Current Events

TOPICS:

Previous

PAGE: 

1 ... 

297 | 298 | 299

 ... 487

Next

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Next

Keith

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK
August 2002

NOV 24, 2004 08:47 PM

Source: Yahoo! News/Reuters


A 53-year-old Vietnam veteran from western Pennsylvania has been called up for active service with the U.S. military in the Iraq war, The Tribune Review of Greensburg, Pennsylvania reported on Wednesday.

Paul Dunlap, a sergeant in the Army National Guard, will join an armored division next month as a telecommunications specialist in Kuwait, and expects to be there for at least a year, the newspaper reported.

Dunlap, who has not been in combat since serving as a 19-year-old Marine in Vietnam, could not be reached for comment. He will leave behind his wife Mary, four children and three grandchildren.

"I don't think any of them want me to go," Dunlap told the paper. "I'm thinking it's a long time since I've been in war."

Dunlap, from the town of Pleasant Unity, near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, said he received a call from his sergeant major and was told to report for a soldier readiness program, the newspaper said.

Dunlap's wife was quoted as saying the entire family "prayed that he wouldn't pass his physical."

"It's very, very scary," she said. "He's been a soldier since I met him, but there's a part of me that wonders at 53: Is he going to be up to doing what he needs to do over there?



And they wonder why we're worried about a draft?

surreal

Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg

I'm lost
July 2004

NOV 24, 2004 08:57 PM

while i'm pretty sure i'm just making light of the situation (in fact, i am pretty certain of it):

if they're calling 53 year olds into active service, then why would you be worried about a draft? the way i see it, they'd just keep on reinstating old fogies, while you and your ilk would still be free to burn flags and harp on about ohio recounts on internet message boards

naja_haje

naja_haje

Portland, OR
March 2003

NOV 24, 2004 09:09 PM

Yeah, why would they when we have a nearly inexhaustible supply of retirees? I mean people are getting older each day right?

Gramps, we're moving you into a retirement village. In Falluja. Here's your rifle.

crispy

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

NOV 24, 2004 09:10 PM

They didn't just sneak up on this guy and call him indiscriminately ... I read about him months ago. Apparently there is a dearth of telecommunication specialists qualified for the field right now and this guy was willing to go.

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

NOV 24, 2004 09:25 PM

Koenigsegg said:
while i'm pretty sure i'm just making light of the situation (in fact, i am pretty certain of it):

if they're calling 53 year olds into active service, then why would you be worried about a draft? the way i see it, they'd just keep on reinstating old fogies, while you and your ilk would still be free to burn flags and harp on about ohio recounts on internet message boards



You know you can take his place, Mr. Kent State is a laugh riot.

crispy

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

NOV 24, 2004 09:34 PM



From PittsburghLIVE.com

Familiar territory: 53-year-old veteran to serve in Middle East
By Paul Paterra
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Paul Dunlap served 11 months in Vietnam. He knows what it's like to be in a war, not sure who the enemy is.

It's something he didn't think he would face again. But it appears he will.

Dunlap, 53, is a first sergeant in the Army National Guard Company C 28th Signal Battalion, based in Torrance, Derry Township. The thought of going to war was in the back of his mind, but he hadn't been in combat since he was a 19-year-old Marine in the Vietnam War.

The Pleasant Unity man has been called to active duty for Operation Dragoon, part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I'm thinking I'm going to be away for at least a year from my family and my grandchildren, friends," Dunlap said. "I'm thinking it's been a long time since I've been in war."

He leaves for Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday. After two to three weeks there, he will catch up to the 1st/103rd Armor in Kuwait. He expects to be there until at least December 2005.

Dunlap is a signal systems specialist. His unit will handle radio retransmissions.

"My mission over there will probably be running a (communications) center," he said. "We work on radios. We set up retransmissions between a station that you can't get a signal far enough for communication and you set up a jump station. We repair some of the equipment at a lower-level maintenance."

Dunlap will leave behind his wife, Mary; four children, Thomas, 34, Tammy, 31, Timothy James, 19, and Nicole, 18; and three grandchildren, Audrey, 9, Dylan, 3, and Laura, 1.

"I don't think any of them want me to go," Dunlap said.

His two oldest children think of their mother, who died in an automobile accident four or five years ago. They fear losing their father.

Other relatives remember his time in Vietnam and again face life with him at war.

"His sister said, 'I don't know if I can go through this again,'" Mary Dunlap said.

Dunlap's family has a long military history, dating back to the Civil War. Plans to develop an album documenting that history will have to wait.

Dunlap was informed of his possible deployment while on the job as a machinist at Hydro Carbide Corp. in Latrobe in early November.

"I was working second shift," Dunlap said. "I got a message that I was to call my sergeant major and that it was an urgent message. I got the word right there. It was sort of a shock."

Dunlap was told to report for a soldier readiness program at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.

"The 19-year-old just doesn't want him to go," Mary Dunlap said. "He prayed and prayed that he wouldn't pass his physical, just like the rest of us. There were many prayers going around that weekend he went there. Everyone I work with was praying he wouldn't pass."

