|
Replies: 21
| visibility 1
|
Orange Blooded [4718]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3330
Joined: 11/18/05
|
Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 23, 2014, 6:01 PM
|
|
First, as a combat veteran, both in the military and as a civilian spanning nearly 20 years, I saw it as my duty to serve this country, not as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. As such, those incidents I was involved in I've rarely discussed, and when I have, its typically been with a brother that was there or similarly involved.
Many of you think its ok for Daniel to discuss and taken advantage of his status as a combat veteran. The overwhelming majority of combat veterans disagree with you.
Here's the basic Navy Seal creed pertinent to this issue:
“I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own.”
I post that to bring up the situation regarding ex Seal Matt Bissonnette, the author of No Easy Day, accounting the Osama Bin Laden operation. He's been ostracized by the Seal community.
From http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/6/ex-seal-who-wrote-book-on-bin-laden-gets-written-o/?page=all
Its not uncommon for those veterans writing books to be totally shunned by those they served with.
There are a number of reasons for this, usually the "true accounts" are questioned by those that were also there. Marcus Luttrell, in the book Lone Survivor, says numerous things that are argued to this day. The "vote" to kill the goatherds, 200 enemy fighters, etc... are just a few things questioned.
But regardless of all that, my disappointment with Daniel Rodriguez is that whether the university benefited from his playing here or not, this football program has done wonders for Daniel and his comment about politics was a slam at the coaching staff, intended or not
I would expect better from a fellow combat veteran. Its never about me, its about us. Its not I, it's we.
Daniel has seemed to have moved past the "team" mentality.
|
|
|
|
 |
Orange Blooded [4974]
TigerPulse: 88%
Posts: 8239
Joined: 12/9/12
|
Re: Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 23, 2014, 6:05 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [2609]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 6653
Joined: 9/1/11
|
Nice photo shop***
Dec 23, 2014, 7:00 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Head Coach [751]
TigerPulse: 76%
Posts: 945
Joined: 11/17/14
|
Re: Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 23, 2014, 6:23 PM
|
|
I'm glad his time in the "politics" of Clemson football is almost over, someone with his talent needs a bigger stage than Clemson can provide. Good luck in the NFL.
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6650]
TigerPulse: 98%
Posts: 9722
Joined: 9/22/11
|
Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have
Dec 23, 2014, 6:53 PM
|
|
benefitted from his presence. Dan is a big dreamer. No, based on talent, he should have not been invited to a bowl like this, however, the MEDAL OF HONOR BOWL is new and struggling, and they are benefitting from the pub. You cannot deny that Dan has a gigantic heart and has succeeded beyond anybody's imagination based on a desire that he backed up with awesome work ethic. I am a vet. working with vets with PTSD, and he and his book have been great inspiration for all of us. Also, many, here on the coast, have turned to become Clemson fans just because of Dan. He has caught every ball thrown to him and ran back that punt admirably. I hope we smash Oklahoma so Dan can show out in the fourth quarter. Then I hope he does well in the bowl to help raise badly needed money for WOUNDED WARRIORS. What have you done?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [2672]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 2254
Joined: 6/30/10
|
Its "personal" to him because he's a combat veteran
Dec 23, 2014, 7:02 PM
|
|
He's lived what most of us could never imagine, and the comments made by D-Rod hit home for someone in the OP's situation. It's more "disappointing" seeing D-Rod make comments that contradict what his combat service would suggest
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4718]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3330
Joined: 11/18/05
|
Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have
Dec 23, 2014, 7:15 PM
[ in reply to Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have ] |
|
well, you've called me out a few times now Ron, I assume you're still looking for an answer
I take this personally because Daniel Rodriguez doesn't know when to shut his mouth. I mentioned reasons above. He also has a reputation for being rude to those he doesn't know.
Regardless of his play on the field, his self promotion is an insult to COMBAT vets
And what have I done? Through my company, I raise money for various organization that help veterans, not just wounded vets but those as well. I'm probably responsible for about 10k to 20k per year at gun shows from Dallas, to KC, to Atlanta and more. (49 shows last calendar year)
I also provide tactical training for military and private contractors and reach out and train numerous vets suffering from PTSD, missing limbs and other injuries and have helped several overcome their own demons by "getting back in the saddle"
For many of those we provide that service free of charge. My tactical bootcamp is normally $1450 if you're interested in it yourself. Grade out above 90 and its free.
I was involved in numerous tactical operations from 1982 until 1999/2000 in the military and privately and now organize gigs for various outfits and in many cases, get high-paying tactical/security jobs for vets that were barely functioning before training.
