So I ran into the reservist who had gloated over shrub's 04 win.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

This is the guy who went around after the election looking for Kerry voters to gloat in their face in NOV '04. The guy I'd described in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2590647

He's spent at least two full tours in Iraq (I think it had been one at the time of the election). Doing a very dangerous job. He did not want to go on the last tour.

He told me he's getting "boarded" out of the service. For the uninitiate, this refers to a Medical Board, where you get administratively separated from the service for medical reasons. In his case, for PTSD, and hearing damage from exposure from the combat environment. Constant ringing in the ears. Can't sleep at night.

He's still several years away from retirement, so unless he gets a disability rating from his medical board, he will get nothing for benefits. Even if he does get disability he gets to enjoy trying to wring his hard earned benefits out of the shrub's "ownership society" low funded VA system.

Didn't know what to say to the guy, really.

[Oceansaway]

1. Toyota Syndrome.....

'you asked for it....you got it....

[Generic Brad]

17. Or in the same vein - Burger King Syndrome

Have it your way.

[blue cat]

2. So did he say anything about Bushco?

Just wondering.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. You know, I never initiate those conversations with servicepeople.

If they want to bring it up with me, I'll talk with them.

The ones who are my friends and former colleagues basically never do.

If they have drunk deeply of the Kool-aid, I don't like to let them know what I think of their emperor and war unless they really want to engage in that conversation.

[roamer65]

20. I think I would have said...

now you can see why I voted for someone who has had war experience in the last election.

[rzemanfl]

3. Tell him to look up what "schadenfreude" means. n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

4. tell him to go see Kerry for help

[theoldman]

6. It's amazing how they change their tune when they have spent

some time in Iraq. Maybe Bush needs to walk down the streets in Bagdad like our service men and women.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. Honestly I don't know if this guy has changed his tune at all. For all I

know he could be some homeless vet on the street and still worship the tin god and the noble cause.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

7. Thanks For Fighting Them Over There

Tell him that there are so many people in the U.S. grateful for what he gave up....50-60 years of hearing.....to help the Iraqi people have a Democratic society, and be free. It's a small sacrifice to make, but I'm so glad he values the Iraqi people enough, that he is willing to endure many decades of ringing in his ears just for them, and the Amerikan way of life.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. He has Democrats to thank...

... for keeping his local veterans hospital open.

[Geek_Girl]

10. He may not have changed his mind at all about Bushco or Iraq

I was watching Born on the fourth of July about a year ago and realized it took Ron Kovic half way through the film before he finally got a clue. He went through hell and still he was spouting off pro-war nonsense like "Love it or leave it." to his brother.

It made me realize that people's views don't change very easily.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. You're a class act.

I hope you know that. When he was being an immature jerk right after the election you may have thought that "he was dead to you," but you didn't say it. This time you could have said so many things to him, but you held your tongue showing you have more class in your little finger then he has in his whole body.

[blue cat]

14. I agree

You are a class act.

[steely]

16. my first response too

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. It really wasn't ever an option, or consideration, to say something mean.

Not the other day when I saw him again. I sure felt like it in NOV 04 when he was busy getting in everybody's face. But now, talking to the guy, I just felt kind of sorry for him. We just traded a few sea stories and made small talk, and he told me about the PTSD and his medical board.

At the time I wrote the other thread, he knew he was going back to Iraq but thought he had avoided his combat medic job (one of the more risky jobs you can have) to be at the big combat hospital. At the time of that thread his status was up in the air, but he did in fact receive orders to go be a combat medic again. I'm assuming that's when the hearing damage happened, and maybe the PTSD too, although the seeds of that were already there I think. He had spoken of the disturbing effect all the exposure to death, the sights and smells of it, had on him.

He has the president, the war, the PTSD, and the VA system that he voted for. So he deserves all that. But it's not in me to say "you still loving your boy Bush?" or anything like that.

[sarge43]

12. No point in gloating

He's another victim of Bush and Co; he just doesn't know it yet.

[BootinUp]

13. Just remind him whos in charge of all three branches n/t

[mom cat]

15. If they only knew how they were going to be screwed ....

Too bad this guy foung out the hard way. Hope he joins some anti war vet group (after he gets his disability status).

[globalvillage]

18. That's so sad.

Guess he was so busy gloating over Sen Kerry's loss he didn't notice who was looking out for his interests.
Good luck to him, I hope he's taken care of.

S.AMDT.3143 to S.CON.RES.83 To prevent the imposition of excessive TRICARE fees and co-pays on military retirees.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 3/16/2006) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2006 Senate amendment not agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3143 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 53. Record Vote Number: 67.

S.AMDT.2616 to S.2020 To accelerate marriage penalty relief for the earned income tax credit, to extend the election to include combat pay in earned income, and to make modifications of effective dates of leasing provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 11/17/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 11/17/2005 Amendment SA 2616 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.AMDT.1502 to S.1042 To make permanent the extension of the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1502 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.1029 to H.R.2361 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for the Veterans Health Administration.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/27/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2005 Proposed amendment SA 1029 withdrawn in Senate.

S.AMDT.334 to H.R.1268 To increase the military death gratuity to $100,000, effective with respect to any deaths of members of the Armed Forces on active duty after October 7, 2001.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 334 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.AMDT.333 to H.R.1268 To extend the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 333 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.2970 : A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data, to ensure that such persons are appropriately notified of such thefts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 5/23/2006) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/23/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.2449 : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for nonregular service from 60 years of age to 55 years of age.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 3/16/2006) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.2163 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code, to increase and index educational benefits for veterans under the Montgomery GI bill to ensure adequate and equitable benefits for active duty members and members of the selected Reserve, and to include certain servicemembers previously excluded from such benefits.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 12/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.460 : A bill to expand and enhance benefits for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/18/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.240 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and are called to active duty and with respect to replacement employees and to allow a comparable credit for activated military reservists who are self-employed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/1/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/1/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.