Criticism of senator's war record rankles veterans

2015-02-19T11:05:45-05:00

From: Army Times

No one disputes that Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, served with the National Guard in a combat zone.

So the recent round of questions about whether she counts as a "combat veteran" has made more than a few former service members uncomfortable and upset.

But they aren't necessarily surprised.

"This kind of stuff has been going on for generations," said Phil Carter, director of veterans programs at the Center for a New American Security. "We've seen conversations about peacetime service as opposed to wartime service. We've seen veterans from different wars trade stories about who had it tougher.

"But so few people have an appreciation for what military service is that these arguments start to take on a controversial quality about what 'counts' as service."

Earlier this month, the Huffington Post questioned Ernst's characterization of herself as a "combat veteran," noting she had not been involved in a firefight during her 14-month Middle East deployment.

The Iowa Guard lieutenant colonel commanded the 1168th Transportation Company during the 2003-04 deployment, overseeing transportation runs in Kuwait and southern Iraq and running a protection detail in Kuwait.

She touted her "combat veteran" status in numerous campaign stops during the mid-term elections last year, and noted in response to the recent criticism that both Veterans Affairs and Defense Department guidelines classify her as one.

Fellow Senate Armed Services Committee colleague Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — himself a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war — called Ernst a combat veteran "by any definition."

"Malicious claims to the contrary denigrate not only her service, but that of countless current and former service members who served honorably in a range of roles in our military," he said in a statement.

Carter echoed that sentiment, noting that honoring only certain kinds of military service — in this case, battlefield fighting — risks alienating other troops who have served honorably.

"There's always someone harder than you," he said. "There's always someone who has seen more combat, or had tougher tours. But that doesn't erase someone's war record."

Since the Ernst piece was published and picked up by other news outlets, most veterans' groups have declined comment on the criticisms, other than to offer official statements saying it's clear the senator served honorably in a designated combat zone.

Mark Seavey, new media manager at the American Legion and an an expert in stolen valor cases, said he worries that criticisms like those leveled at Ernst confuse actual cases in which troops or imposters claim military honors they never earned. Ernst has not claimed any medals or campaign awards beyond her record.

"You don't want to see real crimes get watered down because of some people's semantics about service," Seavey said.

He also sees the continued buzz over the issue as underscoring the lack of understanding by many civilians about what the recent wars were really like.

"I can't think of a place, the entire time when I was in Afghanistan, where I thought, 'Wow, I feel really safe here,' " he said. "Everyone who has served over there was in a dangerous area.

"A minuscule number of individuals ... were involved in firefights. But it's still a combat zone."

http://www.armytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/02/19/ernst-combat-veteran-criticism/23666043/

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 11:45 AM

2015-02-19T11:45:11-05:00

Criticism raised by members of the media who themselves have never served a day in uniform? These people need to get a life!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-02-19T13:00:04-05:00

If she served in a combat area, she is a combat veteran. This is really a moot subject. Of course she is. Good for her and I'm glad she made it back.

Response by SGT Robert Wilson made Feb 19 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-02-19T14:45:03-05:00

she is an idiot.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 3:13 PM

2015-02-19T15:13:35-05:00

Probably payback in the current situation because of Lyin Brian Williams. Mr Stolen Valor himself and the petty carping over that. The problem is that the Senator is a victim of politics. Why can't reporters report the news rather than concoct it?

And we know the media's affinity towards lying. Just take Stephen Glass as a prime example.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Feb 19 at 2015 3:20 PM

2015-02-19T15:20:37-05:00

I am not a fan of Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. However, as a Marine and Vietnam Veteran she is as much a combat veteran as I am. I did not earn a Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) no did I fire a shot at the enemy. I saw combat all around me from my duty station at Force Logistics Command, Camp Books, which is located about eight miles NW of DaNang. My MOS did not require me to go outside the wire very often, but when it did, I did. I saw firefights in the hills all around me. I saw bombing runs by A4's and F4's in the hills all around me all the time. I will defend her as a Combat Veteran just as much as I would defend my time served. We all did our duty and what was required from us on a daily basis. SEMPER FI!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 19 at 2015 9:19 PM

2015-02-19T21:19:37-05:00

I would hope the Senator retained a hard copy of what now passes for an 'LES'.

