Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

The Vindman Brothers - Two Peas in a Pod

Al Sparks
@AlSparks
Join to bookmark30likesJoin to like9comments

I was going through my X feed, and I ran across this. What's with these two about military rank?

The link includes a video segment of an interview with Eugene Vindman who is running for Congress. And he won't answer the questions, even though it makes him look bad not to. The interviewer asks him if he was a Lt. Colonel (he apparently has been referring to himself as a retired Colonel in the Army).

I don't really have a problem with that, Lt. Colonels are routinely addressed as Colonel informally. But why wouldn't he answer the question? The same with the question about his combat experience.

When Alexander Vindman testified before a Senate committee over the Ukraine/Trump controversy, he corrected a senator who called him "Mister Vindman" instead of Colonel.

And as a former enlisted member of the armed forces, I tend to be jaundiced about those things. The most honorable thing to call yourself, if you have served in the U.S. Army is "Soldier." Not your rank. That is especially true if you're talking to a civilian, or, even more importantly, running for a civilian elective office.

And I'm not going to hold it against someone who says his military service was modest, but he's proud of it.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (9)

  • EODmom@EODmom

    I think you know the answer - he’s been masquerading as a warrior and doesn’t like being shown to be a POG or NOF. Or broke…. Useless in other words. And not proud of it.

  • Bishop Wash@BishopWash

    One Lt Col I worked for said he was a phone Colonel. If he answered the phone, "Lt Colonel", too many people would just hear Lt, so he answered the phone "Colonel". You're right that Lt Colonels are routinely addressed as Colonel. The brothers are both weasels.

  • Red Herring@EHerring
    My rank on paper was Lt Col. In direct address, I was addressed as Colonel Herring. It isn’t a snob thing but a convenience thing. On the other hand, if someone were to address me (even today) as the longer Lieutenant Colonel, I would not correct them.
  • CACrabtree@CACrabtree

    Ah Geez. And I thought his brother was a d**k.

    It would have been good if the lady would have asked him, "Did you have eagles on your shoulders or silver oak leaves"? As arrogant as the guy is he would have probably repeated his assertion that he was a colonel.

  • Stad@Stad
    ReplyingtoBishop Wash

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    One Lt Col I worked for said he was a phone Colonel. If he answered the phone, “Lt Colonel”, too many people would just hear Lt, so he answered the phone “Colonel”. You’re right that Lt Colonels are routinely addressed as Colonel. The brothers are both weasels.

    Ditto in the Navy with Commander vs. Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant vs. Lieutenant JG (junior grade). Don't even get me started on Admirals:

    Rear Admiral, Lower Half

    Rear Admiral, Upper Half

    Vice Admiral

    Admiral

    Fleet Admiral

    I guess I did get started . . .

Scroll for later comments
+4 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of nine comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.