CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION AWARD RECIPIENT 2021
Then There's This
The U.S. Military is full of heroes, from those on the front lines to logistics, support, supplies, mechanics, pilots, grunts, sappers, engineers, the list goes on. These men and women deserve to be recognized for their efforts and sacrifices.
In 2021, the now disgraced Congressman Van Taylor did at least one thing right by honoring some of these Veterans in his district. These include, but not limited to, Vietnam era Navy Captain Carathers who served on the USS Bataan and USS Blue Ridge. Chief Petty Officer Richard Lerma, serving from 1964-1986, who was assigned to operations in the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the USS Cimarron doing two tours of Vietnam. Sergeant Don Fink enlisted in in the US Army in 1968 and assigned to Chu Lai, Vietnam. William Henry was drafted into the US Army in 1952 and stationed in Korea where he controlled an Artillery Battery coordinating artillery strikes against enemy positions. William honorably served a total of 10 years of active and reserve duty. Many other deserving Vets were also honored.
Then, there was Mike Rumfield. According to Taylor, Rumfield's accomplishments in his two (2) years of active duty amount to "Private First Class Michael Rumfield proudly served in the United States Army..". That's pretty much it.
What exactly was that about? This linked article from the Wylie News states " The veterans, selected by an independent selection board following their nominations by constituents, will be recognized for their wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement."
Mike Rumfield, in a war? Nope. A military conflict maybe? Nope. Some sort of military operation? Nope. How many veterans were overlooked so Rumfield could shamelessly accept such a high honor for doing pretty much nothing to earn it? Why did he leave active duty after two years? Will he present his DD214? Doubtful. Seems Taylor and Rumfield do have a history together.