Friday, September 10, 2004

Paul Gill, New York City Firefighter


Miss you, Bro... Posted by Hello

Three years ago today one of the finest men I have ever known was murdered by Islamo-terrorists in New York City. Paul Gill was my friend. I remember the day he walked into our shop. He had flames tattooed up and down his arms, kind of like what you might expect to see on a '57 Chevy Bel Air, you know, a real Hot Rod. Paul was a real Hot Rod. He was a New York City Firefighter and like many of his Brother's, he worked other jobs on his off days. For all the hoopla about New York's Bravest, and probably everywhere-else, Paul needed to work other jobs to make ends meet. What does that tell you about how much we appreciate those who risk their lives for us on a daily basis?

Anyway, I came to know Paul after a period of time. I took him under my wing and showed him the ropes of the make believe world of Motion Pictures. Paul fit right in. He was smart, talented, with a great work ethic. He hit it off with this old Marine and we became friends. I often went to the Firehouse with him and hung out with the guys, watching TV and shooting the breeze as guys often do. We used to go to a little Brazillian Restaurant, Chateau Brazil, after work and hit a few cold ones. The days Paul worked at the Firehouse, I would stop by and hang for a while. His fellow Firefighters were always amazed at the fact that Paul was a good enough carpenter to make it in the crazy world of TV and Movies. They shouldn't have been.

Paul was the kind of guy who was good at anything he tried. He was dedicated. He paid attention. He wanted to learn. He took personal pride in everything he did. He never wanted to let us down or make excuses for sloppy or poor workmanship.

I remember when he came in one day after serving his tour with the Fire Department. He was very excited. I asked him what the happy occassion was and he told me that he had gone on a Rescue Call and had actually saved a guy's life. It was the happiest I had ever seen him. Paul was a Life-saver, not a Life-taker.

But on September 11, 2001, Paul's life was taken. He had been transfered back to his home station at 48th & 8th Avenue, the Pride of Midtown and when the planes hit the Trade Towers he was there. No movie, no make believe. No special effects. Not this time. Paul Gill died doing what made him happiest - trying to save other people's lives.

And Paul, you never let us down. We are proud of you. And we miss you terribly.

Semper Fidelis, Brother, for you were, and are, and will always be, "Always Faithfull" We will never forget you.

deuddersun

Paul Gill, New York City Firefighter

Guest Editorial - scroff From Any Which Way


scroff, Hard At Work Posted by Hello

I read this over at Any Which Way. It's an introduction to an article posted by scroff. I liked it so much I thought it deserved "stand alone" status and so I have copied it here. At the conclusion I'll post the link to the entire article for those who wish to read it.

Good job, Bro. I hope Lt. Kerry gets the message.

deuddersun

___________________________________________________________________________



Dear Mr. Kerry,

This week we were subject to the Republican National Convention, where we watched speaker after speaker kick sand in your face. Granted, you responded shortly after Bush's speech, but Fox News aired only four minutes of your response.

We listened to the sewage coming forth from the Republicans, and gagged every time an already defunct Kerry myth again raised it's ugly head. We saw the Republican Delegates swiftly morph into the Hunters from the island of The Lord of the Flies.

We watched, and we knew, as each derogatory comment slithered out of Zell Miller, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dick Cheney, and the rest, that their message was hatred for you, and by extension, for us, and the conviction of fear... that George W. Bush and only George W. Bush could keep us safe from the scourge of terrorism... that without George W Bush's Doctrine of perpetual war with shadows, we would live in perpetual danger.

We cringed every time one of them took the tragedy and personal loss that was 911 and held it high to be admired, like some trophy, for their chickenhawk 'warrior' president, as if it were some feather in his cap that he had earned.

We fumed every time they claimed ownership and specific rights to America with the guttural chant "U S A! U S A! U S A!", as if an administration with more than it's share of unabashed, yet arrogant draft dodgers could ever take possession of our home, thereby turning it from the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave into the land of surveillance and the home of the chickenhawk.

