I quit the American Legion this morning

[Mend]

Hi, the husband half of "mend" here. I am twice a veteran (Naval Air Corps 1946 and U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps 1952-1955). I am a life-long liberal Democrat. I worked for Jack, Bobby, and most recently John's campaign. I thought I served so we could be free, including protesting immoral oil wars. Guess freedom is not part of the right-wing extremist agenda.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Wow! Thanks for your service, then and now. :^)

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Kudos to you, Mend!!

And thank you for your service to our country!

[gratuitous]

3. Still doing your duty, all these years later

Good for you.

[Cleita]

4. Must have been a hard thing to do.

Doing the right thing often is. Thank you for your service to our country.

[katinmn]

5. I think the membership needs to recall their freeper president!

It's a shame. I KNOW he doesn't speak for a lot of veterans. Just the rabid kool-aid drinking ones.


Thank you for your service to our country, Mend.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Standing strongly for what you believe!

You have my respect!

[whatever4]

7. My sincere thankfulness, for your service and patriotism, then and now nm

[jonnyblitz]

8. I quit the VFW a few years ago. I was never a legion member

GOOD for you anyways!! :hi: :thumbsup:

[Justitia]

9. You are a man of principles, sir. Thank you for defending our rights

via your actions (and your service).

:hi:

[seabeyond]

10. yea mends husband half. do you want to share

how your fellow vets feel and what they thought of you quitting. i have a thing to know what is really going on with the soldiers, their wives and the true climate. i like to understand and be respectful, can only do that if i hear

my husband felt the same way, obviously not as strong a bond, letting go of his nra membership in '96 when they did something, and walking away from the republican party after a lifetime, with the iraq war and bush. i respect a person of honor so much, and thank you

[rfranklin]

11. "Freedom" is a sales tool for most politicians...

but it is false advertising every time a Republican right winger mouths it. Because "freedom" for them means making everyone else bend to their will and service their economic aims--which means that if there is a dollar in your pocket it will end up in theirs, usually at the point of a gun or under threat of imprisonment.

[tulsakatz]

12. you're right!

Freedom is not part of their agenda......of course, you would never hear them say that!!

I'd also like to extend my thanks for your service to our country!!

[back2basics909]

13. Thank you...

.. must have been a hard decision. But a truly brave one. Thank you.

[lildreamer316]

14. Thank you for your service; and I am sorry

that you had to take that step; I know it must not have been an easy decision for you.
I always feel a certain connection to ppl of your generation because my parents were in it even though I am only 32 (had me when they were 39 & 40)My father served in the army in the mid-50s. Both are passed now.
It gives me strength to know that ppl of your caliber are taking a stand.

[raccoon]

15. Good for you! thanks for your service. nt

[meegbear]

16. Thank you and God Bless You!

YOU, sir, are an AMERICAN!!

[converted_democrat]

17. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in!!!

And thank you for serving our country!!!

[acmejack]

18. As did I!

I enjoyed writing them a shitty letter too.

[soup]

21. Good on you, acmejack.

What a sad, sad world we live in today that would pit veterans against veterans.

Thank you. :patriot:

[Cha]

38. Thank you, acmejack!

And thanks for writing that "letter", too. That's important that they know WHY Vets are quitting their org.

[soup]

19. Thank you Mr. Mend.

I'm sure my father, USN WWII veteran and American Legion member, will rest easier. Swear I felt a rumbling yesterday when I read about it.

Rest in peace, dad. I salute you, Mr. Mend. :patriot:

[Old Vet]

27. I remember being turned away from the VFW upon .............

being told I wasn't considered a Veteran of a war since Vietnam was a police action. They have since changed that rule, But have been member of VVA chapter 20 Rochester,NY since. I spent a long time fuming over that shit, So the VFW never had any credibility with me anyway.

[soup]

35. For what little it's worth,

You've got credibility with me. (That and a dollar might get you a cup of coffee, nowadays.)

Thank you for your service. :patriot:

[Cha]

41. Me too!

:patriot:

[flamin lib]

20. Not a member, so I sent this:

"The American Legion will stand against anyone and any group that would demoralize our troops, or worse, endanger their lives by encouraging terrorists to continue their cowardly attacks against freedom-loving peoples," Thomas Cadmus, national commander.

