Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20%

[AverageOldGuy]

16. This is somewhat personal for me

I was an artillery forward observer in Vietnam. Because of physical limitations after being shot a couple of times, I could no longer stay in the field artillery, branch transferred to a non-combat branch where I completed 28 years of service, retiring in 1995. Friend of mine with whom I served in Vietnam remained in the artillery. We stayed in touch all these years, even served in the Pentagon two times concurrently.

His older son was badly injured in a wreck as a teenager, could not serve, is enjoying a very successful career in the engineering field, retired couple of years ago.

His younger son graduated from West Point and about two years ago pinned on his third star and is now commanding one of the Army's (omitted to avoid identifying him). Very fine guy, well-respected because he is a fine officer and leader. He's a warrior and a gentleman.

Problem: The family is clearly a minority ethnic group with a name and physical appearance that is unmistakably not white Anglo-Saxon. Meanwhile, the father -- my friend -- is an unapologetic MAGAt who is all against women in combat, renaming military bases, DEI promotions, and the like.

My concern: The family name and heritage could mark him as a DEI promotion and cost him a fourth star.

Talked with my friend a few minutes ago, he brought up this matter and was railing against Hegseth. I wanted to but I did not say: "Well, you voted for this."

Pete Hegseth is not fit to shine my friend's son's boots . . . in fact, he's not fit to shine the boots of a PFC, let alone a flag officer.