Larry David Keeps it Real

Actor and comedian Larry David who served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s talks about the harsh realties that confronted many in the national guard during the Vietnam War.

" I couldn't be happier that President George W. Bush has stood up for having served in the National Guard, because I can finally put an end to all those who questioned my motives for enlisting in the Army Reserve at the height of the Vietnam War. I can't tell you how many people thought I had signed up just to avoid going to Vietnam. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, I was itching to go over there. I was just out of college and, let's face it, you can't buy that kind of adventure. More important, I wanted to do my part in saving that tiny country from the scourge of communism.

.....Even though the National Guard and Army Reserve do see combat today, it rankles me that people assume it was some kind of waltz in the park back then. If only. Once a month, for an entire weekend - I'm talking eight hours Saturday and Sunday - we would meet in a dank, cold airplane hangar.

.....Our captain was a strict disciplinarian who wouldn't think twice about not letting us wear sneakers or breaking up a poker game if he was in ill humor. Once, they took us into the woods and dropped us off with nothing but compasses and our wits. One wrong move and I could have wound up on a highway. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to find my way out of there and back to the hangar. Some of my buddies did not fare as well and had to call their parents to come and get them.

.....Still, after all this time, whenever I've mentioned my service in the Reserve during Vietnam, it's been met with sneers and derision. But now, thanks to President Bush, I can stand up proudly alongside him and all the other guys who guarded the home front. Finally, we no longer have to be embarrassed."
-Larry David


The facts: During the Vietnam War, coveted spots in the National Guard were few and far between. In some states waiting lists extended into the tens of thousands.

Unlike today's practice, during the Vietnam War, the National Guard was never called into active duty to serve overseas.

The truth: National Guard Service is something to be honored and praised but during the Vietnam War most young men enlisted to ensure they would never set foot in Vietnam. A practice which I believe was justified considering the complex circumstances surrounding the War. Had President Bush been candid about his intentions rather then hiding behind his fleeting notions of valor, we might be able to move past all this.

I strongly believe that choices an individual made 30 years ago don’t necessarily qualify or disqualify a man to be President of the United States. A much more telling characteristic is how an individual now reflects upon these decisions.

--Ian Mahoney