Did the Senator receive Combat pay or not?

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 19 at 2015 10:09 PM

2015-02-19T22:09:04-05:00

She deployed to a combat zone, did her duty, and what more? Remarks from those who never had the guts or sense of duty to serve?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-02-19T22:25:07-05:00

Deployed to area in support of combat operations = combat vet.

Let us not take away from our brothers and sisters of the details of it all.

End of the day, I signed, you signed, she signed the same line. Stood on line, and then put our lives on it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 11:13 PM

2015-02-19T23:13:02-05:00

The proper term for service in a combat zone is Former Wartime Service. That is why we are authorized to wear Former Wartime Service Shoulder Insignia, more commonly referred to as the combat patch.

No one disputes the Senator's service in a combat zone, but there is certainly a distinction between serving in a combat zone and that of being a combat veteran. Traditionally, people equate the designation of combat veteran as someone who has been engaged in direct combat with an adversary.

I have no idea if the Senator has ever been engaged in actual direct or indirect fire engagements, and frankly, I don't really care.

The issue seems to be that the Huffington Post is calling into question her use of the term combat veteran because that is the platform that she used to catapult herself into the political arena. On one hand, I would agree that she played fast and loose with the term combat veteran. On the other hand, I would say that tactic is not unusual in the game of politics.

Response by 2LT Scott Armstrong made Feb 19 at 2015 11:37 PM

2015-02-19T23:37:13-05:00

Deployed to service in a combat zone, you are a combat veteran. Tired of seeing media pundits whom have never served in any capacity looking to sully the Senator's reputation. Walk a mile in her boots.

Response by SPC Larry Buck made Feb 20 at 2015 2:11 AM

2015-02-20T02:11:18-05:00

Seriously, I am not a "real" combat veteran...I was in the crosshairs area ,those who did serve over there came thru us, those who came back came thru us, before during and after the wars ..the mission of a training area is roll the box and kill shit.. We see fake combat as we dish it out, but we also see live combat as these soldiers put on their game faces.. PTSD and just another rotation for the "OPFOR- men in black" but I was in service as non combat combatant before and during 9-11 how do I fit was wasn't was wasn't ,separate me between all groups! Except the ones that used live rounds and had live rounds fired at them,and those who should have their own distribution of awards "The Fallen" segregation should be the dead who died to protect, and the living still ready to serve and protect...

Response by LTC Erik Price made Feb 20 at 2015 1:05 PM

2015-02-20T13:05:38-05:00

It is not that she could and the critics couldn't serve, it is that she DID serve and they didn't.

Response by COL John Handy made Feb 21 at 2015 2:25 AM

2015-02-21T02:25:40-05:00

She raised her right hand. She went. She's patched. The luck of the draw placed her in one place verses another. That's how it goes. She was amongst the few who went into a combat zone and rolled the dice when so many more went to the mall and shopped.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 3:01 AM

2015-02-21T03:01:16-05:00

They wouldn't be attacking her if she was a Democrat...I bet.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 11:36 AM

2015-02-21T11:36:36-05:00

Joni Earnst is, by any definition, a combat veteran. She commanded a transportation company with the IA ARNG and led many missions into Southern Iraq during the initial push in 2003. Her mission was changed about 3/4 of the way through her company's deployment and they began to provide base security.

