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-   -   Al Gore - Ex-Green Beret For US Senate (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39447)

Richard 09-06-2012 12:22

Al Gore - Ex-Green Beret For US Senate
 
1 Attachment(s)
Never heard of him - and so it goes...

Richard
:munchin

The Al Gore You Never Knew
CNN, 5 sEP 2012

He has one of the most recognizable names in American politics, but there's a lot you don't know about Albert Gore, Jr.

For instance, he was a Green Beret and master parachutist in the Army with 91 jumps under his belt and the rank of colonel. He has a fondness for cigars and pipes, lit or unlit. And in 1998, he retired from a 51-year career as a Methodist minister.

No, Col. Albert Nottly Gore, Jr., is not the Albert Arnold Gore, Jr., who served as U.S. Senator from Tennessee, vice president, and 2000 Democratic presidential nominee.

But he is following the better-known Gore's footsteps in one notable way: he's Mississippi's Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Roger Wicker.

Although both Gores are delegates to the Democratic National Convention this week in Charlotte, the octogenarian retired minister and veteran is the only Albert Gore who showed up in person.

Colonel Gore has never met the former vice president, whom he calls a distant relative, but says the two served in Vietnam at the same time.

"He's a good man. Honest. And he should have been president," he said.

As a candidate, Gore, a self-described "progressive Democrat," is focusing on "preserving Social Security, holding on to Medicare, and supporting education for the years ahead."

He says he tossed his green beret into the ring when "no one else would step up."

"I promised the party last year that if no one stepped up, I would," he said. "I'm not one to sit around and wait for someone else to do it."

The colonel has his work cut out for him. Mississippi hasn't sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since the 1980s. And he is unlikely to receive any help from the top of the ticket. The state, which has voted Democratic in a presidential election only once since 1960, is considered safe territory for Mitt Romney in November.

Nonetheless, the Wicker campaign says its candidate isn't taking anything for granted.

"Senator Wicker is approaching the campaign very seriously," said Rick Curtsinger, a Wicker campaign spokesman. "He's been traveling across the state meeting with Mississippians, talking with them, and will put forth a very strong effort to win in November. Certainly a Senate race is never a thing that candidates should be taking lightly."

Wicker had $2.3 million in the bank at the end of June. Gore has none of the required campaign finance paperwork on file with the Federal Election Commission but says he's "running on his own resources," including $6000 for gas to campaign around the state.

As for whether running with the name Al Gore helps or hurts in Mississippi, Curtsinger said, "You'd have to ask Mr. Gore that. Senator Wicker is focused on the issues that are affecting Mississippians and putting forth conservative solutions."

Of his famous moniker, Gore said, "It helped on name recognition, even though I was already known in Democratic circles throughout the state."

Stuart Rothenberg, a non-partisan political analyst and editor of the Rothenberg Political Report, was blunt in assessing the race: "Wrong state. Wrong party. Wrong Gore. His chance of winning is zero."

Gore has a more optimistic view of the odds: "I'm going to beat him."

He says his training as a Green Beret and Army parachutist has helped him on the campaign trail.

"You overcome any fears," he said. "I'm a Green Beret. Nothing is impossible."

Gore, a first-time delegate, is attending official convention events but is staying off the party circuit and is not going out of his way to meet celebrities or collect any convention souvenirs.

"I don't need any more junk," he said.

But he did run into Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz at an event Monday and handed her his campaign flier.

"I don't know if she remembered me or not," he said. "I just wanted to remind her that I'm still alive. I'm still here, and I'm doing okay."


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...ou-never-knew/

alelks 09-06-2012 12:34

Hmmm,

I ran across this BIO:

Education & Experience: Retired Methodist minister; graduate of Mathiston High School; bachelor's degree from Millsaps College in Jackson and a master's degree from the School of Divinity at Duke University in Durham, N.C.; served as a chaplain with U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) and graduated from the Command-In-General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS; earned the U.S. Army Master Parachutist badge, having completed 91 jumps; veteran of the Vietnam War, where I earned several honors that include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart; retired from the military with the rank of Colonel; have served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Oktibbeha County Democratic Party.

Team Sergeant 09-06-2012 12:45

Serving as a cook, rigger or chaplain in Special Forces doesn't make you a "Green Beret".

I think it's time to set CNN's record straight, again.

Team Sergeant 09-06-2012 12:56

I have sent a FOIA request for Col. Albert Nottly Gore, Jr. military record to USASOC.

I'd like to watch CNN eat crow, again.......:munchin

VVVV 09-06-2012 16:17

Back in the day, there were chaplains in group that went through the SFOC and earned their Flash. Same was true of MDs.

Richard 09-06-2012 16:22

We had a few Chaplains in the 7th who had been DET CDRs in the 5th or 1st, left the service to attend seminary school, and then returned as Chaplains. People would get that WTF stare when they'd see our Chaplains in dress uniform with a CIB, Master Wings, BSMw/V, etc.

I'll be interested to hear COL Gore's tale, though. ;)

Richard
:munchin

VVVV 09-06-2012 16:37

Capt/Major Virgil T Cooley was 7th Group Chaplain in 1966 - SF, Master Blaster.

ender18d 09-06-2012 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCH (Post 466914)
Back in the day, there were chaplains in group that went through the SFOC and earned their Flash. Same was true of MDs.

I seem to recall seeing a Green Beret on display at the AMEDD Museum at FT Sam that had belonged to a dental officer in the Vietnam era. I ran a web search and believe this is the guy: http://vimeo.com/24583030

Interesting bit of history.

I have no idea about the particular politician in the original post, though.

longrange1947 09-06-2012 18:59

Had a Chaplin in 1st and 10th that was originally an SF Demo man. His name was (I kow I have spelled it wrong, someone correct em please) Stapanzy or something like that. He was a good man and would marry up with teams in the woods by walking out to "where I figured you would be about now". Was startling to see him sitting on a stump and you moved quietly through the woods. :munchin

As far as this Gore guy, never heard of him.

Richard 09-06-2012 19:10

Stepanzy - his son was an SF Officer, too.

Richard

Snaquebite 09-06-2012 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by longrange1947 (Post 466942)
Had a Chaplin in 1st and 10th that was originally an SF Demo man. His name was (I kow I have spelled it wrong, someone correct em please) Stapanzy or something like that. He was a good man and would marry up with teams in the woods by walking out to "where I figured you would be about now". Was startling to see him sitting on a stump and you moved quietly through the woods. :munchin

As far as this Gore guy, never heard of him.


He had a CIB also....I remember him from 10th

The Reaper 09-06-2012 19:56

Neil Dennington was the 7th Group Chaplain when I was there, and he had a Silver Star from when he was an EM running Recon in VN.

This Gore cat, I never heard of, but he sounds like as typical Dim with his hand out.

TR

69harley 09-06-2012 19:56

Had a chaplain in Panama (1-508th) named Boatright that was a former SF engineer. I think he PCS'd to one of the SF groups.

Dozer523 09-06-2012 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant (Post 466884)
I have sent a FOIA request for Col. Albert Nottly Gore, Jr. military record to USASOC.
I'd like to watch CNN eat crow, again.......:munchin

My money's on the Chaplin.
I'll bet he's got an SFDOQC Diploma and some serious Group Chaplin time in Vietnam.
The Handcock avatar for a week to the loser?:p

chance 09-06-2012 20:33

Had a Chaplain in 4th ID that had his long tab, I can't remember his name to save my life. This was around 99-2000 at Fort Hood. Also had a Col Knight that was suppose to have been with 1st-SFODD back in the day.


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