Iraq vet plans to return his medals in protest

[RiverStone]

Source: ArmyTimes

MADISON, Wis. — An Iraq war veteran said Tuesday he is returning his military medals in what anti-war groups are calling a rare and powerful protest.

Josh Gaines, 27, plans to mail the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Service Medal to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He said he will do so during a protest scheduled for Wednesday in Madison.

“I’m going to give those back because I truly feel that I did not defend my nation and I did not help with the Global War on Terrorism,” said Gaines, who lives in Madison. “If anything, this conflict has bred more terrorism in the Middle East.”

Gaines served a yearlong tour in Iraq between 2004 and 2005 with the U.S. Army Reserve. He spent his time guarding two military bases and issuing ammunition to soldiers but never fired a weapon, he said.



Read more: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/09/ap_vetmedals_070925/

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I've never read ArmyTimes (till today), though for a site that says, "your online resource for everything Army" - I am pleased they would publish this story.

So many righties have a knee jerk assumption that all soldiers walk in lock-step for Shrub's immoral war!

NOT!

[Highway61]

1. Sure hope he doesn't run for president someday

Like Kerry ..."throwing his medals over the fence" came back to bite him didn't it? Can't do that ya know :sarcasm:

[RamboLiberal]

4. My thought exactly - what will they call Swift Boating 30 years from now

Humveeing?

[Judi Lynn]

2. It would take a tremendous amount of courage to do this. Good for him.

I'm sure he knows he will be likely to inherit a load of nastiness from rightwingers who believe it's GOOD if you die for them and their filthy plans for the rest of the world, and get out of the way so the next one can step forward to do the same.

[Earth_First]

3. K&R! n/t