Don’t compare Kerry and Bush

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, February 15, 2004

Normally, I would never question the motivation of a man who voluntarily throws himself into combat and performs in that role heroically. John Kerry earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Kerry went, was decorated and I give him credit for that.

But what he did after bothers me. After maneuvering an early release from Vietnam, and then an early discharge from the Navy so he could pursue his political career, he took his medals and literally threw them back at his government. Thirty years later he wants to reclaim those medals.

On the other hand, George Bush chose service in the Air National Guard. He did so honorably, becoming a commissioned officer and a fighter pilot. Everyone who has served in the guard or reserves knows that “call up” is possible. Yes, it’s one weekend a month and two weeks during the year. But the threat of going to war is real, then and now. President Bush served honorably in the guard during the Vietnam War. He didn’t go to Vietnam (nor did his unit), but he could have. It’s just the way things worked out. So use caution in how you try to compare his service with John Kerry’s.

There are about 1.2 million reserve component members in our armed forces today, and countless former or retired members and they all vote. I’d advise the Democrats to be very careful about suggesting that George Bush’s service in the Guard (and therefore everyone else’s) was something less noble than Kerry’s active duty service. That tactic just might backfire, especially since Kerry’s post-war conduct was certainly something less than honorable.

Langley