Her company put on @300,00 miles and over 400 misisons delivering anything and everything forward. Did her units vehicles get shot at? Absoutely. Did they stop what they were doing and return fire? No. Their mission wasn't to engage the enemy, but to get material from point A to B. The fact that no one was injured seriously or killed in the 14 months the unit was deployed is a miracle and irrelevant and to me speaks to her tactical proficiency. She led her troops into battle in every sense of the phrase.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-02-21T12:14:26-05:00

As a public representative and speaker, she should know better than to throw around terms like this. She's only getting what comes with being a Senator. She pimped out her service pretty hard during the campaign trail; it's only natural that she would get some flak for it. When the general public hears "combat" they don't think of running logistic operations in Kuwait.

Response by PFC Aaron Knapp made Feb 21 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-02-21T15:14:35-05:00

She has a valid War Service record and people, especially civilians who never served or did something greater with their lives, have no right to say a word... She was in transportation and was supplying front line troops along roads that were not all that secure. Look at Jessica Lynch? She was in transportation and got captured and had to be rescued. And I dare say a woman who is in this line of work is in more danger if captured considering how Muslims have a dim view of women's rights and a poor record when it comes to treatment of women at best.

Response by SPC John Decker made Feb 21 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-02-21T15:14:59-05:00

If you served in a designated combat zone, regardless of where in that zone, or your job, you are a combat veteran. I myself served between '81 & '84. Not in a designated zone. I do however consider myself, and others who served before and after me, to a point, a Cold War Veteran. There were no bullets exchanged but the tension and stress was very real. I was selected for the Berlin Orientation Tour. 4 Hours in East Berlin. Very tension filled.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 3:23 PM

2015-02-21T15:23:57-05:00

I will say this she is a combat veteran served and commanded service men and women in a hostile environment weather or not she was shot at or engaged the enemy point blank does not matter she did her job that was assigned her should get the respect she has earned for that I deployed doing the same mission that she was doing running convoys from kuwait into Iraq.

Really more vet groups should make more of a effort to support her and just to put out a simple statement is not good enough in my Opinion

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Feb 21 at 2015 3:28 PM

2015-02-21T15:28:36-05:00

As I have said before...all this qualification and sub-classification does nothing but harm Veterans and SM. We had better get our act together and start acting as one cohesive unit. It is no wonder that the politicians and citizens don't give us the respect that is certainly deserved. All one has to do is start one of these combat vet/non combat vet discussions in a group of military/veterans and walk away laughing while every argues who is more important or valued. And this isn't the only divisive military topic.

This is ridiculous. We need to stop this. Everyone raised their hand. Everyone took the oath. Everyone did what they were told/assigned to do. You don't get to pick what that is. The needs of the service determine that.

Obviously, everyone respects those in direct fire and those wounded whether that be physical or mental injuries. And of course all of us should be campaigning for more services for them. We should be one of the most powerful lobby groups that politicians have to deal with...as it is no one really cares as we often argue amoungst ourselves. I hope we can pull together and start working together to take care of our own.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-02-21T15:40:44-05:00

It's these and those like them (non-serving, judgemental, entitled SOBs) that make want to punch them in their GD throat.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Feb 21 at 2015 3:49 PM

2015-02-21T15:49:09-05:00

She deployed to a combat zone and performed her mission. She is a combat veteran case closed.

Response by CPT James Hubbard made Feb 21 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-02-21T16:50:08-05:00

I was awarded a Silver Star for action in the Delta in Vietnam in 1968. I never expected to be on the wrong end of a VC mortar but I was. My point is that one never knows who has you targeted and when whether on convoy duty or as an infantry soldier. Senator Ernst was in a similar situation during her deployment. That she wasn't targeted is simply good luck. She put herself in harms way as part of her duties. She IS a combat veteran.

Response by CW2 Carl Swanson made Feb 21 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-02-21T17:24:41-05:00

The people that always want to talk trash are the people who don't have the intestinal fortitude to raise their right hand and swear to Defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic! Usually some damn academic who thinks the military is made up of people incapable of performing any other service.

