Never Deployed 'Colonel' Wilson Missed Vietnam

(CINCINNATI, Ohio) - Joe Wilson, real name "Addison" presents himself as a hard boiled combat veteran, retired Army colonel and all around tough guy.

He belongs to "white supremacist" organizations, fought hard to keep the Confederate flag in South Carolina and, when an aide to the notorious racist Strom Thurmond admitted Thurmond had a half African-American daughter, Wilson abused and threatened the woman in an attempt to shut her up.

His real record is Vietnam. Born in 1947, Wilson was prime material for the Vietnam War. After taking deferment after deferment for college and law school, in 1972, Wilson was glided into a coveted Army Reserve billet, protecting him from service in Vietnam.

He quit in 1975 with the fall of Saigon and transferred to the National Guard where he was a Judge Advocate, a "lawyer."

Wilson has one of the worst records in Congress, having voted against Veteran funding 11 times. The only "veteran" Wilson has helped is himself.

Though ending up with full health insurance and a fat military retirement, Joe Wilson, like Senator Lindsay Graham, both passed more qualified serving officers who were deployed to combat and moved into high paying positions as full Colonels, all done using political clout.

This gives both Wilson and his good friend and reportedly highest ranking gay officer in the US military, Lindsay Graham, substantial "double dip" retirements without ever having to actually serve in the real military and, especially, not during the Vietnam War.

Wilson's opponent in the upcoming election is Rob Miller, 13 year US Marine with 2 combat tours in Iraq. Wilson missed his chance at combat due to more important considerations involving "personal skin."

Wilson, close friend and confidant of Fox Entertainment reality show host Glenn Beck is a strong advocate of private health care.

In fact he received over $ 400,000 in political donations from the health care industry in support of his position.

Insiders say that Beck helped stage the Wilson "impromptu theater" during the Presidents address to Congress, offering full support from Fox News in exchange for Wilson's violation of traditional Southern good manners, something Wilson has little familiarity with.

Wilson has spent a lifetime on the public payroll running his mouth while others have done the fighting.

Much has been made of late about Wilson's ties to White Supremest and neo-Klan groups. As one of the 7 legislators who stood against all others to keep the secessionist flag as the state frag of South Carolina and as former staffer to the former anti-civil rights activist Strom Thurmond, Wilson's racist views are well known and well established.

What some of us would like to have seen established is a biography that included military service during the Vietnam War instead of deferment after deferment then hiding out in an "undeployable" Army Reserve unit until the second the Communists moved into Saigon.

He is an outspoken advocate for veterans and his powerful words have brought about change. Gordon is a lifelong PTSD sufferer from his war experiences and he is empathetic to the plight of today's veterans also suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to feature Gordon's timely and critical reports on Salem-News.com, a news organization staffed by a number of veterans, particularly former U.S. Marines.

Salem-News.com Top Stories

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

rewilding LA: Matilija Dam History and Ecosystems

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

John Jensen September 20, 2009 1:21 pm (Pacific time)

Editor I have to respond to your "New" Black Panther background you provided. The "NEW" belong to a highly militant Black Muslim radical offshoot that desires a seperate land for themselves in America and they hold supremacists' viewpoints. Not even remotely close to the group that started in the 60's. There are many legal motions in different federal jurisditions and several congressmen and senators asking AG Holder why he droped criminal charges against some members. Regardless if one agrees with their viewpoints, engaging in voter intimidation is against the law and if we let them slide it will just embolden them to continue. Now that ACORN (in it's present form, it will come back with a different name ) has been exposed as the criminal enterprise that it is, then it's time to clean house on all these organizations that engage in voter fraud and to ask that all politicans that have benefited from these outfits make their books transparent for public viewing.

Daniel September 19, 2009 3:53 pm (Pacific time)

Peggy R another zinger , I keep waiting for your punch-line , Obama I thought you said Osama WELL NEVERMIND ! The panthers as gop , Peggy I am just using your satire . I was pointing out the number of voter tampering cases that were not prosecuted under the Bush white house .

