It still fascinates me (much like watching a particularly gruesome train wreck fascinates me) that Bush supporters, even veterans, are more than willing to overlook the shortcomings of their own candidate’s service record in order to smear the record of the opposition. They would certainly never tolerate any similar questioning of their own records, and even a simple look at the comparative records of Kerry and Bush casts a glaring light upon the weakness of the alleged “military service” of the incumbent. They would be much less likely to question the propriety of the medals awarded veterans of Panama, or Grenada (where more personnel were issued commendations than actually were participating in the invasion itself), then the commendations awarded Senator Kerry.
Additionally, it seems to me that most of us are able to remember schoolmates, roommates, and even friends from many years ago, let alone fellow squad or squadron members, yet not one person can recall serving with George W., son of a U.S. Congressman, despite his protestations to the contrary. And while the fact that he or anyone else served with the ANG is nothing to be ashamed of, how he obtained his cushy, very desirable, and ultimately avoidant, job piloting obsolete jet fighters over the Caribbean through wealth, power, and connections despite his obviously substandard qualifications and how he conducted himself in that position serves as an object lesson on the type of man he is. And yet how disappointing it is that he and his similarly “service-minded” cronies (Cheyney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, etc) are so willing and eager to put young lives at risk today.
Perhaps it is because some cannot forgive Kerry’s subsequent opposition to the Vietnam War, a grossly unjust conflict that even the most hardened veterans would admit was mismanaged by the political masters of the time. Or perhaps they simply cannot see beyond the rhetoric and posturing of the self righteous and self proclaimed anti-terrorist and anti-WMD ideologue to truthfully consider the qualifications of a man who stated outright that he did not wish to serve his country overseas, who may or may not have even been present for his much reduced Air National Guard duties, who regularly and glibly serves up the half truths about his service record as easily as he does about the existence of WMD’s and the effectiveness of his tax cut programs to stimulate jobs and economic growth, and who has deliberately co-opted and abused his position of power to manipulate intelligence information and put American service personnel at risk.
So, which man do you want to lead this country for the next 4 years? Is this what we really want it to boil down to… medal counting and service records? Or is this just more smoke and mirrors about what is really at risk… the needs and wants of the People vs. the needs and wants of the privileged and powerful?
Brothers in Arms?
George W. Bush and John Kerry both spent their mid twenties in uniform. The similarities end there.
John Kerry
February 18, 1966:
A senior at Yale, Kerry commits to enlist in the Navy.
December, 1967:
Kerry is assigned as an Ensign to the guided-missile frigate USS Gridley. After five-months aboard, he returns to San Diego to undergo training to command a Swift boat, used by the Navy for patrols in Vietnam.
June, 1968:
Kerry is promoted to Lieutenant.
November 17, 1968:
Kerry arrives in Vietnam, where he is given command of Swift boat No. 44, operating in the Mekong Delta.
December 2, 1968:
Kerry gets his first taste of intense combat, and is wounded in the arm. He is awarded a Purple Heart.
January, 1969:
Kerry takes command of a new Swift boat, completing 18 missions over 48 days, almost all in the Mekong Delta area.
February 20, 1969:
Kerry is wounded again, taking shrapnel in the left thigh, after a gunboat battle. He is awarded a second Purple Heart.
February 28, 1969:
Kerry and his boat crew, coming under attack while patroling in the Mekong Delta, decide to counterattack. In the middle of the ensuing firefight, Kerry leaves his boat, pursues a Viet Cong fighter into a small hut, kills him, and retreives a rocket launcher. He is awarded a Silver Star.
March 13, 1969:
A mine detonates near Kerry's boat, wounding him in the right arm. He is awarded a third Purple Heart. He is also awarded a Bronze Star for pulling a crew member, who had fallen overboard, back on the boat amidst a firefight.
April, 1969:
According to Navy rules, sailors that have been wounded three times in combat are eligible to be transfered to the U.S. for noncombat duty. Kerry is transferred to desk duty in Brooklyn, NY.
January 3, 1970:
Kerry requests that he be discharged early from the Navy so that he can run for Congress in Massachusetts' Third District. The request is granted, and Kerry begins his first political campaign.
February 1970:
Kerry drops his bid for the Democratic nomination and supports Robert F. Drinan. Drinan, a staunch opponent of the war, wins the race and goes on to serve in Congress for ten years.
June 1970:
Kerry joins Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and becomes one of the group's unofficial spokespeople.
April 23, 1971:
Kerry helps to organize a huge anti-war protest outside Congress, earning a place on president Richard Nixon's "enemies' list." He joins a group of Vietnam veterans who throw medals and campaign ribbons over a fence in front of the Capitol.
April 23, 1971:
Kerry testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He tells lawmakers: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
November 10, 1971:
Kerry quits Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
April 1972:
Kerry moves to Massachusetts' 5th District to run for Congress again. He wins the Democratic nomination but loses to Republican Paul Cronin, in part because of his anti-war views.
November 1972:
After losing the election, Kerry is hired as a regional coordinator for Cooperative for American Relief to Everywhere(CARE).
September, 1973:
Kerry enrolls at Boston College Law School.
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George W. Bush
February, 1968:
A senior at Yale, Bush takes an Air Force officers test. He scores in 25th percentile in the pilot aptitude portion, and declares that he does not wish to serve overseas.
May 27, 1968:
Bush enlists in Texas Air National Guard. Aided by Texas House Speaker Ben Barnes, he jumps over waiting list. He pledges two years of active duty and four years of reserve duty.
June 9, 1968:
Bush's student deferment expires.
September 1968:
After basic training, Bush pulls inactive duty to act as gopher on Florida Senator Edward J. Gurney's campaign.
November 1968:
After Gurney wins, Bush is reactivated and transferred to Georgia.
November 1969:
Bush is flown to the White House by President Nixon for a date with daughter Tricia.
December 1969:
Bush transfers to Houston and moves into Chateaux Dijon complex. Laura lives there too, but they don't meet till later.
March 1970:
Bush gets his wings.
June 1970:
Bush joins the Guard's "Champagne Unit," where he flies with sons of Texas' elite.
November 3, 1970:
George Bush Sr. loses Senate election to Lloyd Bentsen, whose son is also in the "Champagne Unit."
November 7, 1970:
Bush is promoted to first lieutenant. Rejected by University of Texas School of Law.
January 1971:
The Texas Air National Guard begins testing for drugs during physicals.
Spring 1971:
Bush is hired by a Texas agricultural importer. He uses a National Guard F-102 to shuttle tropical plants from Florida.
May 26, 1972:
Bush transfers to Alabama Guard unit so he can work on Senator William Blount's reelection campaign. According to his commanding officer, Bush never shows up for duty while in Alabama.
August 1972:
Bush is grounded for missing a mandatory physical.
November 1972:
Bush returns to Houston, but never reports for Guard duty.
December 1972:
In D.C. for the holidays, Bush takes 16-year-old brother Marvin drinking and driving. Confronted by father, Bush suggests they settle it "mano a mano."
October 1, 1973:
The Air National Guard relieves Bush from commitment eight months early, allowing him to attend Harvard Business School
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