Response by Sgt Brandon Palmer made Feb 21 at 2015 6:31 PM

2015-02-21T18:31:09-05:00

Her time in DIRECT support of troops is grounds enough for combat veteran status. She doesn't have a CAR, that's not the justification for being a combat vet. How many supply caravans have been hit? Would people be saying otherwise if her convoy got hit? If it was possible to be in a firefight then they are a combat vet.

Response by PO3 David Davis made Feb 21 at 2015 6:49 PM

2015-02-21T18:49:58-05:00

Many Veterans are in war zones. But never fired a shot or was shot at. Maybe the distict ion should be War zone. Vs. Combat. Not combat zone.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-02-21T22:25:18-05:00

The first problem: The Huffington Post characterized...

The huffpo is a joke of a media outlet.

The second problem: a civilian criticizes service when they, themselves never served. Scum bags.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Feb 21 at 2015 10:34 PM

2015-02-21T22:34:56-05:00

This is nonsense. She served in a combat zone, she's a "combat veteran" period.
Plenty of support troops died and continue to die on the battlefield making sure the fighters have what they need to continue the fight only to treated like they're less valuable. We need to stop this.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 11:16 PM

2015-02-21T23:16:36-05:00

Its obviously political. No stolen valor that I see. Where is the controversy? The criticisms stem from politicians and media from across the aisle. In this case the Democrats; even though i consider myself a Democrat, I would not tolerate any Democrat that is trying to make a political ploy by invalidating her genuine military record. The way I see it a combat veteran is anyone who served in a combat zone. If they were lucky not to be involved in a firefight; that's great but the danger that she could be is there if shes in the combat zone. She had responsibilities of commanding troops and making sure they are accomplishing the mission yet being taken care of and protected. Every job in the military service is important, some may be easier and others harder, but to command a company in a combat zone is definitely not an easy job! Even though I may not agree with all of her political opinions, I am proud to have her as part of the US Senate and Congress.... and I would, of course I stand with her core values that we embrace in the US Army and the other services and the United States of America! of Senator Ernst, Thank you for your service and congratulations on your election!

Response by SPC Mickey Bennett made Feb 22 at 2015 1:52 AM

2015-02-22T01:52:36-05:00

It's really simple, civilians speaking on military service when it comes to being "downrange," is like men speaking on child birth from actual experience, their opinion is MEANINGLESS! They speak to feel relevant, not having the intellectual integrity to face the painful reality that they are NOT!

Response by SPC Mickey Bennett made Feb 22 at 2015 1:52 AM

2015-02-22T01:52:59-05:00

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 4:43 AM

2015-02-22T04:43:00-05:00

If she's not a combat veteran, than neither am I. I ran 18 missions "outside the wire" in Iraq and was never engaged by the enemy. Other units received contact on a regular basis running the same mission set. Some were hurt or even killed. The only reason I can come up with for this is that we were just lucky.

This shouldn't even be a discussion. This is simply partisan mudslinging from what I can see.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 22 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-02-22T10:04:14-05:00

As you all know, she is in fact a combat veteran. This is just more media slander from folks who likely never served, nor would they.

Being a veteran, means your served honorably. Being a combat veteran means you served in a combat theater/zone. That could be wherever the DOD has designated a combat theater of operations. That service alone does not mean you earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medic Badge, or similiar awards from other services. Those are separate awards, and a separate category.

Many many many serve in the Army and support and fight along side our Infantry and Armor forces, hence many support Soldiers (which most of us are in the Army) are right there with them.

Because a transporter never got in firefight, does mean they were not doing a dangerous and at times deadly job in combat. In 2003-2004 driving from Kuwait to Baghdad on MSR Tampa, or Route Irish... was no walk in the park. Many times being a support Soldier out and about supporting has inherent risks that don't come if your rolling around in Heavy Battalion or Stryker Battalion TF. We know early on, for most of the war in Iraq, the bad guys would specifically target support units. Heck, that is one of our combat principals... attack the rear and disrupt lines of communication...

