Ex-pilot says Bush put in for Vietnam

[Timefortruth]

Ex-pilot says Bush put in for Vietnam
Bush volunteered for combat, was rejected, ex-guardsman says

BY PETER BACQUE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 13, 2004


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.

William J. Campenni, a retired Air Guard colonel, also said absences such as Bush's from his unit were common in the Air Guard during the period of Bush's service and still are.

He and Bush were young lieutenants and pilots in the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air Guard from 1970 to 1971, Campenni said, serving under the same flight and squadron commanders, both of whom are now dead.


http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773659263&path=!news&s=1045855934842


That settles that, we can all go home now. Man do they think the public is stupid, they may even be right. This guy kept this secret for all these years, and Chimp never mentioned it because he is silent about his courage?

Good god what will they come up with next?

[Arbustosux]

1. Bush is my hero

barf...wretch.....

[RoadRunner]

29. Me too!

source: http://bushwhackedusa.com/awol.html

[loudnclear]

59. Probably turned down for being dumb and a coke-head!

Three people have come up with these stories while double that number have said Bush didn't serve his full time. go figure.

[JPace]

2. Golly gee.....wonder how long it will take

before rOve lets us all have that
record out of his hidden bunch of
incriminating evidence he is hiding?

Maybe it is next to his dental records.

[sidwill]

3. Dude

Somebody has GOT to investigate this guy and expose him.
Its obvious that he is unilaterally trying to rehad the shrub with easily debunked claims.

If Bush "put in" for a VN transfer would that be part of his record?

[JPace]

8. What they are trying to spin is that AWOL wanted to

go fight in the war.....but they would
not let him!

Poor AWOL was stopped from being a hero.
Oh well, he got to make up for it by
playing dress up like a real pilot and
"lets pretend we are a hero" and go
land on an aircraft carrier.

[LZ1234]

13. This is exactly how I read into that

... it's implying that he wanted to. Sure, I believe that one.

[Beaker]

53. Yeah...If he was so hot to go to the 'nam-

why did he leapfrog over 300+ people ahead of him on the list for entry into TANG???

[aquart]

9. Note that he can only vouch for 70-71.

Those are NOT the dates in dispute.

[JPace]

11. Its obvious now! he was so despondent over being

turned down to go fight in the war that
he went into a depression and used painkillers
and alcohol to numb the disappointment.

Spin..spin...spin

[lark]

37. Fix was in

I read that Bush received pilot training on a plane not being used in Viet Nam so that he would not qualify to go there. How cynical, daddy gets him training on an obsolete model, then W asks for a transfer, but gee, doesn't qualify.

lark

[Gunit_Sangh]

4. Didn't * say on mtp

that he didn't volunteer to go to vietnam but WOULD have gone if his unit had been called up?

[aquart]

10. Why yes. Does that make him a liar?

[rock]

24. Does that make him a liar?

Were his lips moving?

[alittlelark]

38. Why, Yes, It does!!

Shame, Shame on you Georgie for 'misleading' us!:puke:

[dflprincess]

39. Yes he did.

And, as I screamed at my TV at the time and have mentioned here, there was NO Guard unit called up for Vietnam. Everyone knew it was a legal way to avoid getting sent there. That's why there were waiting lists for it.

[htuttle]

5. This is the same guy that came out earlier this week

And said he was sure Shrub was there, even though he personally wasn't and therefore couldn't vouch for Bush himself. (?!?!)

on edit:

I think he also said earlier this week that he had personally Bush's pay stubs from the AL guard, which I found curious, since the postal unit Bush supposedly attached himself to (without permission) was a NON-PAYING unit. Quite odd.

[worldgonekrazy]

45. Can you say "payoff"?

Because the pilot in question sure can.

[havocmom]

6. TANG unit comprised of the country club set?

William J. Campenni, a retired Air Guard colonel, also said absences such as Bush's from his unit were common in the Air Guard during the period of Bush's service and still are.

Not hard to believe that may be the case for scions of the rich and famous. I know a lot of Guardsmen/women in or heading to Iraq. Of course, they are just common folk with common honor to their commitments. Not like well heeled playboys who trained on jets that had no chance of being sent to combat zones.

[Lucille]

7. So why isn't that request in Bush's file

You know, the one he won't release?

[w4rma]

15. Bush got to fly fighter jets on American taxpayer money

while being able to add it to his resume and with no chance whatsoever of ever being sent to a war zone because of a techicality where the jets were outdated.

When I have kids, I may look into setting this up for them. That is one cushy job.

[Sandpiper]

42. Wasn't Bush's TANG unit known as

The Champagne Squadron?

