Beauprez comment irks vets

Vietnam stirs 'get on with my life' remark

Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 18, 2006 at midnight

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A comment that Congressman Bob Beauprez made in a radio interview this week has angered some veterans.

During the Vietnam War, Beauprez was eligible for the draft, but he earned a medical exemption because of a bleeding ulcer he suffered from in high school. He was hospitalized for a short time because of the ulcer.

In an interview with KCFR radio Monday, Beauprez discussed the terms of his deferment. He was asked, "Did you want to serve?"

"No, I don't know that there were a great many people who wanted to serve then," answered Beauprez. "Claudia and I had just gotten married. I actually got the notice before our wedding and the physical was the week after we got back from our four-day honeymoon. And I very much wanted to get on with my life. So no, I wasn't crushed that I wasn't called up."

Beauprez's comment that he "wanted to get on with my life" was offensive to some vets.

"There were approximately three million Americans who did serve in Vietnam, and I'm sure most of them did want to get on with their lives as well," said Jim Hudson, vice president of Colorado Veterans for America. "I'm surprised to hear him say something like that."

Hudson served in the Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. His group has endorsed Democrat Bill Ritter, Beauprez's opponent in the race for governor. Ritter, 49, was too young to serve in Vietnam.

The issue of draft deferments during the Vietnam War is a sensitive one for many veterans. Many politicians who were young men at that time, like Beauprez, have faced questions about their deferments.

"I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966 just after I got married," said Larry Drake, another veteran who is supporting Ritter. "Beauprez said in that interview he was all for the Vietnam War. He's a chicken hawk."

A spokesman for Beauprez said he simply meant that he was relieved to have his draft status defined. "There was some uncertainty about his status," said John Marshall. "Once that was cleared up, it allowed him to get on with his life. Bob has fought tooth and nail for veterans."

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