Tell me you've never served in the military without telling me you've never served in the military.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie
I’ve been contacted by members of our voluntary military who say they will quit if the COVID vaccine is mandated.

I introduced HR 3860 to prohibit any mandatory requirement that a member of the Armed Forces receive a vaccination against COVID-19.

It now has 24 sponsors.

ArmyTimes
@ArmyTimes
Prepare for mandatory COVID vaccines in September, Army says in EXORD
https://trib.al/J5lNtty
Image
1:24 PM · Jul 3, 2021

Bet all the DU vets are shocked to hear you could've quit the military if you didn't want to follow an order.

[captain queeg]

1. And all the troops who went to Iraq especially, but also Afghanistan

Got pumped for of all kinds of vaccines and prophylactic drugs.

[former9thward]

21. All of which had been approved by the FDA

The military has an exception for the Covid vaccine because it has not been approved.

[Mysterian]

28. Wrong

I and every member of my unit were given experimental vaccines in 1993.

[former9thward]

89. OK, tell us which ones.

[Mysterian]

92. Anthrax

The anthrax vaccine was initially given to military members “off label,” without full Food and Drug Administration approval, to protect against inhalation anthrax.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/coronavirus/pentagon-wary-of-forcing-u-s-troops-to-get-coronavirus-shots

Any more questions, sparky?

[former9thward]

99. Life has moved on since 1993 believe it or not. This is 2021.

In 1998 Congress passed 10 U.S.C. § 1107 which requires the military to get informed consent before giving vaccines which have not been approved. The military stopped requiring anthrax vaccines in 2000 as a result. President Biden has the authority to override that but he has said he will not do that.

[Mysterian]

101. Then why did you claim all Iraq and Afghanistan vaccines were FDA approved?

Believe it or not, the Gulf War started in 1990.

[former9thward]

104. I was referring to Afghan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003

The Gulf War is not called the Iraq war. Catch up.

[Mysterian]

105. You responded to: "all the troops who went to Iraq...,"

not the "Iraq War."

Stop digging when you're in a hole. You made a bogus claim and you got caught.

[former9thward]

106. So you speak for the poster "captain queeg"?

And you know what he meant by the word "Iraq"? interesting claim.

Given your lack of knowlege about the military and vaccines post 1993, your comment about "stop digging" is pretty rich.

[Mysterian]

107. I know the meaning of "all troops who went to Iraq."

There is nothing unclear about that statement.

You made a bogus claim and now you tap-dance.

[LanternWaste]

102. Deft movement of your own goalposts.

[orangecrush]

24. Yeah, like Cipro

For anthrax.

[TrollBuster9090]

68. Didn't they VACCINATE for Anthrax? Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic, not a vaccine. It kills the

...it kills the bacterium (Bacillus anthracis) that causes anthrax. But I thought they used a vaccination during the Gulf War, not an antibiotic?

[sarisataka]

80. Gulf 1991

We were handed cards of cipro for anthrax and something else for nerve gas (the name of the medicine escapes me now). We took the cipro because some guys who came from ranches knew it was used for anthrax. Since no one had previously heard of a pill to reduce the effects of nerve gas, those pills had a funny habit of getting lost

[TrollBuster9090]

84. Interesting! Thanks! (For everything)

It's an interesting approach. Vaccinating against anthrax would have been more effective, but there might have been resistance? If there was, using cirprofloxacin would have been a much less effective, but less controversial way to protect against anthrax.

[orangecrush]

111. They took Cipro for up to 90 days

As a prophylactic.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. I suppose you could go AWOL (nt)

[sarisataka]

3. If he was speaking to officers

It may be true, they can resign.

For those of us who worked for a living you volunteered once, after that we were voluntold

[qazplm135]

6. Not if you have an obligation you can't

Many of those officers have mandatory obligations because of education or bonus money. I was literally obligated up to my 20 year mark because of bonus money I took at my midpoint of like 120k.

Only stayed two more years to qualify for O5 retirement.