Peggy R September 19, 2009 1:19 pm (Pacific time)

New Black Panthers support the GOP? Are you kidding Daniel? These guys are major supremists and seperatists who by not showing up at their criminal hearing last January were defacto guilty of voter intimidation. AG Eric Holder dropped all charges, so you ever draw some connections on why that happened?

Editor: Peggy, have you ever studied the Panthers to know why they formed in the first place? I think it was the obligation of the supposedly law abiding Christian American in post Civil War years to get past their prejudice but they did not. Black people put up with racist BS in the south every day and I can tell you based on the comments that we delete, that prejudice is a ripe American fruit. I think it is sad any time that people feel they have to go beyond the law to protect themselves, and that is exactly why the Black Panther Party formed in the first place. I'd like to take those racist Chicago cops from the 60's and.... Well I better halt that thought.

Daniel September 19, 2009 12:27 pm (Pacific time)

Ano So it is the black panthers who control the diebold voting machines , and made democratic area voters wait for hours while the gop areas zipped thru . It was the panthers who sent troupers to Florida voting stations to intimidate the elderly black voters ! I guess they did not succeed this election because the level of disgust toward the gop for starting two wars and breaking the economy could not overcome the legitimate vote with the rigged ones . My question is , why are the panthers such big supporters of the Republicans !

Anonymous September 19, 2009 8:50 am (Pacific time)

Representative Hank Johnson (Dem. GA) says “people will be putting on white hoods and white uniforms again riding through the countryside if Joe Wilson is not punished”. How about if I say “people will be putting on black uniforms and brandishing weapons and yelling racial slurs throughout the country on voting day if the Black Panthers are not punished”. Voter intimidation is a crime much more punishable than yelling “you lie” at the president but we all know all charges were dropped against the Black Panther thugs so please tell me once again Hank Johnson who indeed are the true racists. Take a good look at yourself! It's outlandish to be called a racist for questioning a policy an event or any other situation that cries for debate. Slander and libel laws need to be altered so public personalities have the same legal rights as all people, then watch what happens.

Daniel September 17, 2009 8:10 pm (Pacific time)

Peggy R what a hoot , you should write for tv . You put a smile on my face ! One of the best pieces of satire I have read in a while ! You had me fooled at first till I realized you were making fun of the ill informed using every unfounded ignorant charge out there in your rant . Kind of an Archy Bunker crossed with Roseanna Banana , thanks keep up the good work !

Editor: Touche Daniel!

Peggy R. September 16, 2009 3:07 pm (Pacific time)

After President Barack Obama gave a speech to a joint session of Congress last week passionately defending his national health care plan, the Democrats were agog at the brilliance of the speech. Nancy Pelosi was so thrilled, her expression almost changed. But as Obama ticked off one demonstrably false claim after another -- eliciting 37 standing ovations from the Democrats in the audience -- America's greatest living statesman, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., yelled out, "You lie!" in response to Obama's claim that the bill will not cover illegal aliens. There are a number of theories about why America's greatest living statesman shouted "You lie!" at that juncture, but mine is that Wilson said it because Obama told a big, fat stinking lie. Every single American knows it's a lie. But liberals take pleasure in repeating it -- and then condescendingly accusing anyone who doesn't accept their lie of being a toothless, illiterate racist. Our politicians, media and courts have done everything they can to encourage illegal immigration, including obstinately refusing to enforce the border. While illegals streaming across the border generally aren't prosecuted, U.S. border patrol agents who naively try to guard the border often are. Wise (and pregnant) Latinas dash across the border just in time to give birth at American hospitals -- medical services paid for by U.S. taxpayers -- gaining instant citizenship for their children, thereby entitling them to the entire Chinese menu of American welfare programs. In 2004, 42.6 percent of all babies born at taxpayer expense in California were born to illegal aliens, according to a state report on Medi-Cal-funded deliveries. In hospitals close to the Mexican border, the figure is closer to 80 percent. Remember: This is before health care becomes "free" to every U.S. resident. Hospitals across the country are going bankrupt because the federal government forces them to provide free services to illegals. This situation appears to have angered some segment of the population, in particular, American citizens who pay taxes to support the hospitals, but then are forced to spend hours writhing in pain in hospital waiting rooms.

