May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he unintentionally misspoke on a few occasions in claiming he served in Vietnam when he actually was in a Marine Reserve unit based in the U.S.
“I regret that I misspoke. I take full responsibility,” said Blumenthal, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He spoke at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in West Hartford, Connecticut, in front of a group of military veterans. He said he got no special favors when he signed up to join the Marine Reserves in 1970.
“I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country,” Blumenthal said at the press conference today. Kate Hansen, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut Democratic Party, said he is “100 percent staying in the race.”
The New York Times reported that Blumenthal, 64, claimed during public appearances to have served in Vietnam. The Times, citing records, said he got at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took steps to avoid going to war. In 1970, he joined a Marine Reserve unit in Washington that worked on local projects, the newspaper said.
Link to complete article on Mr. Confused Blumenthal
New York Times Article
In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. He joined a unit in Washington that conducted drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, like fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive.
Link to NYT article in which Blumenthal thought the campground was in Vietnam
Grandpa is here to assist Mr. Blumenthal as the sounds of power tools used to fix a campground sound very familiar to those of a helicopter. The same can be said about confusing the sounds of mortar exposions off in the distant with fish spawning.
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