This statement is why I won't be part of your organization. When you chastise those fighting for the freedom to speak out, for the patriotic right to hold leaders accountable, to stand up for my fellow soldiers who follow the orders of the Commander in Chief regardless of personal feelings and those who will speak truth to power you are no patriot and do not speak for me or the rest of the veterans who stand for truth.

Sir, I respectfully suggest you take your Legion and shove it.

Sp4 Xxxxxx, 544 Supply & Support/Provisional Riot Control Battalion 1969-1971

[Cha]

49. Thanks so much for sending that most

excellent letter!

The quote from cadmus should have been directed at bush when he said those infamous words.. "BRING IT ON"

[Gregorian]

22. I'm so sorry. Thank you for your vigilance.

Sometimes I forget that we're not all 49 years old on this forum. You're supposed to be enjoying your later years in your life. But instead you are fighting for your country. I appreciate that more than anything. You are a silver star. You sacrificed, and now you are giving again. I am honored to just know you are here, fighting for goodness.

[Medical Speaking]

23. Quit

I had the bill for memebership for 2006 in my desk drawer and when I seen what the American Legion said I tore it up.

Semper Fi

[lildreamer316]

25. Thanks and welcome to DU!

May I ask when/where did you serve?

[Cha]

50. Thank you, and Welcome

to DU! :toast:

[malmapus]

24. Hi Mend, did the same thing as well

Did it yesterday as matter of fact after hearing what they plan to do. Its funny because I just changed my membership to town where I moved to and after I quit, I went to get the mail and my new card was in the box waiting for me. Was a quick trip to the trash can.

[Cha]

54. Thank you, malmapus!

For your service to our Country and for quitting the American Legion in protest of the statement cadmus directed toward the people who are for bringing the troops home ALIVE.

[underpants]

26. I belong due to my late Grandfather

HE was in the Battle of the Bulge and spent two years at Walter Reed afterwards. He was big at the local AL (WestVirgina) so I joined for him, that local.
I don't know if I will sign up again. This is just getting ridiculous.

[Rainscents]

28. Thank you for serving and also, continue serving!

Mike Malloy read letter over the air on Monday night the (2) letters by " American Legion" One - they sent to Clinton (when we went into Bosnia...I can't spell) and second letter denouncing Anti-War movement.
Talk about FUCKING flip-flop... Legion letter to Clinton... Get out of the Bosnia NOW!!!

I wish someone can get hold of both letters and post it here, so people here can see the major flip-flop by American Legion.

[Cha]

55. Thanks for telling us that..I

had no idea they were Hypocrites as well.

[ronnykmarshall]

29. Good for you and thank for your service.

Did you send them a blistering letter?

[Cha]

30. Thank you, Mr Mend!

I really appreciate your service to our Country!

I read on DU last night that The American Legion has declared "war" on the People who are protesting this War On Iraq..I found it incredible and am glad to see there is starting to be a backlash.

Where's that picture of the American Legionaire who had the "Bullshit detector" covering his ear when you need it? :)

[madrchsod]

31. thanks!

well you can relate to this...there was a ww2 vet-rabid republican that when asked about the flag desecration bill said this--"we have alot of flags but we have only one freedom". pretty much sums it up.

[ArkDem]

32. Great! They will be devastated!

[LouisianaLiberal]

33. My father was in the CIC at the same time.

He died two years ago and never talked much about it. He went to the Fifth Army Intel School at Fort Custer,MI and the Fourth Army Military Intelligence School at Fort Sam Houston. He was a life-long Republican, but he became (more or less) much more liberal in the last two years of his life. I have many pics and photo albums from the time - perhaps you knew him.

[Mend]

43. I was trained at Fort Holabird, Maryland and

sent to the Army Language School in Monterey, California. Then I went to Aberdeen, Maryland and then served in Vienna, Austria as an agent. My family has served since the Revolutionary War. We had four in the Civil war, and all wars through Viet Nam. But they aren't going to get our son for the halliburton war if we can help it.

[lildreamer316]

51. WOW.

YOur family has served since the Revolution?? WOW. I am just speechless.

[Historic NY]

34. Thank you Mend for your service & dedication..............

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it. Edward R Murrow

[pacalo]

36. A man with principles -- I'm in awe...

of your service record & your conviction.

The "man" who started this war for his own gain has no real service record of his own, so it seems the only ones who can most effectively hold a mirror up to him & break through his armor of unreality are veterans & their families.

Will you be sporting these?

[Cha]

58. There it is!

Thanks!

