American Legion Chief Alters Line On Service (Morin Led Legion Attack On Kerry's 10/30 Iraq Comment)

[Mark E. Smith]

Boston.com 12/03/06

When Paul A. Morin (sic), the national commander of the American Legion, sought election to the office
in August, he described himself in the lead sentence of his campaign biography as a "Vietnam veteran
of the US Army." Since he was elected Aug. 31, the Legion's website has featured the same description.

And when Morin testified before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee Sept. 20, US Representative
Steve Buyer, Republican of Indiana, introduced him as an Army veteran of Vietnam. Morin registered no
objection, according to the hearing transcript.

And three months ago, Morin said he hopes that servicemen returning from iraq will be treated better
than those who returned from Vietnam. "When we came home, life was a little different. We do not want
to see any veteran returning to what we did, so we'll be there welcoming them home with open arms,"
Morin said, according to a transcript of his interview with the Pentagon Channel, the Defense
Department's television network.

But the only place Morin ever returned from was Fort Dix, N.J. According to his military records, Morin
spent his entire two years of Army service, from 1972 to 1974, at that Army training base.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/12/03/legion_chief_alters_line_on_war_service

Additionally ... it was Morin who led the Legion attack on John Kerry after his 10/30 Pasadena remarks.

"As a constituent of Sen. Kerry, I am disappointed," Morin said. "As leader of the American Legion, I am
outraged. A generation ago, Sen. Kerry slandered his comrades in Vietnam as Rapists and murderers. It
true then and his warped views of today's heroes isn't true now."

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