The Abominable Dr. Chu: DOD Attack Dog
By Thomas D. Segel
April 16, 2007
There are some important words that are burned deeply into the minds of everyone who served in the uniform of our country. It matters not if they are active duty or retired military, or those veterans who answered the call to arms for a few years of their lives, everybody recalls, "In order to make sure morale is high with those who wear the uniform today, we must keep our commitment to those who wore the uniform in the past. We will make sure promises made to our veterans will be promises kept." It was the pre-inaugural statement made on January 19, 2001 by President-elect George W. Bush. Less than six months later he appointed, and the Senate confirmed, David C. H. Chu as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. He remains in that Department of Defense (DOD) office today.
It is quite significant that those important words of promise by the Commander in Chief be linked to the individual he selected for this specific office. It is an office of great power in an arena filled with nothing but privileged individuals. It is also a position from which a designated administration attack-dog operates to the detriment of the entire military community.
Though David Chu claims combat veteran status, the reality of his service as an Army officer is limited to two years, divided by a year as an instructor at the United States Army Logistics Management Center in Virginia and a tour of duty in the Vietnam Headquarters of the First Logistical Command, where he worked in the Office of the Controller. It is obvious that in this limited world of mathematics and number counting, Chu failed to develop any people skills, understanding about keeping promises, or sense of brotherhood with those who served in defense of our country.
Why is this personal observation important? Specifically because it has been proven by Chu's words and actions during his years of government service. Since his appointment to this office, Chu has never even attempted to hold up the banner on behalf of any veteran or military retiree action. He tried to suspend reenlistment bonuses, argued against all targeted pay increases for NCOs, fought against increases in hazard and danger pay and tried to keep all increases out of Separation Pay. He was the voice of denial for the administration on almost every issue related to promised medical entitlements, and attempted to have the government continue its more than 100 year practice of denying disabled military retirees their disability compensation along with their retired pay.
When addressing grass roots attitudes about the powerful and privileged elite of Washington, there is nothing that stirs the ire of the military community more than the name David Chu. Any call for comments from veterans concerning his remarks or actions will generate email comments by the hundreds. However, most remarks are so vitriolic and intense they are unsuitable to be placed in print.
Charles Northington is a retired United State Public Health Service Captain who seems to feel Chu has a role similar to many a Chief of Staff known to military personnel on active duty. That Chief of Staff was the voice of bad news or unpopular orders on many military bases. By taking such actions in his own right, he gave cover to a Commander who did not want to be viewed by his units with disfavor.
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