Bristol's mayor, Democrat Art Ward, knows what it was like to serve as a U.S. Marine in the jungles of Vietnam.
As a young man, he went to war there, coming home with a Purple Heart and the medals to prove his valor.
He's been involved in Bristol's thriving veterans community ever since, playing a key part in erecting one of the first Vietnam War memorials in the country.
But in his two decades in politics, during which he's shared the stage with Attorney General Richard Blumenthal many times, Ward said he's never heard Blumenthal claim to have served in Vietnam.
“He’s never given me the idea that he served in Vietnam. I always thought he was pretty public with the fact that he was in the Reserves,” Ward said this morning.
Ward said the first time he can explicitly remember talking with Blumenthal about their respective service in the Marines was back in 1998, when a replica of the Vietnam War memorial wall came to Bristol.
Blumenthal told a story then about serving as a corporal in the Reserves. Ward ended his active duty as a sergeant so he joked with Blumenthal about having once outranked him.
In the many years since, Ward said, he's heard Blumenthal speak at numerous veterans-related functions.
"He's never alluded to serving in Vietnam" at any of them, Ward said.
Ward said that the issue has not been the focus of any conversations over the years, but the two have talked about the Marines a number of times.
Ward said he's sure he would have noted if Blumenthal claimed to have been in Vietnam because it "a very sensitive subject" among veterans who have been in harm's way.
He said that given the raw emotions involved for those who were in combat, he would have paid attention had Blumenthal changed his story at any of those appearances.
Ward said that he's shocked that Blumenthal misrepresented his service at any public appearance, but added that perhaps there's a missing context the video or news story in The New York Times.
In any case, he said, Blumenthal has been straightforward to him.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
22 comments:
wow !!!! Someone that bloomie hasn"t lied to .
That certainly deserves full coverage . Please disregard the VIDEO of him lying ..... errr .... misrepresenting his service .... repeatedly
Just because Ward didn't detect any deception doesn't mean there wasn't any, as Ward ain't too bright. Blumenthal always plays up the Semper Fi marine stuff.
We go from Dodd to Blumenthal. When will this state endorse and elect citizens that tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me voters.
As a Viet Nam veteran, I find it amusing that people, in particular, politicians, fall all over themselves espousing their military record which may not exist at all. They hated us then, (military in the 60's) but love us now. Oh, the ironies of life, politics and politicians.
Maybe Ward can get national coverage.
After all, he isn't needed in Bristol.
Birds of a feather...
They stick together these losers.
Ward got his purple heart for bumping his knee! Of course he said it was his thigh to some, his leg to others. C'mon Ward tell the truth too. Banging your knee hardly is deserving of a purple heart.
"Ward ain't too bright"
...and we should value your opinion??? You don't exactly appear to be the brightest bulb on the tree either.
Arthur, all of your friends who lost their lives in Viet Nam would be rolling in their graves with your support of this piece of ...., Blumenthal.
7:21 - vengence isn't justification - u need to seek help.
Blumenthal isn't the first politician to stretch things a bit to make a point and he certainly won't be the last, but he's always bent over backward for our vets. Linda McMahon catches the slip and uses it to sabotage Blumenthal (and not because she gives a rat's ass about vets). I think the jackals should back off and give him a little slack here. I'll take someone who slips up over a back-stabbing rat any day.
Veteran who knows:
Your comment is juvenile and pointless. Guess you don't know as much as you'd like to think you do...what a putz!
6:21, That'd be "flock" together, not "stick." Stick together is more like you and your slimy friends!
7:41
When they are covered with their own S---, they STICK together!!!
10:55pm & 7:38am - AKA Ward - prove it, because I can! You are a fake just like Blumenthal.
What does Ward know about truth? His whole life is a lie. Guess maybe you should come clean Wardie Boy - before the truth hurts you when it comes out.
8:15: Yet again, WRONG!!!...putz
1:35 PM: Sweetheart, you're the one rolling in it! :-)
7:45am I see you used you name too? Obviously someone hit a nerve in you - too bad Artie, grow up.
J. Boy
J. Boy,
Nope...wrong again...not Artie.
BTW, No need for me to leave my name because I'm not on this blog bashing one of our City leaders. I'm just bashing an anonymous, cowardly twit who's bashing one of our City leaders. Get the difference J Boy?
PS "Boy" sounds about right.
U. Suk
WARD IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS "PURPLE HEART" ,But hey, who cares rights?
Everyone thinks Ward is the upstanding citizen -WRONG -Steve call Defilip - she will tell you the whole story about Ward, I hope!
Sickens me Ward thinks he is above and beyond others, when in fact - he lied to his son, his wife and daugthers just to please his EGO!!!
9:14 PM, You sound like a very angry, sick person. I seriously hope you are seeking help.
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