Vietnam veteran, 53, called to active duty

<PLEASANT UNITY, Pa. - More than three decades after he was last in combat, a Vietnam veteran has been called to active duty in Iraq.

Paul Dunlap, 53, of Pleasant Unity, will leave for Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday after being called up as part of Operation Dragoon.

"I'm thinking I'm going to be away for at least a year from my family and my grandchildren (and) friends," Dunlap told the Tribune-Review of Greensburg in a story published Wednesday. "I'm thinking it's been a long time since I've been in war."

Mary Dunlap, said that the couple's 19-year old son, Timothy James, doesn't want his father to go to Iraq.

"He prayed and prayed that (his father) wouldn't pass his physical, just like the rest of us," she said.>


http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10264056.htm

next comes a universal draft

bunch. On second thought, let's just declare "Mission Accomplished" and call the whole thing off!!

but past is prologue and they soon will be.

Many people who leave Active Duty status attach themselves to a Reserve (or Guard) unit. IF they are drilling with a reserve unit once a month, they are subject to call up on Active Duty again. People who continue to drill with a reserve unit know they may be called to Active Duty. This should come as no surprise although I agree that it is often unfair to the individual and family.

Those people who opt instead to NOT participate in any way with a particular reserve unit often must be transferred to the Inactive Ready Reserve UNTIL the completion of their contract. No more.

You play, you pay.

... and cut this man some slack?

gays next to you in iraq

I don't want to hear you complain if you voted for bush**

The area voted for Bush, so the odds are that he is a Bush man.

I can't believe it!!!!

I pray for all who oppose this war and all it stands for...

My thoughts are with all of the people of the US...how can this be happening?

Bush,Dick and KKKarl can go FUCK THEMSELVES...they know how to FUCK everyone else, they should be used to it!!

I'm married to a vet; he's 52. Could they possibly...?

This is not one of those "inactive reserve" callups.

and away from combat zones, this is scraping the bottom of the barrel, truly

I wonder what he's thinking....

He's probably thinking it is time to drop his papers, or develop a serious, though not fatal, non-deployable medical condition.

I'm curious.

When he delivered the fake turkey last year, he wouldn't even venture out to visit the rest of the troops outside the airport hangar because he was afraid he'd get shot.

When he "served" in the National Guard, he shirked most of his duties -- he wasn't responsible enough to take a physical when it was required. And he has the GALL to call up Vietnam veterans for his unnecessary war?

So - you think he'll pull another surprise visit this year?

Would he dare?

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

It's nice to have found you all.

He doesn't need the votes now.

Oh no... that can't really be calling it that.

to force into doing something, to coerce.

Past articles have generally chronicled older vets who have agreed to go back in & go to Iraq. Is this guy going involuntarily?

and he is getting called up....

The original post is very misleading

but the snippet from the article does mention the family praying that he wouldn't pass his physical, so at least they didn't seem to want him to go.

Two soldiers over the age of 50 have died in Iraq of heart attacks, that we know of.

I'm sure there were more who may not have died from heart attacks.

then nothing will...........
There's a reason that throughout the ages soldiers or warriors or whatever word works for you, were YOUNG men. It's tough, hard, physical work.
Then there's also the thought that since he was in 'Nam maybe he has subsequently come to discover that war is nothing but an excuse for someone to make money.
He spent a year of his life protecting us from communism. If we didn't send troops to Vietnam, the communists would take over and spread their system all over the WORLD!
Anyone around during that time can recall the propagnda sent our way by the government(which was run by Dems by the way) to justify Vietnam.
I was thinking the other day about Vietnam and Cronkite and all that stuff Dan Rather went through with the 'forged' documents. When Vietnam was raging, there was no Fox, CNN, or MSNBC. So when Walter Cronkite began to be critical of the war, some people eventually listened. There was no real competition. Now the Fox guys are blaring shit 24-7 ande the grains of sanity are lost in the sandstorm of bs.....