[sarisataka]

8. That's why I qualified it with may

There are cases where the option to resign is not available

[paleotn]

78. Yep. Few can actually "quit".

"Quit?" Well, I guess you could...sorta, but I wouldn't recommend it. Got a hell of a laugh out of that one.

[denbot]

4. Vaccination day in boot camp.

If I refused, I’d have been standing outside the gates with a dishonorable discharge under my arm that afternoon..

[sarisataka]

9. No you wouldn't

[denbot]

23. US Navy RTC San Diego in the mid 70's

The hell I wouldn’t.. LoL

[sarisataka]

27. To get a dishonorable discharge

You would have to be convicted by a General Court Martial. Maybe during Vietnam they would have convened a Court Martial but it would have been a Summary or Special to give you time in the brig before giving the boot.

Mid 70s they would have handed you a bus ticket with a general discharge or perhaps a under other than honorable if they were in a pissy mood.

[Traildogbob]

38. Same here

San Diego Navy boot. First day. Penicillin in the ass. There was a hepatitis raging through boot. Before pulling anchor for a 7 month tour through Europe and Middle East, we stood in line, both sleeves up, and walked through with the high pressure Vax streaming guns hitting both arms. Up to 6 different vaccinations. We could not whine and quit. After a few days of liberty in a port city, quite a few sailors would be in sick bay line desperately seeking vaccinations. The preLiberty horror films that were mandated we watch with rotting penises by SDT’s worked for me. Celibacy, was my cure.

[denbot]

48. The real "Old Navy".

It’s been long enough so to be seen through nostalgia..

[Traildogbob]

52. Wooten Masts

And Oars😁

[denbot]

54. And a "real" crossing over ceremony..

I still don’t miss that..

[Traildogbob]

61. Oooh

The Shellback ceremony. No more of that please. We actually had no GPS. Navigated by stars while crossing the big pond.

[denbot]

64. We had rudimentary gps on our Adam's Class DDG.

But every junior officer was on the bridge wing sighting with sextons, knowing the XO was there with his personal sexton. LoL!

[Traildogbob]

67. Destroyer sailor as well

Ops Specialist. I would do love to see what’s up in today’s CIC. Tech must be amazing.

[denbot]

85. Yeah, we actually won our Battle E against brand new Spruance Classes in the mix.

I was an OS too.

[Traildogbob]

86. 🤜🤛

[TrollBuster9090]

74. Penicillin is an antibiotic, and hepatitis is a virus. Are you sure it wasn't something else they

...they shot you with? There have been hepatitis A and B vaccines for a long time. I wasn't in the military, but I got them because I worked in a hospital. Maybe it was the Hepatitis B vaccine you got?

But yes, recruits have been getting military series vaccines for decades. Nobody was ever allowed to refuse, despite the fact that anti-vaccine hysteria has been around for decades, too.

[Traildogbob]

79. You are likely right.

There was a Big outbreak from mess hall sanitation, Or lack thereof.
Whatever the gave us was a cold thick glob, on purpose by the corpsmen. They knew days of marching with that clob would hurt like hell. Lined us against a wall, drop trow, and pretended they were gonna throw needles like darts.
Today there woulda been law suits with this generation of, “oh you can’t make me take a shot” crowd.

[denbot]

87. We got every known vaccine, the penicillin was part of the fist day gearing up..

And wondering about recent decisions..

[sarge43]

35. One more time, a dishonorable discharge requires conviction by a general court martial.

At best you'd be handed a bus ticket and told "Go away now" (too much paperwork otherwise). Worse, Come to Jesus duty like painting every rock on the patch over and over until you modified your behavior.

