New Haven, Connecticut: Vandals deface Vietnam War Memorial

[Lambo]

Doing a Job Americans wouldn't do
"Where's the Fence?"
~Lambo

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?s=7556069
Note: Link contains Video coverage!

~Snip

by News Channel 8's Carolee Salerno
Posted Dec. 30, 2007
Updated 9:20 AM

New Haven (WTNH) _ Veterans are outraged that a war memorial in New Haven has been vandalized.

The Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf was spray painted with the threatening words "Kill whites MS 13."

Seeing this just crushed the veterans we spoke to. The names on that wall that are covered in paint, are the names of those who fought and died for this country in the Vietnam War. Tonight, police are investigating whether this is the work of a violent street gang, but the veterans we spoke to, say whoever they are, aren't as tough as they might think.

"This irks me. This hurts me deep to my heart," Vietnam Veteran Emery Linton Sr. said.

Linton looked in disgust at the graffiti covering New Haven County's Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf.

Linton, who served in the Army, fought in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972. He lost friends there and he says the mess, on a memorial to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, is a slap in the face.

"People here respect these names. They gave their lives for everything, for the freedoms they have," Linton said.

Whoever did it sprayed "MS-13" all over the place. According to law enforcement, MS 13 is a violent international gang with roots in El Salvador. Members are involved in drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and even human trafficking and their presence is growing in the U-S. Just this summer, police in the Boston area did a big round-up of MS 13 gang members.

That said, New Haven police say there hasn't been any documented MS-13 activity so far in the city. But they are investigating this incident.

"I don't know who would want to do this," said Lori Grenfell, another veteran who is heart broken over the vandalism. "They have the right to say what they want to say. They can thank these guys for that right."

While it's unclear if these are true gang markings, Linton has a message for those responsible. "If it is a gang related thing and if you guys really think you're bad, join the service, get in the action and see what it's really like," Linton said.

It's unclear how much money it will cost to get rid of this paint, but members of the New Haven County Vietnam Veterans Group vow they will have it cleaned up.

~Snip

 

[TexasRifleman]

Kill whites MS 13."

I would be willing to bet pretty serious money that the real MS13 had absolutely nothing to do with this.

Still a real shame of course. Pitiful.

 

[12Bravo20]

Either way the bastards that did it should be dealt with severely.

 

[skarpenz]

Doing a Job Americans wouldn't do
"Where's the Fence?"

Amen brother.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

Makes me sick to be a CT resident, an American, and a human being.

And to think, the mayor of New Haven just started a new program to give resident ID cards to anyone that wants them (including illegal aliens). Not saying that those who did this were illegals, but I can't help thinking that will attract some undesireables.

MS13? thought that was primarily in the South/Southwest. Apparently they are moving to colder climates.

 

[plexreticle]

People actually think MS13 did this, interesting.

 

[DMK]

He lost friends there and he says the mess, on a memorial to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, is a slap in the face.

No matter who they are, the folks that did this have no respect for anything. They couldn't care less about who fought and died for their rights. It's only about what they can get for themselves. Selfishness, pure and simple. The root of most crime.

 

[kd7nqb]

MS-13 has been known to mark crimes, BUT they are normally more violent than just vandals.

And for the record MS-13 has now been confirmed in 25-30 states. They have spread out beyond the southwest.

Other than that, I hope these guys get whats coming to them, vandalism is bad but defacing a war memorial is just plain sick.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Horrible, defacing a memorial is probably one of the more evil things someone can do,

Also don't buy into this MS-13 thing its part of the media's scare tactics that they are taking control.

 

[bannockburn]

These miscreants, if ever caught and convicted, should be given a one way ticket-to Vietnam. And maybe, if they live long enough, they might come to realize that desecrating any memorial (or cemetery, church, temple, mosque, etc.), shall also have you answering to a higher authority, for your crimes.

 

[Tommygunn]

And for the record MS-13 has not been confirmed in 25-30 states. They have spread out beyond the southwest.

You mean confined, I presume???

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

I would be willing to bet pretty serious money that the real MS13 had absolutely nothing to do with this.

Still a real shame of course. Pitiful.

Agreed.

Sounds like the work of bored, young, rich white punks that mommy and daddy have spent too much time coddling.

I do think that scumbags who vandalize veterans memorials should have to undergo twelve-weeks of Marine Corps basic military training school--and if they screw up, they get court-martialed and then do some time in the brig and/or Leavenworth.

