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"George Bush and I were lieutenants and pilots in the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), Texas Air National Guard (ANG) from 1970 to 1971. We had the same flight and squadron commanders (Maj. William Harris and Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, both now deceased). While we were not part of the same social circle outside the base, we were in the same fraternity of fighter pilots, and proudly wore the same squadron patch.
It is quite frustrating to hear the daily cacophony from the left and Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, et al., about Lt. Bush escaping his military responsibilities by hiding in the Texas ANG. In the Air Guard during the Vietnam War, you were always subject to call-up, as many Air National Guardsmen are finding out today. If the 111th FIS and Lt. Bush did not go to Vietnam, blame President Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, not lowly Lt. Bush. They deliberately avoided use of the Guard and Reserves for domestic political calculations, knowing that a draftee only stirred up the concerns of one family, while a call-up got a whole community's attention.
The mission of the 147th Fighter Group and its subordinate 111th FIS, Texas ANG, and the airplane it possessed, the F-102, was air defense. It was focused on defending the continental United States from Soviet nuclear bombers. The F-102 could not drop bombs and would have been useless in Vietnam. A pilot program using ANG volunteer pilots in F-102s (called Palace Alert) was scrapped quickly after the airplane proved to be unsuitable to the war effort. Ironically, Lt. Bush did inquire about this program but was advised by an ANG supervisor (Maj. Maurice Udell, retired) that he did not have the desired experience (500 hours) at the time and that the program was winding down and not accepting more volunteers." (Retired Col. William Campenni, 'Bush and I were lieutenants', Letters to the Editor, Washington Times)
Back in 1992, John Kerry vigorously defended his candidate for President, Bill Clinton, against his democratic rival Bob Kerrey who had served and lost part of his leg. Bill Clinton was a draft dodger.
Kerry speaking before the U.S. Senate said, "I am saddened by the fact that Vietnam has yet again been inserted into the campaign, and that it has been inserted in what I feel to be the worst possible way."
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"We do not need to divide America over who served and how. I have personally always believed that many served in many different ways." (Senator John F. Kerry, Kerry Defends Draft Dodger Clinton, The Congressional Record, Public Domain)
Um…Democrats…have you talked to McNamara about this anger? Or John Kerry? Or Maj. Maurice Udell? Bush trained rigorously, and Udell said, "I would rank him in the top 5 percent of pilots I knew.” He volunteered to go to Vietnam and they turned him down, but Democrats still get huffy even though Clinton’s tour during Nam included a 40-day stay in Moscow!
The Virtual Wall - a digital legacy project for remembrance. (A very well-done site.)
Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended
President proclaims victory in Iraq
Veterans For Bush (vets4bush.com) - Veterans Support Our Commander in Chief George W. Bush
The Only Spending That
Democrats Hate
Liberalism And Terrorism: Different Stages Of Same Disease
Liberals become indignant when you question their patriotism, but simultaneously work overtime to give terrorists a cushion for the next attack and laugh at dumb Americans who love their country and hate the enemy.
Ann Coulter - July 3, 2002 Column
President Bush Honors America's Veterans
The President’s Commitment to Veterans
"The President announced today that he has directed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to resolve 53,000 claims that have been pending for more than one year."
Troop-trashing Kerry Objects to Bush's 'Bring 'Em On' Comment
David Horowitz: How Democrats Undermined America's Security
Democrats tied to losing strategy
"With economic growth and name recognition of the average Democratic presidential candidate both running at about 7 percent, the Democrats are in trouble. Unable to rouse more than the Saddam-supporting left with their kooky foreign-policy ideas, the Democrats had been counting on a lousy economy."
-- Ann Coulter, The Party Of Ideas
, November 20, 2003
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So, while the Democrats have spread this malicious, fradulent accusation that he went AWOL (without a shred of evidence) with the help of the liberal media, George W. Bush released copies of microfilm payroll records summarizing the days for which Bush was paid in 1972 and 1973. Though blurry and hard to read, they reflect payments for 82 days of services in 1972 and 1973. Guardsmen were required to get a minimum of 50 points annually and they received 15 just for being members of the guard. Bush accumlated 56 points from May 1972 to 1973 and he accumalted another 56 points in June & July of 1973 meeting the minimum requirement of 50 points for the May 73 to May 74 period. Despite the clear evidence that he served, Democrats still keep the lies coming.
"I've asked this question before, but in light of Terry McAuliffe with all he's saying, which candidate do you think Al-Qaeda might root for in this election, John Kerry (should he be the Democratic nominee), or George W. Bush? Do you think Al-Qaeda is focused on Kerry's war record, or his 19 years in the Senate or his current anti-war propaganda and all of his anti-war votes? And do you think Al-Qaeda kind of enjoys John Kerry saying let's take our defense and give it to the UN and the French and the Germans?" said [Rush Limbaugh]. (Source)
Lie----to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive.