We knew, as we listened, that the attacks were there rather than anything of substance because the Republicans have nothing of substance to offer America. We knew that the vicious myths they perpetuated were exaggerated, if not patently false, and we knew that George W. Bush was the one unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.

We also knew that these were the so-called 'moderate' Republicans, the ones that the Republican Party let out of their cages without a leash or a muzzle. We therefore also knew that the full hatred and contempt, the full polarizing power of the Religious Right was tucked away in a safe zone somewhere, hinted at only by two freedom sucking proposed amendments to our Constitution.

But now the Republican hate fest is over. At this writing there are 59 days until the election. We are strong Mr. Kerry. We are solid behind you. We know the truth that these Hunter mentalities are trying to besmirch, and we are ready to take this to the mat.

But...

We need you, Mr. Kerry. We need you to put your concerns for the 'swing voter' in your back pocket and take up our concerns. We need you to come out fighting, Mr. Kerry... bare knuckled, angry.

We are aware that George W. Bush has refused to debate you... we are aware that he has accepted only three debates, each with pre-defined questions, and is now, just as he did in 1968, trying to avoid any real confrontation. We are aware that in a fair and credible debate you would make him the monkey we all know he is. We call on you to take the campaign to him, then...

Lt. Kerry... it's time to turn your swift boat into the attack...

-scroff

Setting Kerry's Record Right - Again


Monday, September 06, 2004

Purple Heart BAND-AIDS? Are you kidding me?


What next? Posted by Hello

What next? I'll tell you what next! How any Republican can support this is beyond me! How any Republican can think this is in the least bit funny makes me want to puke! Folks, these are the people asking YOUR sons and daughters to fight their War For Corporate Profits in Iraq! Is this what they think of the almost 7,000 Americans wounded in Iraq? Yeah, I guess so.

It's time to get rid of this bunch of hypocritical chickenhawks!

The following post is copied directly from Any Which Way in it's entirety, including the intro by Ruthalla. She has summed it up better than I could. (For more posts like this, visit Any Which Way). Now, excuse me while I puke.

deuddersun


Sunday, September 05 2004 @ 01:16 AM EDT

Contributed by: ruthalla

The Republican Convention is finally over, but the disrespect they showed towards Veterans is lasting.

In a disgusting mockery of wounded Veterans, the delegates donned band-aids adorned with a purple heart.

This attitude is reflective of the entire Bush administration's treatment of Veterans today.

Can current Purple Heart winners from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom expect the same disregard should they ever oppose the Bush Doctrine?

While the delegates may have claimed to be mocking Kerry, a statement of political impotence in itself, by minimizing any Purple Heart, they minimize them all.

After all, were the Democrats to attempt such theatrical foolishness, they would all have to paint white powder under their noses

...ruth

from the article:

When did it become acceptable in America for our Purple Hearts to be used as political stunt to garner votes? When did veterans wounded in war become fair game for ridicule? When did slight wounds become props for political advantage? And this from Republicans (few of whom served in our military, and fewer who were wounded in war) who support a president who never went to a war that he strongly supported but took actions to avoid. This reeks of hypocrisy, and I am outraged.

Republicans Insult Wounded Veterans

A wounded combat veteran awarded the Purple Heart is outraged that Republicans have mocked his Purple Heart medal and dishonored all Americans wounded in war.

By Stewart Nusbaumer

New York, New York--The Purple Heart medal was established by George Washington in 1782 to honor soldiers wounded in the Revolutionary War. The sole criterion for being awarded this decoration is being wounded in war by the enemy. The Purple Heart honors not heroism, then, but personal sacrifice. It is the “grunts” badge recognizing sacrifice of body for your country, the democratic award that honors all troops equally for their combat wounds. That is the way George Washington wanted it.

Yet, on the floor of the Republican National Convention, Republican delegates proudly sported band-aids with little purple hearts in an attempt to diminish the significance of John Kerry’s military record and his three Purple Hearts--which stand in stark, embarrassing contrast to George Bush’s avoidance of the Vietnam War and his “yellow heart.”

