05.26.12
Working off his Memorial Day guilt
Ted Nugent, self-proclaimed tough guy and warrior for freedom, dodged the Viet Nam war when he had his chance. At the time of his eligibility, he took a student deferment (a 2- S in ’68) at Oakland Community College in Michigan. Nugent also later held a medical deferment (a 1-Y in ’69). [Both are shown in his selective service paperwork. For an enlargeable version click here.)
The student deferment carries a little extra irony due to the fact that Nugent regularly bags on the worth of any college education.
Every year, now that he has a pundit’s career at the Washington Times, Nugent works off his guilt with a column on Memorial Day, covering himself in glory in fealty to the troops.
Freedom isn’t free. Never has been, never will be. Very special warriors have provided freedom at supreme sacrifice since time immemorial. Good people will never forget, and we celebrate Memorial Day with a hard-charging spirit in appreciation for hard-charging warriors.
With his lifeblood pouring out of him from a mortal RPG wound to center mass, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding from Texas was, on the surface, but a bundle of red gauze and bandages, a jumble of tubes and numerous electronic apparatus beeping away. He was surrounded by a dedicated team of U.S. military medical experts at the Landstuhl hospital in Germany doing everything in their power to save the young American’s life.
Toby Keith and I literally stood in the young hero’s blood and said a very solemn prayer. Moments later, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding died. He was 21 years-old. He died fighting for freedom. That was one of many defining moments that struck me deep inside during my USO tour in 2004, and a defining moment in my life …
Toby and I were humbled beyond words to be allowed to join a presentation guard of warriors on the tarmac of the Iraq air base as we saluted a procession of flag-draped coffins being loaded onto a massive C-130 aircraft. Like our tears, the coffins just kept coming – and coming and coming and coming.
When I received the call, I immediately sent out an all-points bulletin to my management, staff and family to clear my schedule of all events. Within an hour, I had arranged a private plane, guitars and various electronic sound equipment. I had been requested to perform the national anthem …
Readers will note this is mostly all about Ted and his playing of the national anthem at all his shows, louder and more vigorously on Memorial Day weekends.
Nugent’s big difference with the general American attitude toward war — the troops are the greatest as long as I don’t have to serve and I promise to make appreciative mouth noises or go to parades on key days of memorial — is that there’s even more hypocrisy in him.
The honest approach, and mine, is to admit you don’t give a rat’s ass about Memorial Day. I don’t buy the argument that anyone’s fought for my freedoms in the last ten years.
The military, our political leadership, and the people all wanted a fighting force that was unrepresentative of the nation and only a sliver of the population. One that would insulate the country from Viet Nam-style war protest because the sacrifice is not shared.
“Tonight, I will play a blistering version of our national anthem as my family gathers to remember … I will play it like never before …” writes Nugent.
Aw, just shut it. The Army kicked you off the bill at Fort Knox just a couple weeks ago, remember?
Newsy note: The Ted on guitar parts are of him playing the national anthem. He looks happy.