000
2004: 61,889,000

Therefore will John Kerry please quit lying on the campaign trail about President Bush cutting the VA budget. Thank you.

Keith Stanton
USAF & Vietnam Veteran

[OldFriend]

Heard McAuliff make an interesting comment on CNN just as Judy Woofwoof was cutting him off. McA.....so he made up the time, that's not allowed.

Looks like a bit of revisionist backing and filling by the scum.

[OldFriend]

Thanks Howlin, this information needs to be bumped to the top every day. This lie is constant on CSPIN and from the demon candidates.

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks for posting those numbers. I've seen quite a few freepers mention the 'cuts'.

FreedomPoster, thanks for posting this story.

[js1138]

When you join the military, you roll the dice. What you end up doing, whether you end up in danger, whether you end up in discomfort, or whether you end up in some paradise is largely a matter of luck. Of course, during the Vietnam years, the odds were decent that you would end up over there.

Yes it is a roll of the dice, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers like myself wound up "over there" but never saw combat.

[jayef]

Who says it's not allowed? How would that punk know?

[FreedomPoster]

Ping.

[OldFriend]

McA$$hole (apologies in advance) knows nothing but it is clear that he is now in a backhanded way acknowledging that the President did indeed fulfill his military obligations. Six years of flying fighter jets.....and the dems compare that to draft dodging, going to Canada, going to jail.....

[FreedomPoster]

This article is a "pre-buttal" to today's article in the Boston Globe:

Bush's Guard service: What the record shows
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1072047/posts

Serious barf alert on that one. Michael Moore is quoted in the first line.

[Howlin]

From this WashPost Article:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A19002-2003Aug4&notFound=true

Va. Plans Major Health Care Changes
Restructuring of Facilities to Cost $4.6 Billion Over 20 Years


The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a plan yesterday to close seven VA hospitals, open others and retarget services in a major restructuring of its health care system.



The plan includes major mission changes at 13 facilities, Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Karen Fedele said.

The VA wants to close hospitals in Canandaigua, N.Y.; Pittsburgh (Highland Drive); Lexington, Ky. (Leestown); Brecksville, Ohio; Gulfport, Miss.; Livermore, Calif.; and Waco, Tex.

The VA also would open new hospitals in Las Vegas and Orlando; add centers for the blind in Biloxi, Miss., and Long Beach, Calif.; and place new spinal cord injury centers in Denver, Minneapolis, Syracuse or Albany, N.Y., and Little Rock.

The proposals are part of a VA restructuring begun in June 2002, to shift the agency's focus to outpatient care, place services where they are needed most, and save money by eliminating underused and outdated services and facilities.

"This is probably the most comprehensive assessment of VA infrastructure since World War II," said VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi.

[jwalsh07]

Nice post Howlin. It would be nice to accompany it with the pay increses that president Bush has passed for active duty soldiers and then tattoo it on Kerry's ample forehead.

[Howlin]

Can you find that for me? Anybody will tell you I am the WORST researcher on the internet, but I'd like to get it all together in one thread!

[Indy Pendance]

I posted a link to this thread on the the Globe thread.

[Howlin]

Here's the way "they" do it:

Although the title of this article in the Washington Post was


Va. Plans Major Health Care Changes


when I search Google, what came up was

Bush Plans to Close VA Hospitals During Wartime

From this web site:

VETERANS FOR PEACE
Veterans Working Together for Peace & Justice Through Non-violence. Wage Peace!

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Bush_plans_to_close_080603.htm

[Indy Pendance]

I suppose we can start with this....

Bush Pledges More Money for Military Pay, Housing, Healthcare

[Howlin]

Thanks.

And let's ask for some expert help!

Ragtime, do you have any links to increases from Bush for the military?