The Associated Press reported: “The bandages were handed out by Morton Blackwell, a longtime GOP activist from Virginia, with the message: ‘It was just a self-inflicted scratch, but you see I got a Purple Heart for it.’”

These Republicans want Americans to believe John Kerry’s wounds were not serious enough to be taken seriously. Many military veterans resent their mocking of a Purple Heart recipitant and his decorations, charging the Republicans' behavior is reprehensible.

“This symbol [Purple Heart] is a very moving one,” said Korean War veteran and Congressman Charles Rangel. “In many of the homes of the survivors that’s all they have to remember their loved ones. Some survivors can’t see and some can’t walk. All they ask is a little dignity.”

According to retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, 3,700 Purple Hearts have been awarded in Iraq. Are Republicans mocking all 3,700 of our servicemen and women wounded in Iraq? Or only those they determine were not sufficiently wounded?

According to this former Marine grunt, how dare they laugh at my Purple Heart?

George Washington was correct: a wound is a wound, and that entitles one to the award. The Purple Heart is not about the depth of the wound, not about the wound’s length, not about the quantity of blood that came from the wound. This decoration recognizes the personal sacrifice of our troops without regard to the severity or the nature of the wound. This has been the official position of the U.S. military since the days of George Washington, and this is the correct position today.

When did it become acceptable in America for our Purple Hearts to be used as political stunt to garner votes? When did veterans wounded in war become fair game for ridicule? When did slight wounds become props for political advantage? And this from Republicans (few of whom served in our military, and fewer who were wounded in war) who support a president who never went to a war that he strongly supported but took actions to avoid. This reeks of hypocrisy, and I am outraged.

The fact is, the Republican Party is out of control. Vicious and hateful, it is disrespectful and desperate, a political party that is now attacking America’s wounded veterans. And the leadership of this Party remains quiet, behind the scenes it actively works to trash our veterans. First they attacked John McCain, claiming the former POW was unfit to be President because he had been a prisoner in Vietnam; then they insisted that Max Cleland, who lost three limbs on the battlefield in Vietnam, did not sacrifice for his country; then they smeared John Kerry’s military service and dismissed his sacrifices for America. Now, Republicans are insulting all veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, every American wounded in a war.

Never could I have imagined this happening in America. Never have I witnessed antiwar demonstrators insulting military veterans as these so-called patriotic Republicans are insulting our wounded veterans. Never could I have imagined.

Stewart Nusbaumer is editor of Intervention Magazine.

You can email him at Stewart@interventionmag.com

(Emphasis added by me - d.)

Posted Thursday, September 2, 2004 from Intervention Magazine

Where Da Hell Ya Been, d?


The Oldest Movie Studio In The U.S. Posted by Hello

Working! That's where. Right here at the oldest Movie Studio in the US, possibly the world! Chaplin filmed here. So did the Keystone Cops. The commisary has a picture of Valentino eating lunch. In fact, everybody who is, or was, anybody worked here at one time or another. The longest running Television show in history is still filmed here, Sesame Street!

So, what's the show? Another Dick Wolf Production. Dick Wolf is a Godsend to the New York Production Community. At a time when other major league Producers are running to Canada, he remains loyal to New York. And we remain loyal to him. Like Tom Fontana, Dick Wolf believes in New York. Gentlemen, we love ya! Ask. It's your's. Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for Law & Order, Trial By Jury! I guarentee you'll love it!


Looking Down On The Studio From The Grid Posted by Hello

This is a view of Studio "H" from the Grid. The Grid is the highest point in the studio where lights are hung from and scenery is "flown" in and out of. For reference, the walls you are looking at are 20 feet tall. This is the only picture I will post of the set since it doesn't give anything away. If you want to see more you'll have to tune in. (I'll give you a heads up when the show premiers!)


deuddersun & Best Bud, "Indy", On The Job Posted by Hello

No, this isn't the same job. Here we're on the set of "The Forgotten". Just decided to take advantage of a good opportunity to get our handsome mugs on da ole blog!