She is combat Veteran, and they should shut up.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-02-22T11:49:32-05:00

Reference: "Fellow Senate Armed Services Committee colleague Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — himself a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war — called Ernst a combat veteran "by any definition." "Malicious claims to the contrary denigrate not only her service, but that of countless current and former service members who served honorably in a range of roles in our military," he said in a statement. Carter echoed that sentiment, noting that honoring only certain kinds of military service — in this case, battlefield fighting — risks alienating other troops who have served honorably. Since the Ernst piece was published and picked up by other news outlets, most veterans' groups have declined comment on the criticisms, other than to offer official statements saying it's clear the senator served honorably in a designated combat zone."

I read through all of the other posts and while all are in agreement that the Senator served honorably and most agree can claim the title "combat vet", I truly don't think that is the "kernel" of danger that this entire public dialogue represents. This rhetoric is much much deeper than what most have characterized as a 'political' challenge from Democrats/liberals against Republican/conservatives, if fact one can find where both sides have defended the other when veteran status was challenged (such as Sen McCain criticizing ads denigrating then Sen Kerry's veteran status when he was seeking election to President and SECDEF Carter's (D) defense of Sen Ernst [see above quote]). What I read into this during a time of fiscal constraints and government economic debt combined with downsizing from the concept of less risk and threat to the nation's security is only the beginning of a discussion we (as veterans, NG, Reserve and AD) will see more of in the future and must carefully decide how we will engage in it. The concept is to attempt to "narrowly define" who does and who does not deserve government benefits and how those benefits will be provided to the generations that come behind us. The "declined comments" by veterans groups are likely due to the impression that to provide comment provides credence to the media claims. These claims also serve to splinter veterans' voices and create doubt in the minds of those who were not actively in a firefight as to their own status (as witnessed across other RP posts). I am in agreement with several other posts that as the minority (less than 2% of Americans have served in uniform, much less in combat zones), we must carefully pay attention to such public "dialogue" and determine how we as a community should respond. If we do not provide the "definitions"- make no mistake that the media and others who have not served stand ready to provide those definitions for us.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-02-22T12:00:48-05:00

Reading the tone of this just pissed me off. In this day and age, especially with reporters embellishing their war time record, and stolen Valor reports floating around the internet with lightening speed, we are stuck in time and space...and feel the need to question everyone's record. We have even seen reports of AD soldiers wearing awards they do not rate. Fast forward to the 21st century....our records are not always accurate, unfortunately every place we do deploy to does not get entered into our ERB/SRB...we have to advocate for ourselves. We have to stand up for what is right, and sometimes it involves asking questions. Combat time in today's Army doesn't mean we pulled the trigger, it means we were in harms way...we were locked and loaded, prepared for the worse....unfortunately for some this isn't the same as their experience. And sadly in this case, I honestly believe she is being questioned because she is a Republican and female....what has it come to?

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Feb 22 at 2015 1:17 PM

2015-02-22T13:17:34-05:00

All I have to do is look at WHO is questioning and it becomes clear... The Huffington Post - Training ground for what is known as "yellow journalism".
I don't object to honest criticism, but this is just so much blatant hogwash...... I'm not a fan of politicians in general, but if this is the worst they can come up with about her, I may have to consider moving to Iowa. *grin*

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made Mar 22 at 2015 6:08 PM

2015-03-22T18:08:33-04:00

Ill give her this much...at least she went...

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Apr 1 at 2015 3:19 PM

2015-04-01T15:19:33-04:00

I'm not a fan of JOhn Mccain at all, but if he says shes a combat vet, then she's a combat vet. that kind of thing i don't see as something that should be argued with a guy who was a POW.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 6:03 PM

2015-04-01T18:03:59-04:00

Combat is combat. Not everyone involved in WW2 in Europe was shot at, does that mean they aren't combat veterans? My second deployment was as a Combat Adviser to 5th Iraqi Army Division, I wasn't shot at, mortared, or IED'd the whole time (unlike my other two) does that mean it wasn't a combat tour? If she served in Iraq in OIF I, she served a combat tour no matter what the critics say.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Apr 1 at 2015 10:07 PM

2015-04-01T22:07:23-04:00

Junk like this really makes you hate the media. These pukes that print this junk don't know the meaning of service to ones country. They live under the freedom we provide yet take shots at those of us that served with honor. I'm not a combat veteran. I spent my time at sea on The Enterprise. But does that make me less a veteran?