SJ September 16, 2009 2:48 am (Pacific time)

VirginiaMom September 13, 2009 12:21 pm (Pacific time) Thank you for motivating me to donate to Congressman Joe Wilson AGAIN! Oh, and 0bama LIES!!! =========================== In other words, doesn't matter what Joe Wilson or other white Republicans do, you're just angry Obama won the election... period. Advice? get over it.

Decadence September 15, 2009 3:06 am (Pacific time)

"As one of the 7 legislators who stood against all others to keep the secessionist flag as the state frag of South Carolina . . . Wilson's racist views are well known and well established." An other-wise de-cent article; But, you do no-body any favors by per-petuating the lie that the South-Eastern States chose to secede over the issue of slavery. Slavery did not be-come in issue un-till war was all-ready ob-viously in-evitable, and the Union de-cided to in-troduce the matter in-to the argue-ments in an ef-fort to garner sup-port from the Kansas and Nebraska territories.

TruePatriot September 14, 2009 11:14 am (Pacific time)

Wilson is typical of so many of the Bush/Cheney Era Conservatives...pure chickenhawks - they love war and love to start wars...just as long as they don't have to fight in them. Cowardice...pure cowardice. The GOP has become a joke and REAL Republicans like Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower would be ashamed and furious at the ignorant and self-serving entity the Republican Party has become. If you Republitards hate the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, so much...GET OUT!!! WE DON'T NEED YOU!!!

George September 14, 2009 9:33 am (Pacific time)

It was not long ago on the House floor that Reps. Pete Stark and Shirley Jackson-Lee (there are more) gave speeches that Bush was a liar and they offered no facts, just innuendo. It's a fact of political life that both sides can get pretty uncivil. My prediction is that Rep. Wilson may just run against Senator Graham. His congressional district will remain republican, all you have to do is check out the voter registration. I also expect that the ACORN situation and the 53 million dollars they have received from taxpayers will really get intense when people realize that 8.5 billion dollars have been earmarked for them from the Stimulus Bill.

Ken September 14, 2009 1:03 am (Pacific time)

You Right wingers have really been showing your true colors lately. Death panels! Sheesh! Either you are shameless liars who are profiting from the currently bvroken health care system, or you are pitifully ignorent folk who can't tell reality from a game show anymore. And the birthers, in my opinion, can just continue to spout off for all I care, because every time THEY open their traps, the President looks even better then before to a larger and larger segment of this country.

Daniel September 13, 2009 11:39 pm (Pacific time)

Thanks Wilson for energizing the campaign of Rob miller . Rob the two tour Iraq combat vet had only raised $67.000 in the first 6 months of the year , in his campaign against you . The million plus you helped raise plus the national stage you help give him can only revitalize this dark horse candidate . For sure you picked up more money yourself plus all the talk show rounds , but at what cost ? You are still preaching to the choir and your opponent is no longer just a roll over for you , a five term congressman .

Zeitgeist September 13, 2009 6:56 pm (Pacific time)

Obama LIES.

KansasGirl September 13, 2009 5:12 pm (Pacific time)

Hey Gordon, nobody is listening to the state run medias lies anymore

Arielski September 13, 2009 4:50 pm (Pacific time)

The issue here is not so much whether or not someone served in the military as it is the shameless willingness of a "veteran" to pump up his own military status, then screw over other vets by refusing to fund VA healthcare, rehabilitation and education programs.

Just Me September 13, 2009 2:42 pm (Pacific time)

What some of us would have really liked to have seen is this same type of reporting and questions asked about 0bama. Care to do so?

YuFoos September 13, 2009 2:37 pm (Pacific time)

Trashing his past was expected and his comment to BHusseinObama spot on. I also remember that there is a seated Senator by the name of Robert Byrd who once held the title "Exalted Cyclops" in the KKK. And another ex-Senator and presidential VP-wannabe who was the son of a racist Democrat named Al Gore Sr. who was vehemently opposed to the Civil Rights act of 1964...... Facts are a bitch, aren't they?

Anonymous September 13, 2009 2:35 pm (Pacific time)

VirginiaMom September 13, 2009 12:21 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you for motivating me to donate to Congressman Joe Wilson AGAIN! Oh, and 0bama LIES!!!

