Nathan Phillips is not as advertised...

[DKW 86 7,727]

https://www.redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2019/01/22/nathan-phillips-dd-214-released-shows-hes-not-quite-claims/?fbclid=IwAR1JuHkIkUacxm90gSiITk-HJLCHYJF21qvr2BtVD9LJTnpcNE-SNyJemIg

He enlisted under Nathaniel Richard Stanard, an “adopted” name, according to the DD-214, but his birth name was Nathaniel Phillips. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves, serving from 1972 to 1976. He never left the United States during his service in Lincoln, NE, and El Toro, CA, and was discharged as a private.

Now, I’m not the military expert that Streiff is, but during my years living near Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune I came in contact with quite a few soldiers and Marines. My understanding is that it takes a special talent – of the “I don’t really want to do any work” type – to not promote beyond private in four years. (I’m sure I will be corrected in the comments if my take is incorrect.)

Also, his duty status lists “discharged,” not “honorably discharged.” That could have to do with his multiple stints in confinement after being AWOL.

When he wasn’t AWOL, what did he do? According to Phillips:

“I’m what they call a ‘recon ranger.’ That was my role.”

Wrong. His role was as a refrigerator mechanic, or ReferMech.

Recon Ranger refers to a role in the USArmy. Phillips served in the USMC. 
Maybe he RECONditioned RANGEs in the chow hall?

Shipley notes that Phillips usually says he is a veteran of the “Vietnam times” or “Vietnam days” and hasn’t himself claimed that he served in Vietnam. According to this 2008 “Indian Country Today” articlecovering a sacred pipe ceremony Phillips held annually at Arlington National Ceremony, Phillips made a more direct claim about serving in Vietnam:

“Phillips also described coming back to the U.S. as a veteran of the Vietnam era. ‘People called me a baby killer and a hippie girl spit on me.'”

Returning to the United States from where? Was he overseas before enlisting? Or is he talking about coming back to El Toro from a trip to Baja California and using vague language to insinuate, but not blatantly claim, that he served in Vietnam?

It’s not often that I’m left speechless. I don’t know whether to laugh at the revelation that Mr. Recon Ranger is actually Mr. Freon Ranger (h/t @onefinejay, who h/t’s others on Twitter), or be extremely pissed that this man is stealing the valor of men who actually were recon rangers or served in Vietnam and who have lived with the nightmares and anguish their service left them with for decades.

————————-

EDITED 10:03 PM PST, 1/22/2019:

It appears that the Indian Country Today article has been edited recently. An archived version of the article from January 20, 2019, says that Phillips specifically claimed he was “a veteran from Vietnam.”

Mighty odd that this more than 10-year-old article was updated between January 20, 2019 and January 22, 2019, eh? (Thank you to “Archer Bowman” from Twitter for the tip. I shouldn’t have been so lazy as to not search for an archived version of the article.)

[Mikey 16,781]

As one who put in his four years in the military service, I can attest that it takes a special kind of screw-up to still hold the rank of private after four years. Anyone in that situation didn't "serve", he mooched off the taxpayers for four years. You can bet the marines were glad to see him go, he was a pain in the azz.

Somewhere in that DD-214 info it should mention his type of discharge. Anybody that does a reasonable job and keeps his nose fairly clean gets an Honorable discharge. Next down the list is a General discharge, indicating that you were more trouble than you were worth, they don't want you back but you didn't really do a bunch of criminal stuff.

That's followed by a Bad Conduct Discharge, self explanatory, and finally, Dishonorable discharge.

PS: My DD-214 plainly states "Type of discharge-Honorable". Phillips's may have been other than honorable and that's why it's not displayed? If I had to guess, I'd say he got a General Discharge. Honorable should have been plainly stated, Bad Conduct or Dishonorable and he wouldn't have been allowed to stay for his full four-year term of enlistment.

[japantiger 4,077]

1 hour ago, Mikey said:

As one who put in his four years in the military service, I can attest that it takes a special kind of screw-up to still hold the rank of private after four years. Anyone in that situation didn't "serve", he mooched off the taxpayers for four years. You can bet the marines were glad to see him go, he was a pain in the azz.

Somewhere in that DD-214 info it should mention his type of discharge. Anybody that does a reasonable job and keeps his nose fairly clean gets an Honorable discharge. Next down the list is a General discharge, indicating that you were more trouble than you were worth, they don't want you back but you didn't really do a bunch of criminal stuff.

That's followed by a Bad Conduct Discharge, self explanatory, and finally, Dishonorable discharge.

PS: My DD-214 plainly states "Type of discharge-Honorable". Phillips's may have been other than honorable and that's why it's not displayed? If I had to guess, I'd say he got a General Discharge. Honorable should have been plainly stated, Bad Conduct or Dishonorable and he wouldn't have been allowed to stay for his full four-year term of enlistment.

He would be what we technically called a "shitbird".

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

1 minute ago, japantiger said:

He would be what we technically called a "shitbird".

Are you talking about homie or Chief Nevabentonam?

[homersapien 11,812]

13 minutes ago, Proud Tiger said:

Are you talking about homie or Chief Nevabentonam?

Boy, for someone who is supposed to be ignoring me, I sure do live in your head.

[japantiger 4,077]

1 hour ago, Proud Tiger said:

Are you talking about homie or Chief Nevabentonam?

The Chief...you only get to be called "shitbird" if you at least served...

[DKW 86 7,727]

On 1/24/2019 at 10:47 AM, Proud Tiger said:

Are you talking about homie or Chief Nevabentonam?

That was actually funny..

[DKW 86 7,727]