Advisor to opponent questions Hackett's service in Iraq...

[liberaliraqvet26]

We knew it would happen soon and it has. Typical GOP strategy,
From his blogsite.. http://ericminamyer.myblogsite.com/blog

<SNIP>
I do not know whether Hackett's primary duty is as an attorney, but he was/is a civil affairs officer. That is not a combat role, but one does not have to be lawyer to do it.

I understand that Hackett did not participate in combat at all. It is still dangerous over there as I can personally attest. Let's just not act as though we led marines in combat if we did not, okay. My questions about exactly what he did are still unanswered by the way.
<SNIP>
Earlier today I sent an email to him asking direct questions. It said:

“Did Paul Hackett lead marines in combat?

Did Paul Hackett command marines at all, if so who?

Was Paul Hackett in combat?
What were Paul Hackett’s duties in Iraq?

Was he part of Division Staff and to whom did he report?

What does “follow my marines” in the tv ad mean?

A written reply please.”

Dear readers, I will post the reply, when I get one. This is not disrespect, this a legitimate list of questions considering his ad implies he led marines in combat
<SNIP>
Eric Minamyer, CAPT, JAGC, USN (Retired)

[liberaliraqvet26]

1. LTTE I wrote in response...

***Written for Republican readers***

Upon arriving home from Iraq fifteen months ago, I have closely followed the country’s politicians and their policies toward the servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the treatment of combat veterans upon their return home. In many areas the current congress and administration are failing our nations soldiers and veterans. I witnessed it firsthand when I served in Iraq from March of 2003 to February of 2004 in unarmored vehicles and for much of the time while wearing Vietnam era body armor that wouldn’t stop an ordinary bullet, I have witnessed it again more recently when I was denied education benefits because I was a reservist and did not reenlist, after serving over eight years, and had to wait six months to see a primary care provider at the VA medical center near my home.

Because of this I have watched the campaign of Major Paul Hackett in Ohio’s District 2 with increased interest and will try to make the trip up there from Florida this coming weekend to volunteer and show my support for my fellow Iraq veteran. During most of my tour in Iraq I served in a relatively calm area of Basra. For about a month I served on a Civil Affairs mission with a dedicated unit from Pennsylvania. Upon reading today that an advisor who works for Paul’s opponent has questioned the combat experience of a Civil Affairs officer who served in Fallujah I was filled with anger. Civil Affairs teams go out in small groups and have to basically live with the citizens of a city. It is one of the most dangerous and difficult jobs you can have in a combat zone. Eleven of them have died in combat during this operation.

You do not have to be an infantryman in Iraq to be in combat. There are no front lines in that country. I was hundreds of miles away from the “Sunni Triangle” and faced small arms fire on numerous occasions. Is Mr. Minamer questioning the service of all the all the support soldiers and women who have given their lives in Iraq and Afganistan because they are not in Infantry or Artillery? I am confident the patriotic citizen’s of Ohio’s 2nd District see beyond this political smear tactic most recently employed by Mr. Minamyer and show up in droves on Tuesday to “Support our Troops” and elect an ally of our servicemen and women to congress. We lost an ally recently when Republican leadership fired Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) from his chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee for being too generous to veterans and not following the party line with their benefits. I hope and pray that we can give Major Hackett a seat on that committee.

Sincerely,
Peter G@@@@@@
Former SGT US Army Reserve
800th Military Police Brigade
West Palm Beach FL

[democrat_patriot]

3. Excellent.

Well written. Thanks!

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I hope this little attempt backfired.

[punpirate]

4. `Pugs are nothing if not...

... predictable. You can always depend on them to distort and smear. Beyond that, I would bet someone thought, "hey, it worked on Kerry, it'll work here."

[Old and In the Way]

5. Eleven CA's have been killed in Iraq.

Guess it's a little more dangerous than this scumbag lets on.

BTW, Minimeyer ran in the Republican primary on his "war record" in DS1...he associated himself as fighting the terrorists, even though he was stationed in the JAG office at HQ. Another Republican hypocrite.

IOKIYAR

[MadisonProgressive]

6. That's why I call them repugs.

[bribri16]

7. All he has to say is "but were you in Iraq at all?" n/t