So, now you know. If you don't see me around it's cause I'm working. Getting up at 2:30 a.m. and getting home at 9:00 p.m. doesn't leave much time for blogging, but like they say, "There's no bizniz like Show bizniz!"

And, now...on with the show!

deuddersun

Fight Breast Cancer - Buy M&M's!


Help Fight Breast Cancer! Posted by Hello

It's time to jump off the political bandwagon for a moment and address a very real danger that we can all do something about. My Lady, da44magster, has called my attention to a new campaign by Masterfoods, makers of M&M candy, to help in the battle against Breast Cancer.

From the letter being sent around:

New M&M colors

Pass this on to all of your friends.

There are many women out there who have breast cancer. Lets do all we can to support this cause.

New Pink &White M&M's

The maker of M&M candies has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new "pink & white" M&M candies.

For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M (Masterfoods) will donate 50 cents to the foundation. The next time you want a treat, please pick up a bag (now sold in stores nationwide) - you will be donating to a great cause and satisfying your sweet tooth.

Please pass on to all your family and friends.

-- Thank you.

_______________________________________________________________________

Feel free to copy and paste the above into an e-mail and send it out to friends and relatives. This is a very worthy cause and may save the life of someone you love!

Thanks,

deuddersun

Photos From the RNC in NYC


Lady Liberty Posted by Hello

Mebrudder, scroff, and his most excellent Lady, Ruthalla, (Any Which Way) spent a couple of days in New York City during the Republican National Convention. They have posted some excellent photos of the hundreds of thousands of Protestors who turned out to "welcome" the Bush Gang to New York. To see more like the one above of "Lady Liberty", visit the Gallery at Any Which Way.

While they were there, they attended the Veterans Vigil For The Fallen.


Veterans Vigil For The Fallen Posted by Hello

Since it has been said that one picture is worth a thousand words, you might want to take a look at those pictures too. Veterans Vigil For The Fallen.

Seems not ALL Veterans support Bush!

deuddersun

Sunday, September 05, 2004

Protest Pissants Are Sooooo Bad! Ooooo!


Protest Pissant Playing "So-jer" Ooo, I'm sooo Bad! Posted by Hello

According to scroff over at Any Which Way, somebody hacked the Protest Pissants, uh, "Warriors", website and came up with some pictures, including the one of the Jesse James wannabe above. This is a peaceful counter protest group that does not use intimidation? Uh-huh.

Shit fer brains here looks like one of the Columbine murderers. Didn't they take pictures of themselves shooting at inanimate objects before their murderous assault on un-armed, defenseless students too? Big Balls when they're the one's with the guns. Where are your parents son? Do they know what you're doing? God help you if you run into someone like this:


Here's Looking At YOU, Kid... Posted by Hello

Not fer nutthin', my money's on the crazy hippie with the .357. Why? Because when I was his age I put my money where my mouth was.



deuddersun at 18 years old Posted by Hello

So, who's your money on?

deuddersun

Operation Truth


Bush Finds Link! Posted by Hello

"You want the truth? You can't handle the TRUTH!" Wanna know what's REALLY going on in our great "War of Liberation" in Iraq? (That is what they're calling it now that we haven't found any WMD's or BLT's, right?) Check out this site by folks who have been there or are still there!

These are the guys fighting this bullshit war. If you disagree with them, I suggest you quit the Protest Pissants and join the Marines!

Here's a small sampling:

Issues Facing Our Troops

Operation Truth will raise the awareness of problems and issues that our Troops are facing on the battlefield and back at home. Problems can be fixed only if they are discussed openly. Educating the public about the problems facing our Troops will empower the American public to support our troops in a very tangible fashion: by demanding that elected officials address these issues.

As of August 23, 2004 there have been 961 total deaths and 6,497 men and women wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom (link). The American public is not well aware of the casualties numbers in Iraq, nor what it means to be wounded (link). Additionally, when the coffins of servicemen and women killed in OIF return to Dover Airforce Base in Delaware, the press is not allowed to photograph the solemn occasion. The issues Troops deal with and the hardships they face deserve more attention.

