After David Corn exposed what appear to be some discrepancies between Bill O'Reilly and reality, Bill remains adamant that he never said that he was actually "in the Falklands" war zone. But he did say that he was in "combat" and even used his "combat" experience to berate a listener who wasn't showing Bill the proper respect.
As reported in a 2005 Newshounds thread, Bill O'Reilly, on his radio show, referenced his "combat" experience when speaking with a caller named Roger who noted that Bill had never been in the military. Bill took great umbrage to this and vehemently asserted that he had been in the middle of some heavy duty action. Presaging Corn's report by 10 years, Roger questioned Bill's "media guy" combat experience and suggested that O'Reilly was "misleading" people. Typically, Bill was unable to control his anger and told the caller to "shove it."
Here is the conversation:
O'Reilly: But I tell you what, I've been in combat. I've seen it. I've been close to it. And if my unit is in danger and I got a captured guy and the guy knows where the enemy is and I'm looking him in the eye, the guy better tell me. That's all I'm gonna tell you. If it's life or death, he's going first. Roger, Portland, Oregon. What say you, Roger?
Roger: Yeah, hey, Bill. Bill, first things first. Ummmm, you just said that you've been in combat, but you've never been in the military, have you?
O'Reilly: No I have not.
Roger: Then why did you say you've been in combat?
O'Reilly: Why do I say that, Roger? Because I was in the middle of a couple of firefights in South and Central America.
Roger: But you're a media guy.
O'Reilly: Yeah, a media guy with a pen, not a gun. And people were shooting at me, Roger.
Roger: Because people might think that you actually were in the military.
O'Reilly: Ahhhhh. We don't want to mislead anybody, but I've made it quite clear in many, many circumstances ...
Roger: No, we don't want to do that, Bill, because we know how fair and balanced we are ...
O'Reilly: Yeah, hey, listen, Roger, you know what? You can take your little "fair and balanced" uhhhh snip remark and shove it. Okay? You're not getting on this air. And you, Mr. Macho Man, would have never come close to anything that I've done down where I've been. Okay? So take a walk and ... well, 'nuff said
Newshounds also reports that five months later O'Reilly made the same combat claims in an interview with Col. P. J. Crowley (USAF-Ret) and Col. Neal Puckett (USMC-Ret):
O'REILLY: Have you been in combat Colonel?
CROWLEY: Yes.
PUCKETT: Me? No, sir, I have not.
O'REILLY: How 'bout you, Colonel?
CROWLEY: Yes.
O'REILLY: So you know what we're talkin' about. "Cause I was in combat and when you are there your adrenalin is flying through your ears. And you know you've got the gun and I just couldn't understand."
Re O'Reilly and his having been called out on his memories of battles past (armed with his pen) - Methinks he doth protesteth too much!
Audio below
I can still hear Arthell Nevill laughing at him for saying it to her!
And the indignant tone he took while trying to convince her that it was tougher than South Central or East St. Louis!
BOCA…really Bill???
And for some laughs at BOR’s expense…enjoy! LOL!
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23billoreillymisremembers
Maybe he meant to say his divorce was a war and it was hell.
Not quite sure, but sounds to me like Bill is lying.
And remember, this is the same Bill O’Reilly who slammed John Kerry who was actually in Vietnam when Bill was weaning off his momma’s teat in rich Levittown.
