Wofford answers critique of his military service

ES Folk reprints this following interchange, not as an endorsement of Council candidate Chuck Wofford, but in the attempt to stop any swiftboating that might be swamping forth in Eureka Springs. We begin with the letter to Wofford.

Mr. Chuck Wooford:

I happened to be visiting with family members in Eureka Springs when I came by a copy of the brochure in regard to your bid for the office of Alderman, Ward II. At their request, I would ask for clarification regarding your brief statement of military service, little of which they understand.

To the claim that you served until your 21st birthday, discharged in the rate of PO1, I can only conclude that you must have enlisted under the minority (”kiddy cruise”) program, which would have placed your enlistment sometime in 1962. This raises several interesting questions such as,

(1) in what construction rating did you you serve that would permit such a rapid promotion to first class petty officer status, especially at a time when promotions were near stagnated in most Seabee ratings?

(2) What were the circumstances which caused you to leave the service (in 1966) at a time when Seabees were urgently needed in battalions for in country service?

What units did you serve with in Vietnam?

I find it interesting that you allude to “four amphibious landings.” Having served in Vietnam myself, dating from the mass evacuations out of Haiphong in 1954, to service in a DD (USS CHANDLER) in August, 1965, to a PhibGruWesPac LKA (USS DURHAM) out of Danang (1969-70), the the last U.S. warship (USS MARS) to claear Saigon (Vungtao) in April, 1975, I thought I had more than just a passing familiarity with the “Vietnam” experience, but I have no recollection of any staged amphibious landings other than the routine transfer of men and equipment from surface platforms to shore facilities, non of which were opposed.

It would be helpful (to our understanding) if you would be more specific in mentioning the various medals and nature of the commendations you received. My experience is that EVERYBODY who partipated in Vietnam operations received a campaign medal, both U.S. and RVN.

I realize that this inquiry sounds cynical, but I’m sure you are aware that there are many (way too many) veterans in our midst who make claims of military service which ranges from “exaggerated” to non existent.

If your claims are correct in all respects, I would suggest that you do yourself a disservice by failing to be more specific and detailed.

Please provide a biography of your military service reflecting enlistment date, type of enlistment, schools, commands assigned to, geographical locations served, campaign names, rating and special NEC’s.

Also noted with interest is your attendance at NPG Monterey. Based on your studies at the institute, may I assume that you also served as a Navy civil servant? If so, where?

And please, Shipmate, do include dates for each event claimed.

Respectfully,

[Name snipped]
MCPO, USN, Ret.
Sparks, NV
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From: chuckwofford@[part of email addy snipped]
To: [email addy snipped]
Subject: RE: Military bio
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:09:36 -0400

Lesley Junior, E-9 Retired (unrated):

Thank you, I think, for your email.

I will attempt your critic of my campaign material in the order you presented it:

1. For your information I am running for two (2) Alderman Positions, at the same time (another story) in Ward II and I hope that below I answer all your pressing concerns.
2. At the time of separation from active duty (9/66) I had just made CM1 with a 99% on my E-6 test, at the time they said I was the youngest person to ever make E-6 (if true, I have no way to know). I was discharged from Treasure Island and was released one month before my 21st birthday to go to college.
3. My circumstances were that I wanted to go to college. I continued in the Reserves (RMCB-2 & CHB-4) out of Alameda, CA. I also attended counter-insurgency training at Mare Island and commanded my Reserve Unit (at the request of our commander, a real Commander) and we Kicked their asses (first and only time this has ever happened, in fact they extended the school one day after this to teach “first, never under-estimate your enemy”).
4. In 1966 there was no “urgent needs” we thought we were winning the war, check the history.
5. I actually made five + amphibious landings (with real ships, landing crafts, pontoon causeways and floating & sub-merged fuel lines). They were: DaNang Red Beach 1, and Red Beach 2, PhuBi, Hue, & ChuLai (1st Marine Division, 50,000 troops in 36 hours), plus the South Korean, Tiger Division at QuainNon, (poor spelling) . I don’t know where you were at the time, but it was not on the beach or I would have met you. On PBS about six months ago they did a special on “WAR” and I saw my skinny-white ass on TV at the landings at ChuLai & Hue, in cut-offs, no shirt, and sandals – with the Jarheads** in full gear coming ashore. [** slang for Marines]
6. My units included, MCB-10 in 1963-64 (Guam), and ACB-1 / NBG-1 / UDT 11 & 12 Wes Pac Detachment 1964, 1965 & 1966. At 17, I was given the option of the Sea Bees or Jail, I took active duty. On the Navy entrance test I scored a perfect score on Math, Science & Mechanical, and in the high ninety percent on the clerical and other section (Don’t recall, but as a “lifer” you should know). I also was top in my class at the Sea Bee special school on NBC-Warfare and Disaster Recovery.
7. As for my metals, I have the three Viet Nam metals with four small bronze stars and the USMC Insignia and the Presidential Citation. I am a cancer survivor from Agent Orange but can only get medical insurance from the VA. What a great world this is, the term is “pre-existing medical problem”, given to me by my own government.
8. I was a Platoon Commander and was recommended to go to the Naval Academy ( I chose to go to a real college that doesn’t have killing on the curriculum).
9. I attended the Naval Post-Grad School in Monterey as a Civilian, I was Deputy Director of Public Works, Operations & Maintenance, City of Concord, CA(pop. 150,000), 170 employees and a 25 million dollar budget (at age 29). I was invited to attend the school, by the US Civil Service Commission, because at the time I had aced several US Civil Service Courses in advanced management and was considered one of the “best and brightest” in government at the time. Shortly thereafter, I quit Concord and sent five copies of “Johnny PayCheck’s” record “Take this Job and Shove-It” to each of the Council Members.
10. I DO NOT DO myself any “DISSERVICE,” and find your comment offensive. However, I must, in a campaign flier, tell my story, as much as possible, in as short a manner as possible, or nobody will read it. I am sure with your experience in running for public office and trying to improve government you too understand what I mean. Plus, I am not at all that proud of what I did in Viet Nam. Like Iraq it was a dumb war with even dumber people doing the bidding of the Rich & Famous (myself being among the ranks of the dumbest). (No I am not Democrat or Republican, I am an American in the sense of T. Jefferson, A. Jackson, D. Thoreau, M. Twain, W. Rogers, H. Truman.
11. Finally, I am not your “shipmate.” You were safe out on a ship at sea, while we were being shot at. The ones on the beach are my BUDDIES, not my shipmates.

I hope this answers all your pressing questions and concerns, because it really stresses me that someone from Sparks, NV may not vote for me, here in Eureka Springs, AR, because they don’t understand how I did what I did and felt the high-school need to impress their friends with knowledge they had not. Next time you are in town come by my house and I’ll give you a beer, show you some pictures and you can tell me what you did and are doing for the cause of “Truth, Justice & the American Way”. I would like to hear that story.

Thanks,

Chuck Wofford

24 Singleton

Eureka Spring, AR 72632

479-253-4421