Only the citizens of Alabama would select a fired Auburn football coach to represent them in the US Senate. However, who could have anticipated that Tuberville would hold up the promotions of Generals and Admirals, which require Senate consent, to protest the assistance provided to military personnel who must now travel to other states to get an abortion. The following is the text of my email to Tuberville on this topic. I encourage other Alabama residents to write him as well.

I am a military veteran of the Vietnam era.  I served five years as an Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Officer.  I am extremely proud of my work in the Air Force.  At MatherAir Force Base I became the youngest officer to serve as Maintenance Supervisor of a Field Maintenance Squadron in the Strategic Air Command SAC). My organization’s 300 technicians maintained the 320th Bomb Wing’s 15 B-52G strategic bombers and 15 KC-135A airborne tankers in support of SAC’s nuclear bombing mission.  In that capacity, I was a 23 year old 1st. Lieutenant in a Major’s job.  At Anderson Air Force base in Guam. I was one of three Job Control officers.  Under my supervision 18  senior enlisted men directed the maintenance  work of 6,000 aircraft technicians on over 150 B-52G bombers which flew 66 bombing sorties a day over Vietnam.

Because of this experience, I remain keenly interested in the ability of our military to defend our country if and when needed.  Coach Tuberville, by holding up the promotions and reassignment of senior military officers you are directly degrading that ability, and as a military veteran I find your conduct in this matter disgraceful.   I feel you no longer represent me in the Senate. You dishonor me, my service, and the State of Alabama.

I FRANKLY DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHAT PETTY POLITICAL REASONS YOU MIGHT OFFER AS AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. OR LACK THEREOF.  In my mind nothing is as important as proper smooth functioning of our military and anyone who stands in the way of that mission for political reasons doesn’t belong in the US Congress, and certainly doesn’t deserve to represent the State of Alabama in that capacity.  

Don’t bother responding to this email with some boilerplate explanation of your position on this topic.  There is absolutely no excuse for your intransigence in this matter so I will delete any return message of that nature before I finish reading it.  INSTEAD IMMEDIATELY RELEASE YOUR HOLD ON THE PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS OF SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS.

Richard P. Guilbeau 

You can send Senator an email HERE.