Letter to the Editor, Posted: 3/24/04
To the editor:
It was humorous watching the White House trying to produce records showing that President Bush fulfilled all his National Guard duties during the Vietnam War. Almost everybody who spent time in the military knows how AWOL works. I have never heard of an officer being charged, but the enlisted could get as high as 30 days bread and water (one square meal a day) depending on how your C.O. felt about it. You were required to pay all that down time back by extending your enlistment, and yes, you could get an honorable discharge.
During Vietnam, regulars in the military were well aware that the well-connected stashed their kids in the Guard, the seminary or college. How else could Bush jump ahead of 500 other guys to get in? Those not well connected went to Canada, jail or Vietnam.
Meanwhile, our Patriot was flying over the Gulf of Mexico in his high altitude foxhole protecting us from our enemies, those little men in black pajamas and sandals. When he had the time, of course.
Some people say we should forget all about it because it was so long ago, but for those who served our country, voluntarily, it is hard to forget about over 50,000 names on that black wall in D.C., hard for the families too.
The American people should also be reminded who stood up and stepped forward when their country called and who did not. I doubt if many of those ěduckers and dodgersî ever go to see that Wall. If they did, they would have to come away with the thought, ěDid one of those guys take my place?î
1st Sgt. T. L. Hennemann USMC Ret.
Rush City
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