It's tough for Dunlap to leave his family.

"The thing that gets to me is how are the people behind going to handle it," he said. "I'm not thinking about me. I know I can handle it. I'll have days when it's going to be a long day and you'll be thinking (of) home. I'm more worried about how they'll be dealing with it because they can't visually see what I'm doing or where I'm at or if I'm OK. I think it's going to be tougher on them than it is on me."

Mary Dunlap has the obvious range of emotions for someone whose spouse is going to war: fear, concern, sadness.

"It's very, very scary," she said. "I know that he's fit. I know that he's a soldier. He's been a soldier since I met him, but there's a part of me that wonders at 53: Is he going to be up to doing what he needs to do over there?

"He takes care of a lot of things (around the house). That's a scary thought. If something goes wrong with the car, he deals with it. If something goes wrong with the house, he deals with it. Even if he couldn't fix it, knowing he's there is everything. The thought of him not being there for a year just horrifies me."

She admits she has slept little since receiving the news of her husband's deployment. She told him that there would be no squabbles between them before he left. They take advantage of every moment together.

"It sure puts a whole different light on things," she said. "The things you don't take advantage of. The times you don't tell each other you love each other. The little things."

"We haven't had a harsh word or thought about anything," her husband added. "We've been making sure we're spending all of our time together.'

Paul Dunlap has been doing things he enjoys before his departure.

He went pheasant hunting with a buddy on Monday.

There are plans to go to Overly's Country Christmas at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds with his grandchildren. Several family members will get together at the Dunlaps' home for Thanksgiving. A going-away party is planned for Saturday at Latrobe Hose Company No. 5.

"I've been spending a lot more time with my wife and my children," Dunlap said. "I'm going to spend every minute I can with my family."



troglodyte

troglodyte

Victoria, BC
May 2003

NOV 24, 2004 09:50 PM

Can anyone say "overextended"?

Aaron

Aaron

Shakopee, MN
July 2004

NOV 24, 2004 10:03 PM

troglodyte said:
Can anyone say "overextended"?


Those are just rumors on the internets...

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 24, 2004 10:04 PM

Alright people aparently you have no freaking IDEA what the hell is going on here. I'll inform you. Since the dawn of time this has happened. It happened during KOSOVO, Desert Storm etc etc etc.

Before you people go off about a draft this has nothing to do with a draft. This guy probably has really special skills. His skills may include working on a device 7 people in the known world have worked on. Since the rest are probably dead. Especially in communications this is paramount. He may be in Kuwait in some AC building playing around with antique equipment.

As for Vietnam Vets I had 3 in my unit in Baghdad. They served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Same job differnet day. They also said Iraq was much calmer then Vietnam.

theYerg

theyerg

Charlotte, NC
October 2004

NOV 24, 2004 10:08 PM

did you guys also here about the great gandmother who has worked at a PX since 1979 who has signed on to go to Iraq?

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

NOV 24, 2004 10:23 PM

666Irish said:
He is a 53 year old veteran, still in the active reserves. His JOB is to be called if he is needed.



No, he's a 53 year old veteran who is in the National Guard. His job is to be called out for civil disturbances and natural disasters, and that's a part time job. It maxes out at a whopping $2365.58 in drill pay. Thats with the highest enlisted grade, the maximum number of drills and over 26 years of service.

This is not what they signed up for and this is how we're treating them.

[Edited on Nov 24, 2004 by reprobate]

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 24, 2004 10:44 PM

All right Reprobate excuse me but Im going to be a fucking ass for a minute.

You are more wrong then two boys fucking in a church on Easter!
Edit: Since someone complained I was denoting boys (12 and under) not young men etc. Also in church on Easter is a moral fopa for most. If you cant understand this or get hooked on this comment instead of the rest will I am just sorry. Infact I'll post a I'm sorry in the I'm sorry thread if you like

First of all you have no fucking idea what the National Gaurd is from that statment. Secondly the NATIONAL FUCKING GAURD is not your personal disaster relief. They are part of the military and have the same fucking Job as the reservest. The National Gaurd is there to ogment the military in times of war and crisis. Many of the friends I made last year were in the national Gaurd and as old as this guy.

Secondly let me ask you where your going to get payed 160 dollars for 2 days work? Not to mention thats one weekend a month. The two weeks a year that is require is money on top of the cash made you stated and it is considered active duty. I forget what I made but I avearage about 1200 dollars for that 2 weeks.

Infact I might add your 2365.58 number is fucking wrong as well.

Drill pay
Scroll down and check out DRILL PAY.

Not to mention the free hotel the free food medical benifits etc etc etc. Did I mention college credit free CLEP tests etc etc etc.

The military isnt payed well but the reserves and Gaurd are not spanked.

Hell most of my unit is past 45 Im one of the few young guys in the Reserves and its not a hard pressing job.

I forgot to mention that the Air Force even has shuttle flights from the tip of florida to bring reservists, and gaurd up to Charleston AFB to do there monthly job.