Now if you'd like to get more of my qualifications, you're welcome to visit my shop and facility in KY. Further information provided for a fee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starter [392]
TigerPulse: 55%
Posts: 478
Joined: 5/19/03
|
I'm assuming that you don't provide these services for free,
Dec 23, 2014, 7:25 PM
|
|
so aren't you benefitting from your past experiences, combat and otherwise? Thank you for your service and fighting for our freedom to have this discussion. Go Tigers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6650]
TigerPulse: 98%
Posts: 9722
Joined: 9/22/11
|
Yes, I am a volunteer in memory of my dear Brother Barry
Dec 23, 2014, 8:15 PM
|
|
KIA as a Medivac Helicopter pilot on Sept. 29, 1969. He had 2 weeks left out of 13 month service and was not supposed to be flying in combat zone is his last month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4785]
TigerPulse: 92%
Posts: 6025
Joined: 12/20/04
|
Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have
Dec 23, 2014, 7:55 PM
[ in reply to Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have ] |
|
Thankyou for your service Web,but from what i read into
your post,you are ringing your own bell and waving your
flag about what you are doing for our Vets.I'm not trying
to bash you but do it silently so that folks won't think
that you are wanting a Parade.Please do keep up the good
work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6650]
TigerPulse: 98%
Posts: 9722
Joined: 9/22/11
|
Yes, and Dan's service was completely different from that of
Dec 23, 2014, 8:18 PM
|
|
a Navy Seal. That was quite a target "hole' he was put in, and hope an Officer sees this and learns to not put other soldiers in this danger!
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6650]
TigerPulse: 98%
Posts: 9722
Joined: 9/22/11
|
Yes, and Dan's service was completely different from that of
Dec 23, 2014, 8:19 PM
[ in reply to Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have ] |
|
a Navy Seal. That was quite a target "hole' he was put in, and hope an Officer sees this and learns to not put other soldiers in this danger!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4718]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3330
Joined: 11/18/05
|
Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have
Dec 23, 2014, 8:47 PM
[ in reply to Re: Why take this so personally? Both Drod and Clemson have ] |
|
Sorry about that certainly wasn't my intent. Tigeron called me out in two different threads and asked me what have I done.
I admit being a bit miffed when I responded
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6937]
TigerPulse: 88%
Posts: 22594
Joined: 5/4/03
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [6937]
TigerPulse: 88%
Posts: 22594
Joined: 5/4/03
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [13359]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 9885
Joined: 1/23/06
|
Re: Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 23, 2014, 8:04 PM
|
|
First of all- Thank you for your service. I agree with your assessment of DRod.
I do have another question for you though... Who has questioned Marcus LUttrell's details? Who is/was in a position to question?
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1599]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3020
Joined: 1/30/05
|
Do you think vets should hide their service?
Dec 23, 2014, 8:23 PM
|
|
There are a lot of attitudes and opinions coming out NOW that he is having success. If he would have never gotten a book deal or a movie would you still be scrutinizing his initial actions of working hard and creating a video to play football?
I realize you must take him at his word that he actually made a promise to play football to a now dead friend. I suppose you could be cynical about how he worked to cope with PTSD. I suppose you can even deny that he has some forms of PTSD to be truly cynical.
What has set off an alarm with me is that so many are coming forward now mentioning their combat service yet blackballing others for doing so. If you are more upset that he is now successful BECAUSE of combat service, seemingly profiting from it, then you can thank Dabo and Clemson for taking interest and publicizing his come-back story to football. I believe they all did so with benevolent intentions. Without Dabo and Clemson, none of this would have happened and DRod's efforts to return from overseas a football player would been fruitless. Is that what the military brethren would have preferred?
If his book helps 1 veteran get past their own traumatic experiences and reach for a dream then I'd say it was worth while. I also see hundreds of children after games flocking him for autographs because of his story. I think those children could be looking up to something worse. What does the world gain by squashing that? That's just how I see it because I think cynicism is a destructive mindset. Regardless, I have no hard feelings towards a vet who sees otherwise.
Message was edited by: hleapha®
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [43989]
TigerPulse: 81%
Posts: 32915
Joined: 2/22/03
|
He served our country with honor and almost died doing so.
Dec 23, 2014, 9:27 PM
|
|
He fought admirably in what many would call a pointless war. That experience changed his life. Good for him for maximizing that and using it to his benefit. Plenty of veterans use their service to their advantage - for a job, for a discount, or simply for sympathy. Why can't Rodriguez write a book?!?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4098]
TigerPulse: 94%
Posts: 10336
Joined: 7/1/97
|
Re: He served our country with honor and almost died doing so.
Dec 23, 2014, 9:31 PM
|
|
If he can write a book and make $$$$ more power to him!I certainly do appreciate his service for all of us!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Legend [15492]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 18413
Joined: 12/10/14
|
Re: Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 24, 2014, 12:08 AM
|
|
> First, as a combat veteran, both in the military and
> as a civilian spanning nearly 20 years, I saw it as
> my duty to serve this country, not as a stepping
> stone to bigger and better things. As such, those
> incidents I was involved in I've rarely discussed,
> and when I have, its typically been with a brother
> that was there or similarly involved.