Response by SSG Stacy Carter made Apr 2 at 2015 2:46 AM

2015-04-02T02:46:14-04:00

This is outright stupid. Calling someones service into question when the DOD and the VA both confirm that she is in fact a combat veteran is deplorable. Combat Veteran status is not determined by being in a firefight. It is determined by being in service in a combat zone. If I remember correctly the 1178th Transportation Company was based out of Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. According to the DOD Kuwait was part of the combat zone for OIF. This makes her a combat veteran..

Response by SFC Bill Murphy made Apr 3 at 2015 11:12 PM

2015-04-03T23:12:24-04:00

I know of Soldiers who served in LTC Ernst and have said she was an Excellent Leader SFC Retired Bill Murphy

Response by MAJ John Storer made Apr 4 at 2015 4:08 PM

2015-04-04T16:08:13-04:00

It really calls Into question the character and the self esteem of those that want to make these types of allegations. There is a huge number of alleged "combat warriors" who like to walk around with their chest out talking shit about how they are the biggest baddest killer in the valley and anyone who hasn't been in the vicinity of a bullet launched by our enemies is simply not a combat veteran. I have found that the majority of the people passing these judgments have never been outside the wire let alone pulled the trigger in a real no-shit firefight. It is as though the only way they can validate themselves is to either embellish or make up altogether how bad they had it. This woman served in a combat zone and is indeed a combat veteran. Those that say otherwise need to get over themselves and stop tying their self worth to a perceived value based on if someone was shot at or not. Anyone that talks about how many times they were shot at or how someone else is a "POG" or less valuable because of their MOS instantly brings their own history into question and causes me great suspicion.

Response by SSG Dave Rogers made Apr 22 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-04-22T13:26:21-04:00

This is what politics and media do during an election, take something to extremes and blur the lines so people have to stand on defense for every little thing. I don't really like her, than again not a big fan of most Republicans, but if she has the paperwork to show it is so, than let it be already.

You have to wonder, is it because she is a female that she gets this kind of criticism? If she was a tall white conservative male would they even be questioning the service?

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 22 at 2015 2:04 PM

2015-04-22T14:04:13-04:00

MAJ Paul Hoiland, SGT Keith Bodine, LTC Erik Price, 2LT Scott Armstrong, SSG Christopher Adame, Capt Christopher Mueller, COL Jon Thompson, CPT Eron Lindsey, COL John Handy, COL Charles Williams, COL Alicia GB Smith, 1SG Randall McPherson, TSgt Hunter Logan, SFC Michael Jackson, MBA

Wait one damn minute! I knew then CPT Ernst while she was deployed! Her TOC was next to our TOC at Camden Arifjan. I think she was a great officer and she was always willing to help a sister unit when she could. In fact I would say the 1057th TC and the 1168th TC great working relation ship.

Now this BS about CPT Ernst only being in the combat area and not a veteran is unfounded, It may be that they did not make many trips North of NAVSTAR but it was still hostile at times in the “rear.” We had several attacks take place at the front gate of Arifjan. Another event that happened when My platoon leader and I were returning from camp wolf and the convoy behind us maybe 200M got hit by some Hotel (hadji's) Elements. There were plenty of other incidents that took place as well in Kuwait that endangered soldiers lives.

Now to drive my point home, if you are a sailor on a carrier and you launch fighter aircraft off the deck are you not a veteran of that conflict? By the logic of that yellow journalistic tabloid called the HUFFPO no sailor is a veteran unless they fly or put boots on the ground. The same would apply to the mechanic who spends hours roasting in the sun keeping the MRAP on the road. What about the medical staff at the hospitals who have to patch up the wounded or who have no choice but watch as others die.