[NNN0LHI]

12. Bush disagrees with this fellow. Wonder which one is lying?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4114162/

<snip>In fairness, Bush has been candid about why he enlisted in the Air National Guard. Like many young men of his generation, he wanted to avoid Vietnam. He told one reporter, "I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes."

[bif]

14. Probably overherd in a bar when Shrub was drunk off his ass

I'm sure there is no paperwork confirming his volunteering for duty in Nam.

[joycep]

16. Well I guess I should thank this guy

I got my laugh for this whole month!!

[0007]

17. I think James R. Bath said the same thing, LOL!!

junior's love for drugs, whiskey, women and money far exceeded a voluntarily entree to get his ass shot off! Give me a Break, 'eh?

This is the funniest thing I've heard this morning.

[bigtime]

18. yeah sure, now it all makes sense

I'm sure they would have taken him too, if all those minorities hadn't taken up all the combat spots... dang it! poor junior. :eyes:

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Where's The Paperwork?

Such a request would have been documented, passed through the system, in at least triplicate. Where is it?

Why would anyone believe a guy trotted out as a Bush supporter without any evidence to back up that claim?

There's another post here on DU (by Trof, i think) that contains Campenni's letter to the editor. He's an obvious conservative shill, based upon this letter.

So, exactly what would anybody expect him to say? He's bought and paid for.
The Professor

[trogdor]

50. You betcha!

Somebody has to have a copy of the 4187 (Army-speak; I know Bush was Air Farce) IF THIS IS REALLY THE TRUTH. Otherwise, the guy's just blowing smoke.

I would like to see Col. Campenni's DD 214. I bet a donut he never set foot in Texas in his life.

[bahrbearian]

20. He didn't have the "experience" to fight a War

but he has enough to start one! He could have went in on the Draft if he was so "For That War"

[underpants]

21. I think we are going to see all kinds come out to support W on this

I hate to doubt a man's word but I think it won't be too hard for them to find people to come out and say _______________________ as scripted.

[skypilot]

22. I didn't know you needed "flight experience"...

...to get your ass shot off in Vietnam or any other war. Haven't they heard of the infantry?

[KansDem]

23. Bush's attempt to "put in for Vietnam"...

(Bush enters C.O.s office...)

Bush: Sir, Lt. George who's-father's-an-excongressman-and-CIA-agent-and-future-RNC-head-and-Ambassador-to-UN-and-who's-grandfather-was-a-US-Senator Bush wishes to see the C.O.!

C.O.: Well, what is it, Lt.?

Bush: I just wanted to (wink, wink) put in for Vietnam, Sir! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

C.O.: Oh, I see (wink, wink). Let's see...hmmm, I don't think you have enough flight experience! (nudge, nudge)

Bush: Well, isn't that a shame?! (nudge, nudge) Well, I tried. See you next payday, Sir! (wink, wink)

[Arbustosux]

35. did Monty Python steal that from Bush?

sure sounds familiar...nudge, nudge, say no more!

[Bandit]

25. I have a close friend who put in six years in the guard but missed his

last three meetings. He was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam. That was in 1967. This "Officer" is a LIAR also. The Guard took these things quite seriously. It might have been different if it was an officer we are talking about but enlisted men got the shaft immediately.

[bmbmd]

26. He wanted to go to the Nam

but all of the good assignments were already taken by minorities.

[skypilot]

27. Minorities with more flight experience, apparently.

*

[fob]

43. He was denied because he was the only cuntsman the TANG

had, he was the Platoon-leader of Organized Nookie, or POON. So you see as head cuntsman, or POON-TANG, the rest of the base refused to let him go.

[MrBenchley]

28. Campenni is the same gump

who wrote to the Moonie Times the otehr day.

By the way, he also turns out to have been in the Pennsyvania National Guard, and not during the years pResident Turd served in Texas.

[evworldeditor]

47. Are you saying Campenni wasn't in Shrub's Guard Unit in Texas?

Can you provide any resources on Campenni serving in PA national guard and -- if I understand you correctly -- that he wasn't in the Texas unit during the 1972-73 time frame?

What's the basis of your statement?

[Snazzy]

55. here you go

http://tinyurl.com/2g3ov

Story of Campenni in Pittsburg in '72, November.

[madrchsod]

didn`t he sign a paper saying

he wouldn`t accept an overseas assignment?

[Dudley_DUright]

34. Yes, see post #33 below

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[jackstraw45]

31. no offense to the pilot

but words are cheap.

[DemBones DemBones]

32. Let me guess: Mr. Campenni is now a Republican,

perhaps a Republican planning to run for office?

