Mail Call
An Email note to my subscribers:
“As you are so quick to judge the actions of decorated Leaders, How much time did you spend in Vietnam, or other Combat.
I have now [sic] interest in joining a person who bad mouths decorated Military” -from Mel H.
I usually avoid weekday postings to my mail list. I’m grateful that a growing number of new subscribers invite me into their mailbox daily so I choose not to wear out my welcome. I never know which of my comments caused them to want to subscribe, but I’m appreciative that they do. I try to respond to each right away if possible.
This is a special reply to someone who hit the subscribe button that I wanted to share with all subscribers, so if you’ll allow, I’ll try to be brief.I have a need to answer Mel’s email. Since Mel sent it to me disguised as a subscriber, I opened and read it. My rules don’t allow me to share Mel’s email address since technically he’s a subscriber. I’m sending a blind copy of this to Mel, then I’ll dump his email into the box where I store the ISP information on such emails should they become future pests. Without further delay, allow me to address Mel’s concerns.
Mel, I don’t know if you have service or not. If you do, I thank you for it. I served 28 years in the Army. I enlisted in 1971 right in the middle of hippies, draft dodgers and Ex-Presidents that didn’t inhale. From the time I enlisted through the completion of my training, I received daily assurances that I was bound for Vietnam. I knew that when I walked through a surprised recruiter’s door on North Clark Street in Chicago. Turns out, we were already beginning to draw down by the time I was ready to go in 1972. The Army sent me to Korea instead. I was a combat support Soldier Mel. For 28 years, I went where the Army told me and did what was asked. So, to answer your qualifying question, no I was never in direct combat. Which, might surprise you, is not uncommon for a beans and bullets Soldier that served during my time when the Army’s peacetime strength approached a million? In your mind, I suppose that disqualifies me to have an opinion about military leaders. Heck Mel, I wrote a book on the topic, still sells a few too.
I moved my family 13 times in 28 years. Had some challenging jobs too. Some things have shocked me since I retired from the Army. The knowledge that the fraternity of military veterans represents only about 3 percent of our population and combat veterans less than that. I still struggle with the concept of an 8-hour workday, am usually awake by 0400, and I get itchy feet when I realize that I haven’t moved in the past 7 years. So, Mel don’t expect an apology from me for my service. I was there everyday for 28 years, often at the expense of things you might take for granted, like days with your kids and nights with your wife. I served at the pleasure of my country and to the needs of the Army.
As for my judgment of “decorated leaders”. If you Google my name you’ll find about a zillion articles out there that I’ve written. Of all of them, you’ll find me questioning only a few so-called “decorated leaders”. The list is quite short actually, and it consists of “decorated leaders” who chose to highlight their service if it appeared to be of political advantage to them at the time. My short list has on it, Senator John Kerry, Congressman John Murtha and a bevy of retired political Generals.
Let’s take them one at a time. I never questioned Senator Kerry’s service, although there is mounds of legitimate evidence out there that raises serious questions about much of it, all of which he could resolve by releasing all of his records to public scrutiny. When the Senator was trying to be President, he posted a copy of a DD Form 214 (Discharge form) on his website. It’s been removed now. There were some eyebrow raisers on it. I review military records almost daily. I noticed that the good Senator received an honorable discharge in 1978, “following a review by a board of officers” most likely under the provisions of Title 10 US Code, Section 1163. Just so that you know, there is no need for “a board of officers to review” a discharge unless it is other than honorable. As you’re doing your research Mel, you’ll find that [Title 10 US Code, Section 1163] to be the Jimmy Carter law that granted amnesty to draft dodgers and upgraded discharges for deserters and others. I had no need to study his record further, although I did find the Silver Star with a “V” device interesting. Still, I only condemned Mr. Kerry because he came home from a short stint in a combat zone and told horrific, completely unsubstantiated, lies about American Soldiers thinking it would get him elected to Congress. Mr. Kerry and his associates prolonged Vietnam. I have the utmost respect for warriors. In my opinion, Mr. Kerry isn’t one.
Congressman Murtha? I never questioned his service, although there are some out there who do. You see Mel, I don’t like it when someone uses his combat service record, valid or not, as a credential to label Marines serving in combat as cold blooded killers, which is what Mr. Murtha did. No one loyal to those with whom he served does that. Period. Instead, he shuts his mouth and allows the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to perform its function. Murtha harmed the morale of Soldiers in combat, just as John Kerry, Jane Fonda et al did. I don’t appreciate any “decorated leader” jeopardizing Soldiers, their mission or the security of our country to score political points.
Finally, I had some words for our collection of political Generals, all retired by the way, who decided to attack the conduct of the war and our civilian leadership – after they left. Politicians and Soldiers don’t mix well Mel. You can be one or the other, but not both. Soldiers do not choose the civilian leadership of our military, but swear oaths to obey them and to defend the Constitution, which provides for civilian control over the military. These officers violated their oaths and selected politics over Soldiers. I’m sorry, but that type decision disqualifies one as a “military” leader in my view. So there you have it Mel, the total list of “decorated leaders” that I’ve questioned. And people are still subscribing Mel, go figure.
Regards.
P.S., I didn’t add you to the list.