Mandel previously served as state auditor, or something like that. If he didn't mention it so frequently, you never would guess he served in USMC - kind of a Poindexter. But he does seem to be a legit conservative.
@mountaineer As anyone who has ever served during wartime can tell you,there are ALWAYS safe rear-echelon staff jobs for the sons of politicians and the wealthy.
Hell,Goober Gore was just a PFC or Spec-4 in VN,NEVER left the base camp,and was reported to have THREE armed bodyguards following him around all the times to protect him.
BUT.....,he can legitimately lay claim to being a "VN Veteran".
BTW,in NO way do I mean to insult or slander the support troops in the rear. Without them,them providing medical care,supplies,transportation,food,paperwork providing transfers,etc,etc,etc,the infantry in the field wouldn't last a week.
I have read statements from people who were supposed to know several times that it takes 10 men/women in the rear working ever day to keep just one combat arms soldier
properly supplied and provided for in all other ways,and knowing a little about the US Army bureaucracy,I can easily believe that.