Just heard about a heavily-smoking alcoholic, aged 54, who graduated ahead of me in high school, who is in the Reserves and is on his way to Iraq. I met this guy a couple times recently, and, trust me, he doesn't look like he's fit for much more than going grocery shopping. I can't believe that the people who survived the Vietnam years are now being fucked with again. I tremble for my son-- can the draft be far behind?

My girlfriend told me recently that her stepfather just got called up for active duty in Iraq.

He's in his early 50's. He's on disability and apparently has a bad knee(s). He's got a paunch because he sits quite a bit these days.

They suited him up, and he's now in Iraq. My friend says he's nothing but target practice. They are truly desperate.

Nobody that has been called up has been out of the blue ... that is they were ALL, to a person part of the Reserves or the National Guard. I feel bad but because they drill on an average of once a month and draw pay and benefits, they KNEW that they could be called up at any time.

I've served with senior warrant officers and prior service majors in their 50s on active duty. This guy is a First Sergeant (Senior NCO) E-8.

No, this is an abuse of our Reserves and Guard but NOT, I repeat NOT blindly pulling EX military off the street.

Calm down and PLEASE continue to write your representatives to seek an END this occupation as soon as possible.

We don't need people flaking out now ... the right wing already blows that one out of proportion.

... and it would be legal for the freepers to enlist to take the load off.

It's their patriotic duty to support their president.

Yes, go and enlist all those who feel that "freedom is on the march."

If you're too old to enlist, fear not! <eg> Haliburton, and it's various subsidiaries are recruiting at this time. You don't even have to take a physical and there's no age limit.

Yes, all those who love to wrap themselves up in the flag and CLAIM that they love this country oh so much ... and that this invasion of Iraq is justified, please don't hesitate to get over to Iraq! <eg>

he could be called to active duty too! :scared:

Unless he is a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) which means he didn't complete his contract (probability = ZERO) OR he is actively drilling with a National Guard or Reserve Unit, your step father, like myself will NOT be called ... well yet.

Calm down folks, we need to educate ourselves and help those who may be caught up in the upcoming Draft. When the Draft is implemented, they will take the 20 y.o.s first. Please read up on that, more probable scenario.

In fact he retired in 2000. You are "blowing smoke" for nothing if you are concerned that your step-dad will get called to AD. Well, unless he's actively drilling with a reserve unit. If not, it ain't gonna happen. :-)

Thanks for easing it...it was just a scare with everything going on :hug:

that blows!

retired 35+ years WO ask to come back on active duty.now serving in coast guard out of huston tx i was geting out in 1969 when he came to the unit i was in and i'm 58 now :(

Im feeling a draft.

:wtf: Well the Government has finally lost it. I guess I will too:crazy:

who'd otherwise fail the test at age 18 (asthmatics, non 20/20 vision, mental disorder, whatever), then they've hit rock bottom.

(to volunteer) some have been ordered back. Anyone who draws retention pay (retirement) can be called back to active duty until age 65 (I think that is the age). I would hazard a guess that for the most part, retirees and "old guys & gals" are kept stateside performing a variety of duties, like informing family members of the death of a soldier, sailor, marine etc. They also may act as liason for these families while arrangements are made for the deceased soldier. A liason officer or NCO has no higher responsibility than to the families of soldiers killed in action/died on active duty. Most senior NCOs and Commissioned Officers in the services have performed this duty at one time or another. I have a friend (55) who has just signed back up (volunteered) to return to the Army. He retired 15 years ago, as an E8. His first job after 2 weeks of refresher training (TA50 equipment, etc) will be to escort and assist wounded soldiers and their families when they reunite. He has spent the last two or three months training himself physically for the demands of Army life. He has lost 20 pounds and is back in shape (weightlifting, running, force marches, etc). His goal is to simple help he said, so he and his wife are heading back to Army life to help fellow soldiers and their families, just like he did before as a 1SG (First Sergeant). He was/is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. He said he would go either to Iraq, Afghanistan or the Philippines after his first assignment has been completed if he is needed. Yes he could be sent to a combat zone just like anyone else. He is capable and fit, but he is no longer a 20 year old, but he is STILL a soldier.

Moroni

I wonder when they will start the draft? It looks pretty inevitable.