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Eric Shinseki

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (November 28, 1942- )
    Family had a military history
    Graduated from West Point (1965)
    Graduated from Duke University and the National War College
    Tank commander in Vietnam
    Awarded four Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in combat
    Lost part of his right foot on one occasion
    Also recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Meritorious Service Medal
    Served in Europe for 10 years
    Commander, 1st Cavalry (armored) division (1994)
    Reached the rank of Lieutenant General and became a deputy chief of staff of the Army (1996)
    Promoted to General and made commander of US forces in Europe and the NATO force in Bosnia (1997)
    Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (1998)
    34th US Army Chief of Staff (1999-2003)
    Qualified Ranger and Parachutist

Why he might be annoying:

    He tried to reduce the role of many of the tank units that he used to serve in.
    He was involved in a procurement gaffe when the production uniforms he ordered for European troops were contracted to a British company that would produce them in China, violating a military regulation stipulating that uniforms must be produced in the US.
    He tried to reduce the distinction between elite units and normal units, causing uproar in the military.
    When asked about the cost of his revisions to the Army, he said that 'I've heard several estimates, and I like the lower ones.'
    He resigned as Secretary of Veteran's Affairs amid controversy over timely care and falsified records at veteran's hospitals (May 30, 2014).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He worked to increase military funding to the levels it has been historically.
    He rapidly transformed the military from a Cold War organizational model into a more flexible force, which proved extremely useful in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    He was the first Japanese-American Chief of Staff of any service.
    He gave most of the credit for his achievements to the soldiers during his farewell speech.
    He hastened the slow-moving military weapon procurement system.
    He improved officer training and soldiers' living conditions.
    He served a total of 38 years in the military, some of it in combat.

Credit: Wang


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 84.21% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 54 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 148 Votes: 49.32% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 219 Votes: 58.90% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 787 Votes: 54.26% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 327 Votes: 44.95% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 105 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 66 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 56 Votes: 39.29% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 44 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 68 Votes: 55.88% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 156 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 232 Votes: 61.64% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 282 Votes: 41.84% Annoying