Brothers in Arms?

[cmbell]

Brothers in Arms?
George W. Bush and John Kerry both spent their mid twenties in uniform. The similarities end there.
February 8, 2004


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.

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.



Despite of all the awards and medals Kerry received in the Vietnam war it's the Vietnam Veterans Against the War part that I do not agree with. Nor do I agree with him throwing the medals over the fence in a protest. In my opinion how can we let that man become the Commander and Chief... I'd hate to see what the military would be like if he is elected into office. My vote will go for Bush. Everyone makes mistakes. but look what he has done since.

How does everyone else feel about this...
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[namgrunt]

Hmmm. Sound about right to me. He would make a terrible Commander in Chief, in my estimation. More concerned with re-election than the affairs of servicemen, once the votes are counted.

Interesting to note from the list above:

[quote]
November 10, 1971:
Kerry quits Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
[end quote]

I wrote an e-mail to Vietnam Veterans of America, lambasting them for supporting Kerry. They responded that they didn't endorse any candidate. They also wrote that Kerry WAS a "life member" of V.V.O.A. My question is whether Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Kerry's original group, changed "titles" to Vietnam Veterans of America, in order to gain acceptance with non protesting Vietnam Era vets? The person who did endorse Kerry publicly, is Bobby Muller, president of Vietnam Veterans of America "FOUNDATION", a supposedly different organization. Sounds fishy to me. Anyone have info in this regard?

namgrunt

[cmbell]

see the comparison

[cmbell]

Herman Munster or what?

[namgrunt]

I think of Lurch on Addams Family.
"You Rang?" LOL

[cmbell]

I didnt think of Lurch. Thats even better that the Munster. I was going to copy and paste Herman Munsters head on Kerry's. Think anyone would have noticed haha

[namgrunt]

It depends on whether Fred Gwinn's estate would consider that infringement of his TV character's image. He might be dead, but his lawyers may not be. LOL

You won't know until you try.

[cmbell]

True I'll have to let someone else do it .. haha

[cmbell]

Right after I typed my last reply I found this picture online...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-kerrymunster.htm

Ok I'm way off of the brothers in arms subject I'll quit now..

[namgrunt]

Geez, man. You're right. Kerry really IS Herman Munster. LOL
Great picture.

I'm sure someone made similar pics about GWBush, so you may still be in the "brothers in arms" context. But you would have to publish both funny pics together to be fair.

[LONEEAGLE]

cmbell? I don't want to take away your information, in any way shape form or fashion. I'm just confused as to G.W.'s part. And of Kerry's. Why? I've read so many different things, which dispute your itenerary. But for damn sho, I wouldn't vote for this communist pig, pr!ck, and have him try and lead this country.
I want him to give an exact accounting of his duty time in the land of Oz.......He's worse than slick willie. Wishy, washy, a***h****!!