Ariana Huffington is a far left zealot along with the entire staff of that so called news outlet. The National Enquirer has more credibility and that is not saying much. The Liberal* MSM will gutter snipe any Republican candidate over anything they can just to try and shift the vote to the left. They then get accolades from their hive minded sheep for followers who can not think for them selves. These are the same type of people that greeted Vietnam vet's with baby killer and other vile crap; however, that method is no longer PC to say it, but I am sure they are thinking it.

In closing I will say that it is clear what they are trying to do, not just to LTC Ernst but all whom the far left does not embrace: divide and conquer.

*When I use the term liberal I mean the likes of Judy Chue, Sam Farr (left), Jan Schakowsky, Steve Cohen, Al Franken, Nancy Pelosi, and their Ilk. The Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic fringe is a term used to characterize members of a political or social movement as extremists with eccentric or fanatical views. The term was popularized by Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote in 1913 that, "Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe."

P.S. if you think there is a little anger in my post, you are underestimating it.

Response by SGT Christopher Flansburg made Apr 23 at 2015 3:33 PM

2015-04-23T15:33:23-04:00

"Officially " I am a combat veteran (Grenada. Operation "urgent fury")
I can hardly count myself as battle hardened as someone who sered in our recent wars.

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Apr 23 at 2015 3:35 PM

2015-04-23T15:35:17-04:00

This hits home with an incident that just happened. I was in the bathroom in a store. 2 regular stalls and 1 handicapped stall. I was right in front of a vet in a wheel chair missing his legs. Of course I wasn't about to go in the handicapped stall even tho I have bad knees. But a local boy (ie non-white) zipped around him heading for the handicapped stall. The vet just asked him politely to let him use the stall. This kid (20 something) actually told him (among a lot of other hate filled statements) "you volunteered to go get blown up and now you cry about it". I was about to jump on him and beat the crap out of him as old and out of shape as I am. His buddy, who looked more capable of doing serious bodily harm was also about to attack, but the guy in the wheel chair showed the restraint and just told his buddy to go get the manager. The kid took off. Later I saw police cars outside but have no idea if it had to do with the jerk kid.

Oh, he called the vet a "cry baby gimp" a couple of times.

Sometimes the thought that we veterans defended this idiot's right to say such things is galling.

Response by SPC Don Stringer made Apr 23 at 2015 5:49 PM

2015-04-23T17:49:56-04:00

She as done more, honorably, than 99 per cent of the population. Kudos to the Senator.

Response by LTC Dom Dionne made Apr 23 at 2015 8:47 PM

2015-04-23T20:47:42-04:00

In the Army it is easy, she was deployed to a war zone. She was authorized to wear the Combat Service Identification Badge (or combat patch) on her uniform. Does not matter where you serve in the theater or if you never leave a base. Deployed Infantry Soldiers will be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. You want to know who saw action while deployed and are not in the Infantry, they will be the Soldiers wearing the Combat Action Badge or a Combat Medical Badge.

Can't they just say thank you for serving and deploying for your country.

Response by CPL Michael Krostag made Feb 19 at 2017 6:06 PM

2017-02-19T18:06:54-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 1:42 PM

2017-10-23T13:42:38-04:00

When is someone from the Huffington Post, or any of the other sources jumping on this bandwagon going to go spend fourteen months downrange with bad internet that costs too much, crappy food, and all the other welcome mats they roll out for us in the third world? It's real easy to split hairs from the comfort of an air conditioned office a short ride from home and all the people you love. Why not focus on some real issues and stories with teeth, instead of this soft pedaling crap. Find a journalist with guts, and point them at some real truth, and these slow news day waste of print drivel will get buried.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Oct 26 at 2017 7:06 AM

2017-10-26T07:06:30-04:00

According to what I see she meets egilibly requirements for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, enuff said.