AA fires WWII Vet

[Hopeful]

The whole "was he old enough" thing was debated already. I'm a skeptic. He might have volunteered while the war was underway, but I don't quite buy the combat story.

I'd love to see a DD-214 or have his Army serial number to check against enlistment records, but I doubt that will ever happen. It's not like he's running for office...

For fun, I did a search on WW-II enlistment records (public info) for the years 1926 thru 1929, and came up with one Fred A Schmitt from Suffolk County, which might be the same guy.

He enlisted in June 1945, so it's unlikely anyone saved his ass in combat, because IIRC, combat in the Pacific for the Army had pretty much wound down by the time he would have finished basic training.

The other Fred, Fredrick, Frederick etc names. came from different parts of the country, but he could be one of them, too.


Here's the list I found:

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/display-partial-records.jsp?dt=893&mtch=165&q=&cat=WR26&tf=F&bc=,sl,fd&txt_24995=SCHMITT&op_24995=0&nfo_24995=V,24,1900&txt_24983=25+26+27+28+29&op_24983=1&nfo_24983=V,2,1900&sc=24994,24995,24996,24998,24997,24993,24981,24983&rpp=50&sort=24995%20desc&pg=2



You can search the enlistment records for yourself at http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR26

Did anyone stop to think that maybe he grew up in Germany and fought for them as a teenager? then emigrated to the US?

 

[bbrooks1963]

I think that anyone at AA ...... (my employer now and till I'm 67.5) should retire...and hand it over to the slightly younger folkes. Have you seen the FA at or around that age??? Can they really do their job in an emergency? And for all the older loaders.... when have they ever removed their behinds from that chair molded to their well fed behinds????

 

[MCI transplant]

I think that anyone at AA ...... (my employer now and till I'm 67.5) should retire...and hand it over to the slightly younger folkes. Have you seen the FA at or around that age??? Can they really do their job in an emergency? And for all the older loaders.... when have they ever removed their behinds from that chair molded to their well fed behinds????

<_< ------- What's the matter son? You still on graveyard, with Tues. and Thurs. off? The old timers paid their dues! Now it's your turn!!!

 

[eolesen]

Did anyone stop to think that maybe he grew up in Germany and fought for them as a teenager? then emigrated to the US?

Maybe, but I suspect the pink triangle on their uniform would be a dead giveaway...

 

[xUT]

I think that anyone at AA ...... (my employer now and till I'm 67.5) should retire...and hand it over to the slightly younger folkes. Have you seen the FA at or around that age??? Can they really do their job in an emergency? And for all the older loaders.... when have they ever removed their behinds from that chair molded to their well fed behinds????

Have you considered that everyone can not retire due to extenuating circumstances that cannot be foreseen?
ie...
Chronic Ill Spouse
Chronic Ill parents
Chronic Ill children
Chronic Ill Grand Children
etc...

If you feel all the 'older loaders' should retire for the youngsters, then you should have no problem compensating them the difference in lost compensation.

If not then STFU!

B) xUT

 

[Bob Owens]

Have you considered that everyone can not retire due to extenuating circumstances that cannot be foreseen?
ie...
Chronic Ill Spouse
Chronic Ill parents
Chronic Ill children
Chronic Ill Grand Children
etc...

If you feel all the 'older loaders' should retire for the youngsters, then you should have no problem compensating them the difference in lost compensation.

If not then STFU!

B) xUT

I agree, if a young guy gets laid off they can always find another job and they will eventually get back, once you retire its permanent.

 

[nbmcg01]

I think that anyone at AA ...... (my employer now and till I'm 67.5) should retire...and hand it over to the slightly younger folkes. Have you seen the FA at or around that age??? Can they really do their job in an emergency? And for all the older loaders.... when have they ever removed their behinds from that chair molded to their well fed behinds????

Shame on you. Age and ability to work is an individual issue. Ask the passengers on the USAIR flight what they thought about having "older" f/as. Many older people run circles around their yournger counterparts and usually have a "different" work ethic. But that obviously doesn't apply to all people. There are people at both ends of the age spectrum that do great jobs and those that should be replaced. And yes, they can do their job in an emergency. You would be surprised what a little adrenalin can do...
And shame on all of you for looking up military records trying to get the "dirt" on this man. Serving is serving, combat is combat and how dare any of you (unless you were there) decide what he did or didn't do during war times.

 

[eolesen]

Nancy, I'm not looking for dirt. I'd love nothing more than to find something that proves he enlisted and served in combat as he claimed. But the dates simply don't line up, and neither does the public record.

How would you feel about a replacement worker claiming they walked out and were on the picket lines with you? Would you be comfortable letting someone get away with doing that if the dates didn't line up?

Being willing to go to war is honorable in its own right, but there's nothing honorable in trying to take credit for having fought overseas if he really didn't do so. That dishonors all who did , and especially those who died.

 

[nbmcg01]

Nancy, I'm not looking for dirt. I'd love nothing more than to find something that proves he enlisted and served in combat as he claimed. But the dates simply don't line up, and neither does the public record.

How would you feel about a replacement worker claiming they walked out and were on the picket lines with you? Would you be comfortable letting someone get away with doing that if the dates didn't line up?

Being willing to go to war is honorable in its own right, but there's nothing honorable in trying to take credit for having fought overseas if he really didn't do so. That dishonors all who did , and especially those who died.

Eric, eveyone has to be responsible for their own actions. In the end they have to be able to look at the person in the mirror. That is the ONLY judge that matters. He is not here to defend himself on any of the issues and as far as his military service, what he did or didn't do is speculation. I know of many who were grealty harmed in war times that were not in actual combat or front lines. War is war no matter where you serve (unless you're George Bush..lol) ps..I was never in the military, yet Vietnam changed my life forever. With the loss I sustained, I felt like a war casualty.