[Traildogbob]

41. Go away

Hahahaha. Vietnam near end and draft coming to a close. NOBUDY was joining. If you were enlisted, you ain’t leaving. We had people jumping overboard in a mass population of man of war, to get thrown out. They were given extra duty. Had a guy crawling through a full days worth food scraps, 339 sailors on my Destroyer, rotting food in garbage bags before being thrown overboard like a dumpster, just to get a crazy discharge. Extra duty. Had an EW throw over secret publications with codes for comparison comma, a damn pilot, he went to brig to finish enlistment. Nobody walked away.
Saying I ain’t taking no shot, hahahahaha!🤣🤣😂😂

[sarge43]

53. Go away was a bit easier in the Fly Force.

It had people lining up at the door, so "don't let the gate hit ya" was the easier way to deal with the eager young space cadets PITAs.

The Come to Jesus method was the preferred reinforcing the learning instructions. Mine was cleaning every barrack garbage can until She Who Must Be Obeyed was satisfied all the crud atoms were gone.

[Traildogbob]

60. Tell me about it

Have a younger brother that Stationed in Brindisi Italy during my enlisted years at an Air Force Base. All he had to do was run the radio TV Station. Loved off base on the beach, had a Fiat Spyder. Went to see him while in port in Naples on leave. He Got a less than honorable discharge, Unable to adapt to military life. Got picked up by a Russian Troller, (🤔 after current pulled him and friends out to sea on a raft. Held for hours for questioning.
After Air Force worked at Savannah Nuke plat as IT.
Against company demands went to Russia for a bride, during Obama years, with a laptop owned by the Plant. Fired!!!! Now he works at a tiny right wing TV station, all Jesusy. His minimal English speaking wife now inviting family here. He is all Trump, stolen elections, Covid is fake, Vax will kill you.
The kicker, it was hard to get her into US. Daughter fighting cancer. And quess who pulled political strings to get an “immigrant” into country?
One anti immigrant Lindsey Graham. Now ole Lindsey is God to him. Oh what a web. Pride of the U.S. Air Force. Military life!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[marie999]

72. During Vietnam if you didn't have a deferment the best thing to do was enlist.

There are jobs in the military that preclude you from going anywhere near a war zone. Neither my future husband nor I were allowed anywhere near a war zone.

[Traildogbob]

75. Why I joined Navy.

Draft number, 306. Probably would no been called up.

[sarisataka]

46. Exactly. Many folks think the military hands out DDs

Willy-nilly, even some who should know better.

If we are criticizing a Congress critter for not knowing military procedures we should be accurate in our statements. I can understand a civilian not knowing there is a difference but any vet should recall the knowledge of various discharges that were beaten into our heads ad nauseum.

[Treefrog]

103. Nope. Maybe an administrative or general discharge.

DD has a high (low?) bar.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

109. My "vaccination day" was at the induction center, before being shipped to basic training.

Dunno about now, but when I was vaccinated, they used hydraulic guns instead of needles. Lined us up, each station with a different vaccine, held the gun against the shoulder and "bang", vaccine was pushed through the skin. Easy and fast, except for anyone who flinched, which caused a big slice, ouch.

Then we were bussed to the train station, and on to a basic training post. Me, and a couple hundred other draftees.

[Buckeyeblue]

5. Let them quit.

If they are refusing to voluntarily get the covid vaccine I don't trust their judgement and would prefer they not fight for my freedom.

[moonscape]

12. Indeed. Would weed out some of

the worst RWNJs.

[usaf-vet]

33. Anyone who refuses should become an immediate candidate for the Darwin Award.....

.... especially if the Delta Variant continues to spread.

[mac2766]

70. Yes...

Jason Borne is fighting for your freedom, but he absolutely refuses to take the vaccine so no respect. Poor Jason. And thank you for standing up to him.

Sorry. That was my attempt to poke fun. Please don't take offense.

[Buckeyeblue]

83. No offense. I got the joke.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. I Don't Care That He Never Served

But, I also don't believe his "quit" story, (I doubt he talked to more than one rogue officer).
And, I know this has nothing really to do with vaccines.

[Midnight Writer]

58. Probably talked to Michael Flynn. Or Sean Hannity.

All the Right Wingers will be on the same page on this by tomorrow.

[ProfessorGAC]

63. Flynn Is Retired, Right?

So he can't quit over this.
My instinct tells me this rep made the whole thing up.

