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Hartford Courant The commander of Connecticut's Veterans of Foreign Wars called Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's claims to have served in Vietnam "outrageous." But most rank-and-file veterans across the state said Tuesday that they are standing behind a politician who has made appearances at military events a bulwark of his career.
"Up until now, I know he
has been a good friend of veterans," said Larry Santamaria, a Vietnam veteran who is commander of the Edward A. Norton Post in Guilford.
And Larry Riley of Middletown, who served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam, said that he continues to support Blumenthal, attributing Tuesday's dust-up to the bruising environment of a political campaign.
"Out of all the candidates, he probably the best," Riley said. "I want to know what the man's going to do when he gets into office."
Many other veterans who said that they would continue to support Blumenthal alluded to the favorable impressions he has created over the years by supporting veterans groups. During appearances, these veterans said, the attorney general had usually been careful to point out that he served during Vietnam and was not a combatant in the war itself.
Alfred "Rusty" Meek and Jerry Blonigen, Vietnam veterans from Eastern Connecticut and leaders in the state's Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, both said they had heard Blumenthal speak several times. They said Blumenthal was always careful to say he was in the Reserves and did not go overseas.
Read more: http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-hc-blumenthal-popular-reax-0519may19,0,293452.story