Also the Guard gets specialized Bonuses for being in the Gaurd that the reserves dont get. Thanks to the States way of handleing it they can get tons of cash etc to be a Gaurd. Sorry a guy who signed up for it has to do his job.

Untill you get your shit straight I suggest you dont post your gross inacuarcys.


[Edited on Nov 25, 2004 by InfernoMDM]

[Edited on Nov 25, 2004 by InfernoMDM]

troglodyte

troglodyte

Victoria, BC
May 2003

NOV 24, 2004 10:52 PM

For a minute?

Yeah, take care of those inacuracys.

[Edited on Nov 24, 2004 by troglodyte]

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 24, 2004 10:59 PM

Sorry my spelling sucks, and I hate people who cry wolf when a spider crawls by.

_MrE_

_MrE_

Santa Cruz, CA
July 2004

NOV 24, 2004 11:06 PM

Im confused about all these "recalled to duty" stories. I have a lot of friends that are millitary, and well over do for TDY (tour of duty, I think), and yet they are staying here and they are recalling all these vets. Are the sending the recalls overseas or using them to fill empty posistions in the states?

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 24, 2004 11:10 PM

I cant say for everyone but the AF is filling up positions in the states. However we do get sent over to the sandbox with the rest.

Lemonkid

Lemonkid

Canada
May 2003

NOV 24, 2004 11:16 PM

naja_haje said:
Yeah, why would they when we have a nearly inexhaustible supply of retirees? I mean people are getting older each day right?

Gramps, we're moving you into a retirement village. In Falluja. Here's your rifle.



Hahahahahahaha.

Telecommunications? That guy looks like he couldn't even use Google.

[Edited on Nov 24, 2004 by Lemonkid]

DrStinkypants

DrStinkypants

Saint Paul, MN
October 2002

NOV 24, 2004 11:18 PM

reprobate said:

Koenigsegg said:
while i'm pretty sure i'm just making light of the situation (in fact, i am pretty certain of it):

if they're calling 53 year olds into active service, then why would you be worried about a draft? the way i see it, they'd just keep on reinstating old fogies, while you and your ilk would still be free to burn flags and harp on about ohio recounts on internet message boards



You know you can take his place, Mr. Kent State is a laugh riot.



You know you could make a point that relates to the topic instead of acting snotty Mr.Takeshisselfwaytoofuckingseriouslyontheinternet

[Edited on Nov 24, 2004 by DrStinkypants]

_MrE_

_MrE_

Santa Cruz, CA
July 2004

NOV 24, 2004 11:50 PM

InfernoMDM said:
I cant say for everyone but the AF is filling up positions in the states. However we do get sent over to the sandbox with the rest.



Ok, well that isnt quite as bad. I just cant see sending these guys with no recent training, and probably a general lack of physical conditioning over to The Sandbox (I know this particular thread deals with a reservist, so it doesnt apply to him).

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 24, 2004 11:52 PM

Actually your probably right on the money, even the army units have a wind up time from what I have seen. They usually get a few months of intensive retraining/ Urban warfare stuff then off they go. Mind you thats not par for the cource, and the AF follows that doctrine more.

Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg

I'm lost
July 2004

NOV 24, 2004 11:54 PM

DrStinkypants said:

reprobate said:

Koenigsegg said:
while i'm pretty sure i'm just making light of the situation (in fact, i am pretty certain of it):

if they're calling 53 year olds into active service, then why would you be worried about a draft? the way i see it, they'd just keep on reinstating old fogies, while you and your ilk would still be free to burn flags and harp on about ohio recounts on internet message boards



You know you can take his place, Mr. Kent State is a laugh riot.



You know you could make a point that relates to the topic instead of acting snotty Mr.Takeshisselfwaytoofuckingseriouslyontheinternet

[Edited on Nov 24, 2004 by DrStinkypants]




Koenigsegg said:
while i'm pretty sure i'm just making light of the situation (in fact, i am pretty certain of it):



edit: i am retarded. but the comment still stands.

[Edited on Nov 25, 2004 by Koenigsegg]

ferret

ferret

I'm lost
OLD SKOOL

NOV 25, 2004 12:11 AM

InfernoMDM said:
All right Reprobate excuse me but Im going to be a fucking ass for a minute.

You are more wrong then two boys fucking in a church on Easter!



maybe i'm missing something, but what's wrong with that?

InfernoMDM

InfernoMDM

Hilton Head Island, SC
July 2003

NOV 25, 2004 12:15 AM

Does it have less meaning that I didnt put two 12 yearold boys. Or is the rest of the post that unimportant?

somegrunt

somegrunt

Shelton, WA
August 2004

NOV 25, 2004 12:21 AM

national guardsmen are getting called up to go to Iraq?! No fucking way!!!!

_MrE_

_MrE_

Santa Cruz, CA
July 2004

NOV 25, 2004 12:32 AM

somegrunt said:
national guardsmen are getting called up to go to Iraq?! No fucking way!!!!


perhaps you should check out this thread: here

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Next