Alan disGraceson again.

[Freeper]

Alan Grayson (171 posts)

 
"I've Never Had a Bad Day Since"

Congressman Charlie Rangel often says that the last bad day he had was way back in 1950. Let me explain what he means by that.

Rangel joined the US Army at 18. He was assigned to the segregated, all-African-American 503rd Field Artillery Battalion. His nickname was “Sarge,” which was funny, because Rangel actually was a private first class, not a sergeant.

On November 27, 1950, Rangel’s commander, General Douglas MacArthur, learned that the Chinese Army was about to surround America’s Eighth Army. MacArthur ordered the Eighth Army to retreat. But that could happen only if American units held off the Chinese forces on the Eighth Army’s right flank. Charlie Rangel’s unit was given that suicide mission, in what became known as the Battle of Kunu-Ri.

The Chinese Army quickly surrounded Rangel’s unit. His unit kept fighting.

Sundown brought less shooting, but also bitter cold. The temperature dropped below zero. Even at night, the Chinese Army’s bugle orders rang out, and the night sky was lit by Chinese flares. Rangel called it a “waking nightmare.” He kept fighting.

Having the high ground, the Chinese Army pounded Rangel’s unit with artillery fire. On the third day, an explosion sent shrapnel into Rangel’s back. The shrapnel hit him so hard that he was tossed into a ditch. He kept fighting.

Rangel and his unit could hear American soldiers screaming and moaning. They could hear American soldiers being taken prisoner. Rangel said, “We couldn’t see any possible way out of the situation.” They could have surrendered. But they didn’t.

Rangel and his unit were trapped behind enemy lines for three days of heavy fighting. After three terrible days, under cover of darkness, Charlie Rangel, sleepless, wounded, bleeding and freezing, led 40 American soldiers to safety.

Half of Rangel’s battalion died in the fighting. Rangel spent a long time in the hospital, recuperating. For his courage and leadership, he was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three battle stars.

And Charlie Rangel was awarded a certain perspective on life itself. As Charlie always says, “Since Kunu-ri, I have never, never had a bad day.”

One week from Tuesday, Congressman Charles Rangel faces the voters in the New York Democratic Primary. National Public Radio calls it Rangel’s “toughest reelection challenge” since he won the seat in 1970.

Win or lose, it won’t be a bad day for him. Not after what he went through at Kunu-ri. But I want it to be a good day for him. That’s why I’m helping him, and

Courage,

Alan Grayson

http://www.democraticunderground.com/125146994

rfranklin (12,114 posts)
2. think about the Republican chickenhawks who have attacked Rangel...

they are a disgrace to the American flag.

Wouldn't 0bama be a chicken hawk? He sure can start up a war yet he never served a day in his life.

Baitball Blogger (2,189 posts)
4. I sincerely hope that Rangel wins,

but all veterans who decide to run for office need to know we need that same kind of unselfish style of leadership in politics.

Rangel unselfish? 

bluerum (5,840 posts)
8. Always liked Mr.Rangel. Felt bad about the ethics investigation but felt he endured

it well. I felt it was 90% witch hunt.

Was not aware of his extraordinary military experiences.

It's always a witch hunt when dems get in trouble. 

[obumazombie]

Charley had a whole lot of assets, and a whole lot of income he didn't claim. Very unethical. But, he is nothing more than one of those libs who doesn't mind raising taxes, since he or they don't pay them.

[jukin]

Did Rangel ever run a red light and send people to the hospital or only cheat on his taxes and rent controlled apartments?

[obumazombie]

^Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Same for Anthony Weiner.

edit for emphasis.

[docstew]

Y'all are missing the lie to start this whole thing, the one that establishes Rangel's victim bona fides. Grayson claims in 1950 Rangel was in a segregated unit. Neat trick, considering Truman desegregated them in 1948.

[ExGeeEye]

Benedict Arnold was a combat-wounded battle hero before he committed treason, too.

[BlueStateSaint]

Benedict Arnold was a combat-wounded battle hero before he committed treason, too.

Yup--and that occurred maybe 10 miles from where I'm sitting now.  There's a monument to his lower leg on the spot where he was shot.  Just his lower left leg is on the memorial, no name, IIRC.

[diesel driver]

Did Rangel ever run a red light and send people to the hospital or only cheat on his taxes and rent controlled apartments?

Yes.

[ChuckJ]

Alan Grayson (171 posts)

 
"I've Never Had a Bad Day Since"

Congressman Charlie Rangel often says that the last bad day he had was way back in 1950. Let me explain what he means by that.

Rangel joined the US Army at 18. He was assigned to the segregated, all-African-American 503rd Field Artillery Battalion. His nickname was “Sarge,” which was funny, because Rangel actually was a private first class, not a sergeant.

On November 27, 1950, Rangel’s commander, General Douglas MacArthur, learned that the Chinese Army was about to surround America’s Eighth Army. MacArthur ordered the Eighth Army to retreat. But that could happen only if American units held off the Chinese forces on the Eighth Army’s right flank. Charlie Rangel’s unit was given that suicide mission, in what became known as the Battle of Kunu-Ri.

The Chinese Army quickly surrounded Rangel’s unit. His unit kept fighting.

Sundown brought less shooting, but also bitter cold. The temperature dropped below zero. Even at night, the Chinese Army’s bugle orders rang out, and the night sky was lit by Chinese flares. Rangel called it a “waking nightmare.” He kept fighting.

Having the high ground, the Chinese Army pounded Rangel’s unit with artillery fire. On the third day, an explosion sent shrapnel into Rangel’s back. The shrapnel hit him so hard that he was tossed into a ditch. He kept fighting.

Rangel and his unit could hear American soldiers screaming and moaning. They could hear American soldiers being taken prisoner. Rangel said, “We couldn’t see any possible way out of the situation.” They could have surrendered. But they didn’t.

Rangel and his unit were trapped behind enemy lines for three days of heavy fighting. After three terrible days, under cover of darkness, Charlie Rangel, sleepless, wounded, bleeding and freezing, led 40 American soldiers to safety.

Half of Rangel’s battalion died in the fighting. Rangel spent a long time in the hospital, recuperating. For his courage and leadership, he was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three battle stars.

And Charlie Rangel was awarded a certain perspective on life itself. As Charlie always says, “Since Kunu-ri, I have never, never had a bad day.”

One week from Tuesday, Congressman Charles Rangel faces the voters in the New York Democratic Primary. National Public Radio calls it Rangel’s “toughest reelection challenge” since he won the seat in 1970.

Win or lose, it won’t be a bad day for him. Not after what he went through at Kunu-ri. But I want it to be a good day for him. That’s why I’m helping him, and

Courage,

Alan Grayson

Interesting. Why is it that I keep thinking that if it was a republican congressman the entire story would go something like this:

Congressman G.O. Publican was a baby killer who ran from the glorious Chinese Army.

[Skul]

Strange, not once did he ask for people to send him money.
Must be somebodies mole, or sockpuppet.

[BlueStateSaint]

Strange, not once did he ask for people to send him money.
Must be somebodies mole, or sockpuppet.

His presence compels them to send money, or so he thinks.