A US congressman and Marine veteran, who fought with invading American forces in Iraq, has said he will stand by his bid to oppose retired Marine General James Mattis as the next defense secretary despite being harshly insulted by fellow veterans.
Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego from Arizona said he has been “insulted repeatedly by fellow combat veterans, with some inaccurately calling him “POG,” a derisive acronym that stands for “person other than grunt” and implies he did not serve in the infantry” for his decision to vote against Mattis, US-based daily the Washington Postreported Saturday.
“Others called him a “Blue Falcon,” a term describing someone who turns on a friend for their own personal gain,” the daily added, citing Gallego, who became a congressman just last year.
“Marines in general are the harshest critics of other Marines,” Gallego said, noting that he does not take it personally despite the rhetorical attacks by fellow veterans, using obscene language.