[11 Bravo]

10. Unless this means I could have been excused from all that fun and games in the A Shau Valley ...

by simply refusing the fairly lengthy series of injections I had to receive prior to heading that way, I'm going to suggest that Rep. Massie is a major dumbass.

Just for fun, I think I'll contact his office and ask him what he thinks my options might have been in 1970.

[Mr.Bill]

11. Me thinks Rep. Massie

is ignorant and full of shit. This bill will never get out of committee.

[SunImp]

112. That guy needs to eat sht

[Andy823]

13. I was never given a choice

I got in line, got my shots and that was it.

[LakeArenal]

14. Did you even know what they were shooting you with to kill whatever you might get?

[Andy823]

20. Nope

we were simply told we "needed" the shots. I got more shots after basic training and advanced training because I was being sent to Germany.

[LakeArenal]

36. Times have changed. Not necessarily for the better.

[KS Toronado]

19. Just like 99.999% of us did, and never cried about it.

Just one of those things to help make us live longer.

[COL Mustard]

57. And You Didn't Lose Your Shot Record

Otherwise you had to start all over again.

[sarisataka]

65. BTDT

Transferred from Lejeune to Pendleton, med records were shipped by courier because, as a Lance Coolie, I couldn't be trusted to hand deliver them. All the papers I was tasked to carry were delivered but the med file vanished without a trace.

It sucks getting the entire shot battery in the space of an hour. I think the only shot I didn't have to get was tetnus because I have a card on me from my civilian doctor.

[ornotna]

15. You mean I could have avoided the PB shot

Who knew.


Yeah, good luck with that one.

[twodogsbarking]

16. If you are able to get the vaccine and you don't I would say you

are very stupid.

[turbinetree]

17. So did this pin head Massie, ever serve in the military...

I don't think so....we had to get shots before deployment overseas even as a kid....

[sarge43]

39. According to Wiki, no he did not.

Quell surprise.

Not that it would happen, but pin head should take a look at the disease vs battle causalities rates.

In the Revolution the disease rate was 90%. WWII .4%. Thanks vaccinations.

[turbinetree]

108. Since the pin head probably doesn't have clue to what Washington did with his troops

he deliberately infected them with Chicken Pox, and then that chicken pox went right after the natives and the British and there allies...but he more than likely doesn't know this fact....and your points are very good also...but he wants to yammer like a pin head idiot that he is and what's really galling he gets to be in office with a title and and do this shit show...

[Mickju]

18. I can't count how many vaccinations I received in the Air Force.

Of course they were all required.

[usaf-vet]

29. EXACTLY! In 1965 EVERYONE in USAF boot camp was receiving all kinds of vaccinations especially...

.... for known jungle diseases. And I have my original shot records to prove it. It was assumed that anyone could end up in Vietnam regardless of your AFSC I was a medic and had all the shots including yellow fever. No one said NO and no one resigned. Several would pass out in the shot line. Some just didn't LIKE SHOTS but they got them anyway unless they were medically allergic.

Anyone who went TDY to Vietnam had their shot records review and renewed as needed before shipping out.

I personally hope Covid shots become part of passport records. And that you will be prevented from entering some countries without government-issued picture ID proof of being CURRENT with Covid vaccinations.

[Mickju]

43. I went to basic in 1970 at the age of 26.

I remember vividly those shot lines and those guns they used to give us the shots. I agree with you 100% about requiring covid shots to travel.

[usaf-vet]

90. I got out in Oct 1969. I think the only place they were still using the "guns" for shots......

..... was in basic training because of the long long shot lines. I'm curious did you get the "water cooler shot " in 1970.

Actually, it was the "yellow fever" shot and there was a slightly delayed reaction until you walk to the exit at the door there was a "water cooler" just about then it felt like someone stabbed you with a knife in the arm as you reached the "water cooler".

The DIs used to warn for weeks "wait until" you get the WATER COOLER SHOT! DIs knew how to put the fear of the unknown into the troops. PsyOps!

