# George Bush AWOL during Viet Nam **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021 "2003-04-11T13:09:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bloodytoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@bloodytoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bloodytoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/1 "2003-04-11T13:09:12Z")
I recently listened in on a few of my friends ranting back and forth about whether or not Bush was AWOL during his stint in the national guard(i think). Is there any proof/evidence that this actually occured? - Mods, If this is the wrong forum or if it gets hijacked too much feel free to do the deed.\* Thanks Bloodytoe ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/2 "2003-04-11T13:19:30Z")
The main website promoting the story seems to be [http://www.awolbush.com](http://www.awolbush.com) Dunno much beyond that but it’s certainly an interesting story. Ironic how the members of the administration most keen on war seem to be those who sidestepped serving when their turn came. Just my £0.02 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/3 "2003-04-11T13:22:54Z")
Cecil’s print column today addressed this very question. The answer in short is that Bush may have been AWOL, but he was never charged with it. Bush claims he reported as ordered, but none of the members of his new unit recall him doing so. On the other hand, the very essence of criminal process is the ability to defend oneself. Had Bush been formally charged with AWOL at the time, he would have been able to present his defense, whether it was, “No, I wasn’t, I’m right here, see?” or “Uh… WHAT National Guard, again?” In any event, Cecil concludes by noting that when Bush sought to attend school for his MBA, he received an honorable discharge from the Guard. Make of that what you will. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/4 "2003-04-11T15:26:40Z")
The column’s online now. [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030411.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030411.html) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/5 "2003-04-11T16:27:52Z")
It seems pretty conclusive. It looks like Bush’s only defense would be to claim that a Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy had erased each and every record of his Guard service for the time in question. I find it ironic that Colon Powell - a general - was the guy who was most reluctant to go to war. [Minor hijack] Does Rumsfeld have any military experience? He was probably the biggest war hawk of the lot. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/6 "2003-04-11T18:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\*I find it ironic that Colon Powell - a general - was the guy who was most reluctant to go to war. \*\* That **Colon** Powell is a real asshole. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/7 "2003-04-11T23:22:00Z")
Since Cecil’s research showed Bush Jr. to have scored in the lowest percentile (and was bumped to the front of the line by family ties), it only confirms (again) his utter lack of intelligence. This is why I cannot understand why most (that I see) media portray him as some ‘determined master’ of politics, government, and world relations. The facts prove he’s an idiot. Carl Rove, et al, should be the ones getting the praise for any good Bush Jr. does. If an idiot spends day and night reaching for a shiny object, then he’s not some master, he’s just an idiot reaching for a shiny object. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/8 "2003-04-11T23:30:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beajerry \* > \*\*Since Cecil’s research showed Bush Jr. to have scored in the lowest percentile (and was bumped to the front of the line by family ties), > it only confirms (again) his utter lack of intelligence. \*\* That was the lowest percentile on the pilot section of the aptitude test, not the whole thing - read the rest of Cecil’s sentence. Later, Cecil mentions that GWB was considered an “excellent pilot” - not something a moron easily pulls off. I don’t see why some people have to portray him as some “idiot” - it’s clear that he isn’t the most brilliant President this nation has ever had, but he’s no Forrest Gump, either. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/9 "2003-04-11T23:35:43Z")
According to the column, Bush only scored that low on the pilot-aptitude section of the test - which I understand has all kinds of spatial-relationship questions and such, not intelligence-type questions. Not sure what it had back then, but today it’s all computerized and has such fun things as trying to do two things at once - like math problems while flying a plane or something. Or doing one activity with one hand and doing somehting else with the other. So it’s not a test of intelligence. **Diceman** , why would you find it strange that a general wouldn’t want to go to war? The military NEVER wants to go to war (well the smart people in it don’t), but will do so if told. They are and should be the last resort. Any general who can’t wait to get to war is basically saying that he can’t wait to get the chance to see some of his people killed. Just because you’re in the military doesn’t mean you’re bloodthirsty - quite the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/10 "2003-04-12T00:14:24Z")
Diceman’s comment, as he himself pointed out, was a sort of hijack and really fodder for a debate thread. Oh, and in the “Comments” Forum there’s a lovely trainwreck under way about Cecil’s parting shot in his column… ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-bush-awol-during-viet-nam/168021/11 "2003-04-12T00:30:44Z")
Since this is asked and answered by the Perfect Master himself, I’ll close this thread and direct folks wishing to add to or correct (heh) the boss to Comments on Cecil’s Columns, where I’m sure **Arnold** would welcome a factual thread on the issue.