>
> Many of you think its ok for Daniel to discuss and
> taken advantage of his status as a combat veteran.
> The overwhelming majority of combat veterans disagree
> with you.
>
> Here's the basic Navy Seal creed pertinent to this
> issue:
>
> “I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor
> seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept
> the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the
> welfare and security of others before my
> own.”
>
> I post that to bring up the situation regarding ex
> Seal Matt Bissonnette, the author of No Easy Day,
> accounting the Osama Bin Laden operation. He's been
> ostracized by the Seal community.
>
> From > href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/6/e
> x-seal-who-wrote-book-on-bin-laden-gets-written-o/?pag
> e=all">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/6/
> ex-seal-who-wrote-book-on-bin-laden-gets-written-o/?pa
> ge=all
>
> Its not uncommon for those veterans writing books to
> be totally shunned by those they served with.
>
> There are a number of reasons for this, usually the
> "true accounts" are questioned by those that were
> also there. Marcus Luttrell, in the book Lone
> Survivor, says numerous things that are argued to
> this day. The "vote" to kill the goatherds, 200 enemy
> fighters, etc... are just a few things questioned.
>
> But regardless of all that, my disappointment with
> Daniel Rodriguez is that whether the university
> benefited from his playing here or not, this football
> program has done wonders for Daniel and his comment
> about politics was a slam at the coaching staff,
> intended or not
>
> I would expect better from a fellow combat veteran.
> Its never about me, its about us. Its not I, it's
> we.
>
> Daniel has seemed to have moved past the "team"
> mentality.
My only concern is your willingness to slam another vet publicly. Not much 'we' in that either. Most books on combat are written by vets often with the full support and cooperation with the military. Remember Ira Hayes? He and others who fought on Iwo Jima were taken on a tour of the country by the military because they were heroes and to instill support in the population toward the war effort. The military loves hero's that's why they award the CMA publicly, not privately. Our history is replete with vets writing books. Sherman, Grant, Longstreet and Doolittle wrote books as did Omar Bradley. More recently Colin Powell. Norman Schwarzkoff wrote a great book of his combat and military experience as did Tommy Franks. R Lee Ermy (drill instructor in Full Metal Jacket)has made a TV and movie career out of his service to great reception by the country and the military. Audey Murphy, the most decorated veteran of WWII wrote books and starred in several movies to his great acclaim by the military and the public. The list of books by honorable vets is endless.
Your insistence that military service is some secretive hallowed landscape that only the weak of character speak of publicly simply is not born out by the history of our country and it's military.
You say you have combat experience in the military "and as a civilian". The only civilian combat experience I can think of is as a Mercenary which is essentially a gun for hire to the highest bidder. Not a field that "honor" is commonly associated with.
My Dad and 2 brothers served in the military. It's not a secret society and frankly our country has a right to know what happens in combat done on our behalf....remember Pat Tillman?
I think you should cut Daniel a little slack because it seems like your using him to make yourself look good. I read that quote, I doubt that Dabo is in the least upset by it and can't for the life of me understand why "Clemson nation" would be either. Except, perhaps, for some of the mindless little juvenile delinquents on this board who love to slobber over any bit of meat thrown their way.
Thank you for your service...but I disagree with your argument and why you made it.
Go Tigers
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1898]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3418
Joined: 11/7/01
|
I am an Infantry combat veteran, went to Vietnam twice and
Dec 24, 2014, 1:48 AM
|
|
was wounded. That said, I could not have done what DR has done - practice and play football for a major program. He brought a lot of good publicity to Clemson and had loud cheers when he actually got in a game. To me, his remark is just that of a brash young man who wished he could have played more. It is no big deal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4756]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 8262
Joined: 9/13/01
|
Re: Some clarification on my DRod comments earlier
Dec 24, 2014, 7:49 AM
|
|
I have never been in the military so it is difficult for me to address DRod's comments with the same perspective as yours. However, it seems to me that his comments, while not exactly positive, were not meant as a slam on our coaching staff. I read them more as someone who believes in his abilities with a great amount of self-confidence and was frustrated that others didn't share that same level of confidence. So while his comments are disappointing, they don't necessarily bother me. I realize he's trying to promote himself and get the attention of the NFL. Everyone will always be biased about their own abilities, but as with many other football issues I trust the coaching staff's evaluations and decisions.
As far as his self-promotion of his military experience, my feeling on that is that he was presented with that opportunity as a career path, and it was more lucrative than whatever alternate was available to him, so he took it. I don't see it as greedy or unethical. But as mentioned, I don't have a military perspective on the issue so it's something I leave to the experts to debate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 21
| visibility 1
|
|
|
50