[Mickju]

91. I don't remember the water cooler shot.

But I'm pretty sure I got the yellow fever shot. I went in in Oct, 1970 exactly a year after you got out. I was in the AF Band so I had enlisted directly into the band after auditioning and was in DC for the whole 4 years after basic. I was drafted right before I turned 26 after having teaching deferments. I have never regretted serving. I got my Masters Degree at the expense of the Air Force. (They paid 75%) I also got to travel all over the world and made some great friends. I am proud that I was able to serve my country even though I didn't see combat. I was a professional musician my whole career and am now 77.

[kimbutgar]

22. My husband was in the Navy and he said he got so many shots when he went overseas

He felt like a pin cushion!

Massie’s comment sounds like another right wing bs talking point echoed by chucker farlson

[joetheman]

25. And when they quit, ALL military benefits should stop, immediately! nt

[EYESORE 9001]

26. I can't tell time in the 24-hour format. It's just too confusing!

Actually, I am a veteran, and 24-hour time is one of the few things about the military that I retained into civilian life.

[usaf-vet]

31. I still prefer it today. Especially for those folk who work night shifts.

[paleotn]

71. Burned into the brain. It never goes away.

[brooklynite]

30. You can't. but a COVID vaccination isn't an order.

Because its still an unapproved emergency vaccination, they're not requiring it.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. Dear Representative Massie: YOU'RE A FUCKING MORON

That is all.

[Aviation Pro]

34. As a former officer with UCMJ authority I say

Good luck with that shit, Snuffies.

[monkeyman1]

37. bunch of bullshit !! that's why hospitals are full !! scared to get a shot !

[bluedigger]

40. They kept us ready to deploy anywhere when I was in the 101st.

If your vac card wasn't full, you weren't ready.

[LiberalFighter]

42. If they can't follow orders then what is the point of them being in the military?

[rownesheck]

44. If they're able to quit,

let them. They're obviously not on our team anyway.

[Siwsan]

45. I was given a Yellow Fever vaccine, just before I headed to NAS Keflavik in Iceland

I'm not even sure they HAVE mosquitoes in Iceland. I know I never saw one. I think they'd have a rough time with both the temperatures and the almost constant brisk wind.

[Codifer]

47. I should imagine

that those vets from US and UK who suffered from "Gulf War Syndrome" caused by tainted Anti Anthrax vaccines wish they could have declined that particular shot. French soldiers did not take the vaccine. As a result, they did not suffer from GWS and they did not die.

Culprit was an extremely small organism called Mycophyta pneumonii (if I recall from my research into this some twenty plus years ago). It is a quite common contamination in laboratories.

Department of Defense tried to clamp down on the GWS concern by stating that:

"The percentage of Gulf War veteran's who displayed these varied symptoms was the same as the percentage of the general population who displayed these symptoms."

Many folks did not question that the military population consisted of medically screened folks in the prime of life while the general population included old farts like me, and cancer survivors and folks with bad hearts and com[promised lungs.... loooong list. Not surprised to find symptoms in the latter. Seems to be unusual in the young Airborne Rangers.

Edit to add: I am NOT absolutely sure about this opinion. It has been a very long time.

[NH Ethylene]

49. I thought people in the military were considered 'property'.

That was what I heard back when soldiers were being given unwanted anthrax vaccines, and it stuck in my mind. If so, they would have no choice in the matter.

[onethatcares]

50. then they'll go join a militia

and talk about how tough they are.

[Warpy]

51. Everybody I know who's been in the military got stabbed for every disease known to man

for which a safe and effective vaccine exists,.

Military who object to Covid vaccine after all of that? Who do these loons think they're talking to?

[marble falls]

56. I was company clerk. I kept the company shot records. I did not get all the shots for everything.

[Captain Zero]

55. only lottery I ever won was with the number 318.

Nt.

[intheflow]

62. Hey, the guy is just a volunteer!

What do you mean, they signed a contract and get paid?