The following highlight the key initial problems and issues facing our soldiers that Operation Truth will address. The organization will continuously adapt to changing circumstances and focus on the most pressing needs.

Veterans Affairs Budget CutsThe latest budget plans put forth by the current administration will cut more than $910 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the fiscal year 2006 budget (Source: OMB). In the last year, plans were announced by the current administration to close or drastically reduce services at 11 VA hospitals. Additionally, 572,000 veterans are estimated to be missing out on disability payments largely because they are unaware that payments are owed to them, and in an effort to maintain costs no effort is being made to inform them of what is rightfully theirs. In a time of war, it is immoral and unconscionable to treat our heroes of the past and present in this manner.

Stop Loss: A “Back-Door Draft”Stop Loss is the involuntary extension of active duty status of soldiers beyond their contractual obligation. In other words, soldiers who may originally have signed a contract for three years of service may now be forced to serve four years. Stop Loss is essentially a “back-door draft”-- a band-aid solution that has now been implemented to provide additional troop strength. Stop Loss is destroying the very concept of our volunteer military, is terribly damaging to morale, and is yet another indication that the original plan for war was flawed.

Weak National Support Systems for Soldiers’ FamiliesWhen National Guard and Reserve soldiers are deployed, their families are left to fend for themselves. We need to create a solid network that embraces and protects families to the fullest. Child care, counseling services, job placement, spiritual support and financial safeguards need to be established formally to take proper care of those families who fight for us.

Proper Counseling and Treatment for the SoldiersAs of August 23, 2004, 961 American Soldiers have been killed in Iraq, but 6497 have been injured. The number of people suffering from psychological problems is even higher. Returning units have seen a spike in suicide rates. The long-term effects of Larium, the anthrax vaccine, and other medical treatments administered to troops have not been fully explored. The government must act quickly to provide adequate counseling and treatment for our wounded and traumatized Troops.

Proper Funding and Compensation for Reservists and National GuardsmenFor decades, Reservists and National Guardsmen have been treated as second-class citizens within the military. Reservists and National Guardsmen should be equipped and trained on par with their active duty counterparts. Funding for wages and hazardous duty pay needs to be increased to afford our Servicemembers and their families an acceptable standard of living.

Problematic Role of Private Contractors in Combat ZonesHalliburton, K.B.R, Blackwater and other companies have relationships with our military that are extremely disturbing. Their effectiveness and affordability are questionable and their role in our Armed Forces should be significantly curtailed. Furthermore, these private contractors are poaching and weakening our military by drawing away experienced war fighters using incentives such as significantly higher wages, better benefits and a more relaxed lifestyle. The utilization of these companies has eroded and will continue to erode the U.S. military’s overall combat effectiveness, and introducing profit to the battlefield sets a dangerous precedent.

Citizenship for Returning ServicemembersA notable percentage of the military is currently composed of non-U.S. citizens. While these Servicemembers are eligible for U.S. citizenship following a tour on active duty, the process to become a citizen remains prolonged. Operation Truth believes that these men and women, who have honorably served and risked their lives defending the United States and its values, desperately deserve the opportunity to join our society as citizens. This is a critical issue within immigrant communities. Operation Truth will demand a streamlined, faster process to reward these Servicemembers.

Got the gist?

Okay, gotta update! An anonymous reader who stopped by was under the impression that I wrote the above. I didn't. I copied it from the optruth website as an example of what you can find there. In the future I will take care to ensure that proper credit is given for pieces I publish here. Anon also criticized a statement I did make concerning "kicking ass". Upon reflection, I agree that Anon was right and that the statement detracted from the integrity of the post, so I have deleted it. Sorry for any confusion. The site is great, shoots straight and is worth a look by any who really want an inside look at Operation Iraqi Freedom. - d.

deuddersun

Optruth.org

I'd Like To Know Who's Responsible For This!


Sick Shit! Posted by Hello

Somebody deserves a most severe ass-kicking over this! Line up behind me, I call first hit.