[ironman202]

37. yes both vfw and AL

were once just general veterans groups but now they're so politicized. Little more than paramilitary cheerleaders. Good for you and thank you for your service.

[LetsGoMurphys]

39. I know plenty

of American Legion guys who hate Bush and this war.

[ClayZ]

40. Good on YOU!

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/


Thank you for you service, then and now!

[myrna minx]

42. Thank you for your service Mr. Mend.

:patriot:

[babsbunny]

44. Does anyone have a link to the American Legion

So I can email them and tell them they do not speak for me?

[soup]

46. contact list

http://www.legion.org/?content=help_contact

[oasis]

53. They need to change their name to GOP Legion.

[graywarrior]

45. So, what did they say, pray tell.

Your rock, by the way.

:headbang:

[PittLib]

47. Could someone include the link to what was said by the American Legion?

I must have missed it. Please and thank you. Thank you to you as well, Mr. Mend!

[jonnyblitz]

48. here is one link to a thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2032546

[PittLib]

56. Thanks jonnyblitz ...

I did find one, so I think I have the gist. Yup, uniter indeed!

[UTUSN]

52. I'm Dialing as We Speak

I'm a member of VFW (they won't let you quit), not the Legion, but will contact the Legion as I have before about messing with politics.

And thank you for being an intelligent CITIZEN-soldier.

[Cha]

62. Thanks!

The VFW won't let you quit, huh? A member for life whether you like it or not!

[UTUSN]

64. If You Pay-up the Life Membership of $200, You're Non-refundable

They equate "non-refundable" with "membership". Even if you say you don't want a refund, just want to quit. Some pay monthly--I don't know whether to a $200 maximum? But a "Life Member" just keeps getting the monthly magazine and the newsletter ad infinitum.

[spuddonna]

57. First off, thanks for your service to our country...

Secondly, I'm so sorry that the leadership of the American Legion has decided to do this...

I was shocked when I read this 'declaring war on protesters' stuff... I was born at the end of the 60's - did the American Legion ever do this during the Vietnam protests?

[StaggerLee]

59. Thank you

For answering the call to duty. Again.

:patriot:

sL-
PO2
USN
1985-1990

[don954]

60. My father quit this morning too

He is member of VFA, Masons, Shriners, but no longer American Legion.

[progressivebydesign]

67. Your Father is awesome! Good for him! n/t

[G_j]

61. Thank You!

I sure hope others do as you have done!

I find it amazing that the American Legion would prefer repression and dictatorship over free speech and democracy. :shrug:

[NightHawk63]

63. Kudos as well (nt)

[tabasco]

65. I quit 'em a long time ago

when they were supporting a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning.

Now it seems they've only become more radical.

[progressivebydesign]

66. Very cool!! Good for you! n/t

[DanCa]

68. Thank you for your service,

I just wanted to say I never thought I would see the day of the red and blue military.

[G_j]

69. ~kICk~

[samsingh]

70. you are an inspiration good sir.

thank you for all you have done for us.

[rucky]

71. I don't know if I can give up the Chicken Frys and cheap beer...

even if I have to put up with a few obnoxious characters who want to talk politics.

[applegrove]

72. Wow! I hope your leaders get the message. What alot you have

given up for your principles.

[kitkat65]

73. Thank you for your service. I humbly salute you. n/t

[ismnotwasm]

74. thank you for your service.

And I'm very sorry it had to come to this, it must have been very hard. I remember the American Legion folks coming to visit the forgotten WWII Vets in the nursing home I worked at every Memorial day. It's too bad they can't think them selves out of the black hole they got sucked into.

[Califooyah Operative]

75. thank you sir. nt

[sevendogs]

76. YEAH!

Proud of you!!!

[dbeach]

77. AL is fascist..

bush plays divide and conquer with all Vets and all of the USA.

Bush using the VA is calling in 72,000 PTSD claims which are mostly VN Vets .WHAT are reward for the VN Vets who served while the chikenhawk sniffed and partied cuz his ole man was a big shot!!

coward from crawford

REGIME CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME!
I EARNED MY HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND MEDALS! WANNA SEE THE ORDERS???
Where are his records?

the son of the biggest drug pusher in history and the grandson of a NAZI.
He is the WH occupunk and not the president.
GORE /LIEB WON!!!

[GOPFighter]

78. My co-worker is quitting this afternoon

He was livid when he saw the news release this morning. He's sure they're going to lose a lot of members (if they find out about it - it hasn't been very well publicized).