[TrollBuster9090]

66. Um...Aren't All Recruits Given A 'Military Series' of Vaccines On Their First Day?

Or is it just THIS vaccine they're making a fuss about? Here we go again. It was the same with the anthrax vaccine during the Gulf War. With all the conspiracy nuts coming out of the woodwork, claiming that all the soldiers who got the anthrax vaccine were damaged by the adjuvant (squalene) that was included in the vaccine. Somebody should have told those nuts that squalene is a a natural lipid, and that the human body makes bucket loads of it already. If it actually does cause damage to the human body, we've got a MUCH bigger problem than including it in vaccines.

How about this? We inoculate the military against IGNORANCE by cutting off the supply of FOX NEWS? It clearly causes significant neural damage.

[Turbineguy]

69. They get a reward for prolonging the pandemic.

They get a bigger reward for making it worse.

[Yavin4]

73. We have the power to get covid under control, but we're just too stupid to do so.

What this "congressman" is saying is borderline criminal.

[Shellback Squid]

76. Yeah, just turn in your uniform and you are good to go

lolololololol.........

[dchill]

77. I was in on the first draft lottery, 12/1/69.

I was 18 years old. My number was 305.

[Iggo]

81. I think I learned about this on TV during the first Iraq War.

That’s me answering the question in the subject line. Wink.

(Not really a question, but you know what I mean…lol.)

[TrollBuster9090]

82. Here We Go: The Standard Vaccinations A Soldier Normally Gets In The Military Series...

Here we go. Here are the standard vaccinations in a US Army military series. The average soldier is given NINETEEN different vaccinations (mostly at once, but some boosters), and none of these jackoffs said a word about them. Presumably because Faux Noise and Fucker Carleson are not constantly harping on them.

How about we ALSO immunize the military against PROPAGANDA, by cutting off Fox News, and reactionary AM Radio? Treat Fox News like they used to treat TOKYO ROSE during WWII.

https://usarmybasic.com/about-the-army/army-shots

Adenovirus types 4 and 7
Measles
Miningococcal (meningitis)
Mumps
Polio
Rubella
Tetanus-diphtheria
Influenza
Yellow Fever
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Japanese B Encephalitis
Typhoid
Cholera
Rabies
Varicella
Small Pox
Anthrax

[Buckeye_Democrat]

93. Fox News is more like...

... Moscow Murdoch propaganda.

Good post, by the way!

[marie999]

95. Which ones are not FDA approved?

[HAB911]

88. laughting my ass off right now

[GoCubsGo]

94. Just looked at his Twitter bio.

Jeezus, what a piece of work. What a pile of unprofessional garbage. These fuckers still think they're in high school.

[nitpicker]

96. Link to the Army Times article re possible 1 Sep mandate for the shot

https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/07/01/prepare-for-mandatory-covid-vaccines-in-september-army-tells-commands/

[nitpicker]

97. And to the potential plan for the VA to require shots for all its staf

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2021/07/01/va-may-force-employees-to-get-covid-vaccines/

[nitpicker]

98. Back in the day

My mother worked in military clinics, and every year they were shot up too for the flu.

And they STRONGLY encouraged civilians like me to show up for a shot too. ((I usually got it from my FEHB provider.))

[CrackityJones75]

100. Gee I remember being in line

Gee I remember being in line and getting a boat load of vaccines in one day. They had an air gun to administer them. And then the one at the end where you got the big needle in the buttcheek and had to sit on the floor and roll around on it to spread it out or you end up with a golf ball sized painful lump.

[Aristus]

110. I joined the Army before whacko conspiracy theories went mainstream.

When we were told to line up for vaccines, not only did none of us say out loud "Well, I guess we have to; we took an oath", nobody started bleating about their "rights" or throwing childish tantrums, either. We got immunized because we knew the Army wanted healthy soldiers and, hey! we were getting free health care into the bargain.

Frankly, I can't understand why the whole "Freedom means having absolutely no responsibilities to anyone else, ever" crowd would even want to join the military, in which making sacrifices, large and small, for the greater good comes with the territory.

[DFW]

113. Group W n/t