Miami company recalling bags of candy packed with 9/11 attack toy

Associated Press Posted August 27 2004, 1:00 PM EDT

MIAMI -- A wholesaler is recalling about 14,000 bags of candy containing a toy that shows a plane flying into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

Luis Pedron, national sales manager for Lisy Corp., said Friday the company distributes authentic Mexican candy in bags and puts a small toy in each bag. The toys were purchased in bulk from a Miami-based import company and Pedron says his company had not noticed what the small plastic figurines depict until someone complained.

There is no mistake what the toy represents: at the bottom of each is the product number 9011.

``When we found out what happened, we recalled them immediately,'' said Pedron, who said the offensive toys do not reflect the company's view.

``I was offended by them. I am an American. Whoever made these are not on the same page as mine,'' he said.The candy bags were distributed by the company's 100 distributors. Most are sold to small Hispanic and Mexican groceries, Pedron said. He estimated that about 90 percent of the bags have been collected.

An Orlando grandmother, Anna Rodriguez, told television station WFTV, that she was stunned when she saw the toy in the bag of candy she bought for her grandson.

``It makes me angry,'' she said. ``I was offended because I couldn't believe that someone would give something like that to a kid.

''Pedron said his company had two complaints, the one from the woman in Orlando and another in Boston.

The toys came in an assortment purchased sight unseen from L&M Import in Miami and included the 9-11 toys. whistles and other small toys, Pedron said. The invoice said the toy was a plastic swing set. A woman who answered the telephone at L&M and refused to give her name, said Friday she didn't know anything about the toy.

Pedron said he is saving the toys to return to the distributor.

``I hate to blame the importer. He probably did not know what he was getting. He brings them in 40-foot containers. But whoever made it knew exactly what they were making,'' he said. ___

On the Net: Lisy Corp: http://www.lisycorp.com

(Thanks to Gillian, proud wife of a United States Marine for the heads-up! Keep 'em coming, Girlfriend! Semper Fidelis!)

deuddersun

Wwwwhutt?


Questionable Records? Hmmm... Posted by Hello

I really wish Kerry would go after Bush, "5 Defferments" Cheney & the rest of the American Chickenhawks the way the "Not-So-Swift Boat Liars For Bush" are going after him.

Sigh... guess I'll have to be the 200 pound Rottwieller then...

Bush's National Guard File Missing Records

By MATT KELLEY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Documents that should have been written to explain gaps in President Bush (news - web sites)'s Texas Air National Guard service are missing from the military records released about his service in 1972 and 1973, according to regulations and outside experts.

For example, Air National Guard regulations at the time required commanders to write an investigative report for the Air Force when Bush missed his annual medical exam in 1972. The regulations also required commanders to confirm in writing that Bush received counseling after missing five months of drills.

No such records have been made public and the government told The Associated Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that it has released all records it can find.
Outside experts suggest that National Guard commanders may not have produced documentation required by their own regulations.

"One of the downfalls back then in the National Guard was that not everyone wanted to be chief of staff of the Air Force. They just wanted to fly or maintain airplanes. So the record keeping could have been better," said retired Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver Jr., a former head of the Air National Guard. He said the documents may not have been kept in the first place.

Challenging the government's declaration that no more documents exist, the AP identified five categories of records that should have been generated after Bush skipped his pilot's physical and missed five months of training.

"Each of these actions by any member of the National Guard should have generated the creation of many documents that have yet to be produced," AP lawyer David Schulz wrote the Justice Department (news - web sites) Aug. 26.

White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said there were no other documents to explain discrepancies in Bush's files.

Military service during the Vietnam War has become an issue in the presidential election as both candidates debate the current wars in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites).

Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) commanded a Navy Swift boat in Vietnam and was awarded five medals, including a Silver Star. But his heroism has been challenged in ads by some veterans who support Bush.

The president served stateside in the Air National Guard during Vietnam. Democrats have accused him of shirking his Guard service and getting favored treatment as the son of a prominent Washington figure.

The AP talked to experts unaffiliated with either campaign who have reviewed Bush's files for missing documents. They said it was not unusual for guard commanders to ignore deficiencies by junior officers such as Bush. But they said missing a physical exam, which caused him to be grounded, was not common.