Jonn Lilyea September 13, 2009 12:13 pm (Pacific time)

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. He didn't claim he served in Vietnam. His bio makes it clear that he didn't. I'd be interested in what Gordon Duff considers a "racist organization". And would Gordon think that Wilson should waste his law degree and join the infantry instead of the JAG Corp? And who says Lindsay Graham is gay? This is so much innuendo and hardly a bit of facts. Oh, and since it's measure of a man's service to Gordon Duff, I'm a combat veteran with a CIB.

politicsofdestruction September 13, 2009 12:04 pm (Pacific time)

Wilsons big sin was to speak out during the presidents speech. He has issued an apology and the president has accepted it. For this some poster calls him a steaming pile? Go back to Obamas speech and watch him call his opponents liars several times over and yet his bad behavior is excused.

Free America September 13, 2009 11:59 am (Pacific time)

I think all you liberals are full of crap. How can you watch the democrats systematically tear this country apart?

tess September 13, 2009 11:53 am (Pacific time)

God Bless Joe Wilson. It is about time that someone has tried to stop OBAMA from his constant "..LIES..". He lied to us the other eve when he said that illegal aliens would not benefit from our tax money on Health Reform. It was after Joe "..called him on it.." that OBAMA had it put into the bill. If he had not been called..would never have happened. Now we hear from his #1 Lacly AXELROD that OBAMA will not settle for less than a "..Public Option.."! He told us the other eve this was not so. WHEN WILL OBAMA'S LIES STOP?

Anonymous September 13, 2009 11:46 am (Pacific time)

I guess there is such a thing as an "ex-Marine" after all

Mrs. Kent September 13, 2009 11:30 am (Pacific time)

So ... Addison Joe Wilson might have stretched things. Too bad no one "vetted" Obama as thoroughly as they did this guy. The stakes are a lot higher for the office of president than congressman.

Mike H. September 13, 2009 1:30 am (Pacific time)

I have no respect whatsoever for people who spell whatsoever as three separate words. I respect anyone who was willing to lay their lives on the line for what they thought was doing the right thing. I don't see you picking up a gun and marching into enemy territory so shut it and respect those who defend your right to say stupid blam! like that.

Dod September 12, 2009 7:52 pm (Pacific time)

Gordon--I knew that Rep. Wilson was a hot steaming pile based upon his rude outcry and his non-apology apology, but you have really spelled out what total lowlife this jackass REALLY is. I am pretty much broke, but I'm going to send some money to his opponent and maybe even do some telephone work for him next year. Hopefully Wilson's remarks will energize both the black and moderate voters in the Beaufort, South Carolina area. Everybody deserves a better representative than this Rancid Hot Steaming Pile.

Anonymous September 12, 2009 5:18 pm (Pacific time)

I told you this would happen. Wilson has donations from the health care industry. There is no reason he would do this, unless it was a ploy, to bring articles such as this one, to bring even more support for obama. After watching this crud for decades, its easy to spot. Wilson was a decoy, and you all fell for it. If you cant see that Wilson helped obama, not sure what to tell ya. Its obvious to me. We have a one party system, and 95% of our reps are corrupt. And again, where are all the promises obama made during campaign time? Why am I alone in protesting the bush wars that obama has expanded? Come on people, THINK!! For goodness sake.

Jim September 12, 2009 2:04 pm (Pacific time)

I detest men who have claimed to have fought in Vietnam! I have no respect what so ever for these people!

Anonymous September 12, 2009 1:26 pm (Pacific time)

Compared to the same age cohort Bill Clinton, at least Wilson went into the military and served. You can take many same aged members of congress who got deferments who never did go into the military, so there was no over -riding need for Wilson to go in except for the desire to serve his country, which he did and eventually retired from miltary service (National Guard). I don't know much about his alledged past associations with racist organizations but you would think the Times and Wash. Post will have articles if true, just like Sen. Byrd from West Virginia being a former Grand Dragon of the KKK. At least he didn't drive off a bridge and allow a passenger to drown. Last evening the Whitehouse said they will be revising language that allows for illegal aliens to get public healthcare in the current house bill, so what was the lie about?

[Return to Top]