Jeff

 

[siglite]

We had some crazy guy really screw up our veterans memorial. I think it was two years ago. He drove up and down the capitol steps, all around the capitol grounds, and ended his lunatic trip by smashing his car into the brand new memorial.

Yeah. Nice.

I hope they threw the book at him. That memorial contains the names of WV citizens that gave their lives in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Man I was ticked.

ETA: The thing is still under construction for repairs.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Sounds like the work of bored, young, rich white punks that mommy and daddy have spent too much time coddling.

Nope. Remember, this is New Haven, CT, home of the alien identification card. New Haven (and CT) has a significant and growing illegal alien population, and almost all the illegals are Hispanic (how's THAT for a surprise?). Like the Hispanics in CA a few months back who were burning American flags while flying the Mexican flag over their school, these illegal trash don't have any respect for America or Americans. And they aren't (collectively) intelligent enough to make the cognitive leap that it was American soldiers willing to die for the Constitution that allows them to sneak in here and abuse the system. In any other country (except maybe France) they'd have been rounded up and sent back to Mexico in cattle cars years ago,

 

[inherentical]

This has nothing to do with guns.

 

[JamisJockey]

Sad. but this is an off topic post.

 

[kd7nqb]

This has nothing to do with guns.

I agree however there is a history of letting threads that support veterans or other generally positive causes live as long as they dont create an issue. This is not 100% and certainly not any sort of official policy that I know of, just something I have noticed.

Also THR is full of Veterans past and present so most of the time its not a big issue.

Of course I am not a mod so my word is only as good as my word.

 

[p2000sk]

This is Connecticut...
In some other countries,
would capital punishment by firing squad be common?

 

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Lambo,

How does that old guy song go? Something about teach your children well? It would appear those that spit on our men that answered the country's call when they returned from that conflict have taught their children to do so as well.

As for the MS-13 connection, I doubt it very much. Gangs tag to mark territory not to make political statements. That sounds like some city kids trying to get as much attention to the act as possible. I sincerely hope they are found and get far more attention than they bargined for. Unfortunately I rather doubt they will be caught and if they are given any kind of meaningful punishment. I mean it's not like they did anything seriously wrong like bring a key chain to school.

(Please note the last sentence was sarcasm )

Selena

 

[novaDAK]

Also don't buy into this MS-13 thing its part of the media's scare tactics that they are taking control.

I don't know about MI, but here in VA we sure as hell have MS13.

And I agree. I highly doubt it was MS13 that did this. Just like it's almost never white supremacists that spray paint swastikas on black churches. Usually it is just stupid people that want to start a confrontation.

 

[chipperi]

It took Vietnam Vets a long time to get the respect and recognition they rightly deserve. Then some snot nosed wannabe gangbangers have to go and do something like this. Pardon the language but thats lower than whale snit!!

 

[chipperi]

This has nothing to do with guns.

Sad. but this is an off topic post.

I beg to differ but anyone who carries or carried a gun in defense of this nation deserves mention and recognition...Thats The Higher Road.

I had an uncle, The man who taught me how to shoot, had these cool ash trays all over his house. They were made from 40mm grenade casings surrounded by 5.56 cases. As a kid one day I kept asking him where he got them, I was a persistent little bugger and he told me "Vietnam" while crying. He used to make them at night out of expended ammo to try and ward off being scared.

What these morons did was inexplicable.

 

[TAB]

Now I'm not a violent person, you would have to litterly throw a punch at me to get me in a fight, but I want 5 mins alone with who ever did that garbage.

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

Quote:
This has nothing to do with guns.

Quote:
Sad. but this is an off topic post.

True enough, I guess. But neither are the "merry Christmas" threads, and they stayed open.

I also doubt that this incident was done by MS13. Hope they find the punks that did it and throw the book at them.

TAB said:

I want 5 mins alone with who ever did that garbage.

I'm not sure 5 minutes would be long enough!

 

[silverking]

It really doesn't sound like MS-13 activity from what I have interpreted from reading. But then, who knows? Regardless, the slap in the face to all Americans should be dealt with severe enough punishment that the perps will never again be able to step anywhere near a memorial so important to the citizens of our country. Probably the saddest part of this outrage will be that most of us will forget about it as soon as the media finds another story to sensationalize for the sake of the almighty dollar. I know I won't forget.