A.G. Gancarski
Ron DeSantis is the only former military man in the 2024 presidential race, and on Saturday he talked about how a day of national tragedy drove him into service.
The Governor, addressing a crowd at a congressional fundraiser in Ankeny, Iowa, talked about how September 11 drove his decision to enlist, something he didn’t expect during his Ivy League education.
“I was a baseball player all through college,” DeSantis said. “I didn’t necessarily think I was going to make it to the big leagues, but I thought maybe I could do it on the business side or do something else. And then 9/11 happened and it changed my outlook on military service.”
The Governor explained why he joined the “all-volunteer force.”
“People weren’t being drafted to do it. It was basically just people that were raising their hand and I felt an obligation to do my part, given the nation’s needs. So I raised my hand. I volunteered. I would have made a lot more money if I would have done other things. But I thought it was important to do.”
Upon his return, he had insights about how military service took a toll on families of service members.
“I felt thankful to be an American and I felt appreciative of everybody who’s been willing to fight to protect our freedoms here in this country. But then I started reflecting on what I saw over in Iraq and not even necessarily the bad guys, the people that you would serve with soldiers, Marines, even Special Forces like Navy Seals in an all volunteer force.”
“Many of these people had done multiple deployments just since September 11, they had spent huge amounts of time away from their families. Unfortunately, a lot of their families broke up and they weren’t able to sustain it. So I saw first hand the toll that military service was taking on a very small number of people relative to our overall population.”
15 comments
Michael K
July 15, 2023 at 5:46 pm
“Protecting freedom” from the guy who has taken away basic freedom, rights and dignity from so many Floridians. Hypocrite.
My Take
July 15, 2023 at 5:50 pm
I’d be curious as to how he felt when he heard that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and Saddam had no W!MD. That Republicans liied us into that war.
Louis Bill Hall
July 15, 2023 at 6:37 pm
How about it wasn’t Republicans it was closer Democrat Bushs , the ole man and W both remember them coming out and telling everyone how they voted for Hilary Clinton verse Trump , they new he would put them in place .
My Take
July 15, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Oh yeah, Dick Cheney as a closet Dem!
Try again.
Silly Wabbit
July 16, 2023 at 3:21 pm
You kwazy.
Dont Say FLA
July 17, 2023 at 10:05 am
Trump sure locked Hillary up, didn’t he?
Trump sure repealed Obamacare, didn’t he?
Trump sure built that wall, didn’t he?
Such a great record of accomplishment. No wonder GOP types want Trump again. It makes perfect sense.
Dont Say FLA
July 15, 2023 at 9:13 pm
Rhonda says they joined the military to attack Iraq and Afghanistan for what was clearly done by Saudis and everybody knew it even at that time. Dubya invaded because Saddam dissed HW. That’s it. That’s all. Then he invaded Afghanistan claiming that’s where the Saudis trained. But today we have Saudi owned PGA. Thanks GOP for totally getting back at everyone that was involved in 9/11. Oh dang wait that was Obama that got Osama bin Laden and innumerable other AQ leaders. Not any GOPs, not Rhonda, none of them did anything about 9/11 except “Forget.”
The Missing Link
July 15, 2023 at 9:46 pm
9/11 happened, so Rhonda joined the Navy. The missing link is that the economy tanked and Rhonda couldn’t find a job no matter how hard they tried, given their personality and zero hiring. And that is how 9/11 changed Rhonda’s life, except it didn’t. There could have been tons of jobs but he still would have been Rhonda the interviewee and Everybody Hates Rhonda.
Suze
July 16, 2023 at 4:15 am
So why does this man have no heart and have a war on disparaging everyone that isn’t a white man in his image controlling women and stamping out gays transgenders and anyone else that doesn’t fit his Harvard image.
My Take
July 16, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Drop the “Harvard” and it’s archetypal basal redneck.
(Not the ‘good ol’ boy’ decent type. )
Jeanne Locke
July 16, 2023 at 10:11 am
Getting a commission in the Navy to do legal service is not quite as dangerous as volunteering for the infantry.
TJC
July 16, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Well, lately he’s been talking about his religion and now he’s talking about his military career. Looks like, as a presidential candidate, he’s fresh out of new material. God knows he can’t brag about how, as Governor, he fixed the insurance crisis in Florida, because he’s been out of ideas on that all along.
The man needs another minority group to attack. Please send your suggestions to Bam Bam DeSantis, c/o Casey.
My Take
July 17, 2023 at 5:08 am
A lot of his lower base historically hated Catholics.
His self hate seems to work with gays.
So why not?
Dont Say FLA
July 17, 2023 at 10:08 am
Did Rhonda attack Barney the Dinosaur yet? I bet that would totally work.
MH/Duuuval
July 17, 2023 at 10:06 am
Somewhere in the world today, COJ council member Rory Diamond is doing service in the JAG corps, too, like big brother Ron. Rory, too, heard the call of 9/11, but headed off for Wall St.
My guess is Rory is now modeling Ron — a day late and a dollar short. But, now it is much safer.
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