maluckey
"Although not AWOL, Bush learned to work the Reserve system to allow his non-participation. While it is not the stand-up thing to do, it was not illegal, and he earned his time by signing into a unit without pilots."
In his annual evaluation report, Bush's two supervising officers, Lieutenant Colonel William D. Harris Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian, made it clear that Bush had "not been observed at" his Texas unit "during the period of report" -- the twelve month period from May 1972 through the end of April 1973.
In the comments section of this evaluation report Lieutenant Colonel Harris notes that Bush had "cleared this base on 15 May 1972, and has been performing equivalent training in a non flying role with the 187th Tac Recon Gp at Dannelly ANG Base, Alabama" (the Air National Guard Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Dannelly Air Force Base near Montgomery, Alabama).
This was incorrect. Bush didn't apply for duty at Dannelly Air Force Base until September 1972. From May until September he was in limbo, his temporary orders having been rejected. And when his orders to appear at Dannelly came through he still didn't appear. Although his instructions clearly directed Bush to report to Lieutenant Colonel William Turnipseed on the dates of "7-8 October 0730-1600, and 4-5 November 0730-1600," he never did. In interviews conducted with the Boston Globe earlier this year, both General Turnipseed and his former administration officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Lott, said that Bush never put in an appearance.
"The issue is whether he broke regulations....he didn't. Did he play within the spirit of his obligation.....no. Unless someone has proof that he was listed as AWOL............put up or shut up. There are no records of this status, nor claims by anyone that there ever were."
Who needs proof to make allegations?? Certainly not the Swifities and not me either. Isn't not reporting for duty considered brealking regulations?
"As far as the infamous missed flight physical...Bush likely missed his flight physical because he had alcohol in his system. That's a no-no for pilots. Bush knew this, so to avoid legal issues, took the no-fly status. He was a party animal at the time."
The taxpayers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his training so when the spoiled rich kid can't keep his "nose" clean he just doesn't want to fly anymore??? He agreed to "fulfill the obligation to the utmost of his ability"
Utmost of his ability
I guess he was just lying to keep his ass out of Vietnam and learn to fly at the taxpayers expense at the same time. He sure wasn't serious about being a pilot, even though he was being paid for it.
AWOL is absent from duty for 30 days or less. His infraction seems considerably more then that. I had friends over there that were killed while he was playing "report for duty" tag!!