Big Lie-----a deliberate gross distortion of the truth used especially as a propaganda tactic
Are Dems guilty of one or both? You read the facts here and decide.
This is not the story of a search for missing records. We have the pertinent records. They show he served honorably!
This is not a hunt for credible eyewitnesses and first hand statements. Four ex-Guardsmen and three other people can verify for us that he was in Alabama performing his duty.
This is the story of how Democrats have pioneered the 'Big Lie' tecnique and used it masterfully to attack Bush.
And, this is the story of how Dems have lied and distorted his honorable service.
When will someone demand answers from George W. Bush about this, and what will he say? "I fulfilled my obligations." Get a life?
Why are they still crying and screaming even after he releases the records?
How much did we all analyze President Clinton's known draft-dodging or his trip to Moscow in 1969?
ABC covered...NBC...CBS...even Fox. The media would have you imagine that Bush the Elder said "draft dodger" in every sentence on the stump. Wrong. But thanks to the media’s funhouse of double standards, the Democrats are getting millions of dollars of free publicity – not to mention the imprimatur of credibility – dragging this President Bush through the mud of gutter politics. Republicans have to pay money to put their opposition research on the air. The Democrats can count on the networks to offer it up. On demand. In heavy rotation. For free.
Bush served! Bush performed some rigorous service - take a look at what the Democrats completely ignore.
Lieutenant Bush received Air Force Outstanding Unit Award while he was in basic training with the 3724th Basic Military Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. George W. Bush is wearing a ribbon to which he had earned! (By the way, here are the credible reports of dishonorable conduct; false official reports and statements; aiding the enemy; dereliction of duty; misuse and abuse of U.S. government equipment and property; war crimes; and multiple violations of U.S. Navy regulations and directives, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and U.S. Code by Lieutenant (jg) John Forbes Kerry, USNR (Senator Kerry).
George W. Bush: military pilot - An account of GW Bush's Flying Career.
"And had my unit been called up, I’d have gone."
-- President George W. Bush, [9/29/04], on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor
"He volunteered to go to Vietnam."
-- Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot, [2/23/04], on National Public Radio
"Actually, the Texas Air Guard had a program called Palace Alert that allowed pilots to volunteer for flight time in Vietnam. Three of Bush's fellow pilots—Udell, Woodfin and Fred Bradley—recalled to NEWSWEEK that Bush inquired with the base commander about signing up for Palace Alert. He was told no; he had too few flying hours at the time and his plane, the F-102, was by then deemed obsolete for air combat."
-- Newsweek, War Stories, responding to the standard rap against Bush that he was ducking combat by joining the Guard
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News!
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Liza Porteus, Fox News Channel 9/28/04:
Bush: 'I Fulfilled My Duties'
"If the commander in chief's Air National Guard unit had been called up to serve in the Vietnam War, the younger George W. Bush would have gladly gone overseas, the president said in an exclusive interview with FOX News."
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William Grim, Broken Newz 9/23/04:
CBS Expert Confirms Fake Memos Are Documents
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Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times 9/21/04:
CBS admits memo fraud
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Gordon Bloyer, Chron Watch 9/20/04:
Answer to CBS
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Ariane DeVogue, ABC News 9/20/04:
Air National Guard Colonel Denies Bush Got Preferential Treatment
"He was highly qualified," he said. "He passed all the scrutiny and tests he was given."
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Joseph Curl, The Washington Times 9/14/04:
Bush says he did not defy an order
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Byron York, National Review 9/10/04:
What the Bush Guard Papers Really Say
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Factcheck.org 9/10/04:
Democratic Group's Ad Revives "AWOL" Allegation Against Bush
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Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times 9/10/04:
Bush's Guard service recycled at election time
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Carl Limbacher, Newsmax.com 9/9/04:
Ben Barnes' 'Daughter': My Dad Lied About Bush
"This came out in 2000 and I asked him then, at the time, if he [helped get Bush into the Guard]. He said: "No, absolutely not. I did not do that.""
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Byron York, The Hill 9/9/04:
Before you fall for Dems’ spin, here are the facts
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Gordon Bloyer, ChronWatch 8/26/04:
Bush Guard Service, The True Story
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Greg Alexander, Jeff Scott, Aerospaceweb.org 7/18/04:
Q and A- F-102, Vietnam & George W. Bush
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Byron York, National Review 2/18/04:
Bush and the National Guard: Case Closed
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Paul Sperry, World Net Daily 2/18/04:
Ex-airmen douse rumors over Bush's Guard service
: 'Serious' pilot flew in NORAD runs, volunteered for Vietnam combat duty
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Eric Fleischauer, The Decatur Daily, 2/16/2004
Former Dannelly worker: Bush not AWOL
"Copeland, 65, remembers meeting Bush on two occasions. He does not remember the precise dates. On one occasion, Copeland said, Bush and Lt. Col. John "Bill" Calhoun came to Copeland's office with a question about Bush's pay."