"It's sort of like a code of honor that you didn't go DNF (duty not including flying)," said retired Air Force Col. Leonard Walls, who flew 181 combat missions over Vietnam. "There was a lot of pride in keeping combat-ready status."

Bush has said he fulfilled all his obligations. He was in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973 and was trained to fly F-102 fighters.

"I'm proud of my service," Bush told a rally last weekend in Lima, Ohio.
Records of Bush's service have significant gaps, starting in 1972. Bush has said he left Texas that year to work on the unsuccessful Senate campaign in Alabama of family friend Winton Blount.

The five kinds of missing files are:

_A report from the Texas Air National Guard to Bush's local draft board certifying that Bush remained in good standing. The government has released copies of those DD Form 44 documents for Bush for 1971 and earlier years but not for 1972 or 1973. Records from Bush's draft board in Houston do not show his draft status changed after he joined the guard in 1968. The AP obtained the draft board records Aug. 27 under the Freedom of Information Act.

_Records of a required investigation into why Bush lost flight status. When Bush skipped his 1972 physical, regulations required his Texas commanders to "direct an investigation as to why the individual failed to accomplish the medical examination," according to the Air Force manual at the time. An investigative report was supposed to be forwarded "with the command recommendation" to Air Force officials "for final determination."

Bush's spokesmen have said he skipped the exam because he knew he would be doing desk duty in Alabama. But Bush was required to take the physical by the end of July 1972, more than a month before he won final approval to train in Alabama.

_A written acknowledgment from Bush that he had received the orders grounding him. His Texas commanders were ordered to have Bush sign such a document; but none has been released.

_Reports of formal counseling sessions Bush was required to have after missing more than three training sessions. Bush missed at least five months' worth of National Guard training in 1972. No documents have surfaced indicating Bush was counseled or had written authorization to skip that training or make it up later. Commanders did have broad discretion to allow guardsmen to make up for missed training sessions, said Weaver and Lawrence Korb, Pentagon (news - web sites) personnel chief during the Reagan administration from 1981 to 1985.

"If you missed it, you could make it up," said Korb, who now works for the Center for American Progress, which supports Kerry.

_A signed statement from Bush acknowledging he could be called to active duty if he did not promptly transfer to another guard unit after leaving Texas. The statement was required as part of a Vietnam-era crackdown on no-show guardsmen. Bush was approved in September 1972 to train with the Alabama unit, more than four months after he left Texas.

Bush was approved to train in September, October and November 1972 with the Alabama Air National Guard's 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. The only record tying Bush to that unit is a dental exam at the group's Montgomery base in January 1973. No records have been released giving Bush permission to train with the 187th after November 1972.

Walls, the Air Force combat veteran, was assigned to the 187th in 1972 and 1973 to train its pilots to fly the F-4 Phantom. Walls and more than a dozen other members of the 187th say they never saw Bush. One member of the unit, retired Lt. Col. John Calhoun, has said he remembers Bush showing up for training with the 187th.

Pay records show Bush was credited for training in January, April and May 1973; other files indicate that service was outside Texas.

A May 1973 yearly evaluation from Bush's Texas unit gives the future president no ratings and stated Bush had not been seen at the Texas base since April 1972. In a directive from June 29, 1973, an Air Force personnel official pressed Bush's unit for information about his Alabama service.

"This officer should have been reassigned in May 1972," wrote Master Sgt. Daniel P. Harkness, "since he no longer is training in his AFSC (Air Force Service Category, or job title) or with his unit of assignment."

Then-Maj. Rufus G. Martin replied Nov. 12, 1973: "Not rated for the period 1 May 72 through 30 Apr 73. Report for this period not available for administrative reasons."

By then, Texas Air National Guard officials had approved Bush's request to leave the guard to attend Harvard Business School; his last days of duty were in July 1973.

Any Questions?

deuddersun

Not ALL Veterans Are Lying "Swiftees"!


Cardboard Elvis & deuddersun, Vets For Kerry-Edwards! Posted by Hello