[Dudley_DUright]

33. Sure he did

:eyes: I guess that is why he checked "do not volunteer" for overseas duty on his TANG application.

But Bush did not join the full time active duty military. Instead, he chose to enlist for "weekend warrior" duty in the Air National Guard, where he could fulfill his military obligation far away from the risk of combat and pursue his civilian career, including working in several Republican Senate campaigns. "Had my unit been called I would have gone ... to Vietnam," he said. But like everyone else at the time, he knew the chances of that happening were slim. And when his application form asked about an overseas assignment, he checked "do not volunteer."

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003z8g

[tom_paine]

36. Yep, that's a lie.

Perhaps Smirky was drunk and talkin' tough one night. So TECHNICALLY what Campenni says is true,but I have no doubt that is never got past the "drunk talk" stage.

Now THAT would be in keeping with the grain of truth the Buseviks wrap their lies around.

Of course, it might alos be a complete and utter fabrication, which would ALSO be in keeping with Bushevik SOP.

[Alpharetta]

40. And Rush Limbaugh really wanted to enlist

if only it hadn't been for that nasty boil on his butt.

He tried to hide it. Said it was just a zit. But the Army recruiters flagged him and wouldn't let him enlist.

Too bad. Rush would have been quite the contribution to our armed forces.:puke:

[HuckleB]

41. What planet are they living on?

How much dishonesty is there in the world? Are we living in Argentina?

My God, but they truly have no shame.

Hmm. Yeah, Bush would never have tried to push this story before now, if it were true.

Sheesh.

[leesa]

44. Well, how conveeeeenient! Trained on an obsolete fighter jet and

then gets himself grounded and then volunteers to fly in Vietnam? Haahaa! What's next for these idiots?

I am quite certain he could have found a place in Vietnam. Or was it those pesky minorities stealing all the troop positions again!

[grasswire]

46. I wrote this reporter

...and asked him to ask Campenni when and under what circumstances he saw Bush's military records, as he stated on FOX news earlier in the week.

[Snazzy]

48. They are now editing the story

Old link comes up blank.

Here is new link:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773662784&path=%21news&s=1045855934842

One change I note:

Original: "...says Bush volunteered for Vietnam combat service but was turned down because he did not have the required flight experience."

Becomes: "...says Bush looked into volunteering for Vietnam combat service but was told he did not have the required flight experience."

Pretty extreme difference. Of course the earlier version must be what got printed in the paper this morning.

[trogdor]

58. More like...

...looked into the chances he might get called up to go over there, and if necessary, his chances of volunteering for a plush billet in Saigon - in the rear with the gear.

[daleo]

49. Putting up flack

They put a few of these vague assertions out there about how someone saw him in the guard during the time in question, and at the same time put up some vague Kerry intern stories. Then, they sit back and hope the confusion has everyone throwing there hands in the air and saying "well, I just don't know who or what to believe, so I will stick with the president."

[Beaker]

51. The plane he was trained to fly wasn't used in the 'Nam...IIRC

He did in fact "volunteer" to go to Vietnam...I have heard this before, and apparently there are records to back it up-
But- it was a moot point because his type of jet didn't see service in that war anyway. things would have to have gotten pretty dire before he would have been shipped over.

[evworldeditor]

52. Mother Jones reference to Florida flight to transport plants?

There's a really curious reference in the Mother Jones article, "Brother's In Arms?" comparing Shrub's military record and John Kerry's.

In the Spring of 1972, "Bush is hired by a Texas agricultural importer. He uses a National Guard F-102 to shuttle tropical plants from Florida."

Wouldn't this be a misappropriation of government property?

One wag has speculated the "plants" might have been something more "exotic" and made from the coca plant. He wonders if this why Shrub suddenly disappears for at least a year?



http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2004/02/02_400.html

[llmart]

54. Anyone with an ounce of common sense..

would ask "if he wanted to volunteer to go to VietNam, then why did he join the Guard?" I obviously don't know the ages of posters here at DU, but I am 55 and of that generation and you only joined the Guard to get OUT of going to Viet Nam. In fact, waiting lists were so long that you considered yourself lucky if you actually got into the guard. He was and still is a yellow-bellied coward and we saw evidence of that after Sept. 11th when he hid out instead of reassuring the American people.

[Catherine Vincent]

57. Didn't Gore volunteer?

He didn't join the national guard, though.

[Lisa]

56. Oh, that's why so many people he served with remember him saying ...

"Gee, I got totally mixed up when I was filling out those forms, and checked off the box that said 'will NOT serve in Vietnam' when I totally wanted to check off the OTHER box. I'm such a dimwit! C'mon, help me out here, guys -- convince the CO that I really do want to serve overseas."