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Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff 2/15/04:
Bush Guard Commander Recants AWOL Charge
"Retired Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed, the 187th's Tactical Reconnaissance Group's former commander, recanted his statement that he couldn't remember if Bush reported for duty, now saying his memory is faulty because he's in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease."
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Jessica M. Walker, Montgomery Advertiser 2/15/04:
Doctor Remembers Treating Bush (In Alabama)
"A retired Air National Guard physician recalls giving President Bush a physical in 1972, his son said Saturday, adding another memory to the small but growing pool of recollections of Bush's military service in Montgomery."
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Peter Bacque, The Winston-Salem Journal 2/14/04:
NO-GO: Bush wanted to fly in Vietnam, colonel says
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Michael Rezendes, Boston Globe 2/13/04:
Doubts raised on Bush accuser: Key witness disputes charge by Guard retiree that files were purged.
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Allen G. Breed, Associated Press 2/13/04:
Ex-Guardsman Says Bush Served in Ala.
"Now we have someone who served with him that can say he did in fact serve."
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Michael Hedges, Houston Chronicle 2/13/04:
Story of purged Bush files has been around the block
"Michael Hedges shoots holes in Burkett's story and exposes how he has a definite axe to grind."
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Peter Bacque, Richmond Times-Dispatch 2/13/04:
Ex-pilot says Bush put in for Vietnam: Bush volunteered for combat, was rejected, ex-guardsman says
"A former senior Virginia Air National Guard commander, who served with George W. Bush in the Texas Air Guard, says Bush volunteered for Vietnam combat service but was turned down because he did not have the required flight experience."
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Wire Service, Newsmax 2/13/04:
Sorry, Democrats: Guard Officer Saw 'Very Dedicated' Bush 'Each Drill Period'
"He was very aggressive about doing his duty there. He never complained about it. ... He was very dedicated to what he was doing in the Guard. He showed up on time, and he left at the end of the day."
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Eric Fleischauer, The Daily Decatur 2/13/04:
Joppa man: Bush served in Guard in '72
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The Big Story With Host John Gibson & Guest Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel William Campenni, Fox News Channel 2/12/04:
Controversy Surrounds President Bush's National Guard Stint
"No, not at all. Later on, I was a commander. And we would have people assigned to us for the same reasons that Lieutenant Bush would be assigned there. They temporarily have to leave their home unit to maintain some of their currency or to maintain their affiliation with the Guard. They temporarily do what we would call pull drills with another unit. Often I had people on my staff like that. Sometimes I was not even aware they were there because the paperwork hadn't even followed through yet. Other times they were there. Like in one case I had a pilot from the Idaho Guard just like President Bush was from the Texas Guard. I could not check him out in our airplane, a different airplane. I just used him for some administrative details until he was finished his assignment down there."
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Lois Romano and Mike Allen, Washington Post 2/11/04:
Guard Records On President Are Released
"The documents indicate that Bush performed Guard service in the fall of 1972 and in early 1973, and show that he was paid for work during the period that Democrats have alleged Bush shirked his service."
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Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times 2/11/04:
Bush's drills with the Alabama Guard confirmed
"The White House yesterday released military records that it said demonstrate conclusively that President Bush completed the required drills leading to an honorable discharge from the Texas Air National Guard in 1973."
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Thomas Lipscomb, Oregon Magazine February 11, 2004:
Bush Did His Service: It's the Press that is A.W.O.L.
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Ann Coulter, World Net Daily, 2/11/04:
Cleland drops a political grenade
"Bush's National Guard service is the most thoroughly investigated event since the Kennedy assassination. But the Democrats will accept only two possible conclusions to their baseless accusations: (1) Bush was "AWOL," or (2) the matter needs further investigation."
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Mackubin Thomas Owens, National Review, February 9, 2003:
Kerry More Commanding as Chief?
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Sam Johnson, Steve Pearce and Mark Kirk, Washington Times 2/6/04:
Truth goes AWOL
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FactCheck.org 1/23/04:
Bush A Military “Deserter?” Calm Down, Michael
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Carl Limbacher, Newsmax 1/23/04:
Bush 'Desertion' Charge Debunked
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Bill Hobbs, Hobbs Online 12/27/03:
Was Bush "AWOL"?
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Bill Hobbs, Wig Musings 9/23/01:
Guarding the Truth
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Col. Thomas G. Lockhart, USAF (Ret), Hobbs Online 5/31/03:
Bush's Instructor Pilot Speaks Out
Peter Keating and Karthik Thyagarajan, George Magazine 10/10/00 - The Real Military Record of George W. Bush: Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either
Austin American Statesman, 7/5/00 - 2 Friends Recall Bush Serving In Alabama Guard
CNN 7/4/99 - Bush says he's 'proud' of Vietnam-era National Guard service
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