Proud of my soldier son!

[06]

Gave my son my little 380 Colt before his first deployment and he carries it most of the time except on duty.
Fri night we took our last graduate out to a Japaneese steak house and while there my son(at Ft Bragg, NC) called. His words were something like this: Dad, you will absolutely not believe what just happened. I was standing in line at the "shopette" (base convience store) when this middle eastern looking soldier came in. He ripped off his flag patch, said "MF" the US, and started burning the patch with a cigerette lighter. I jumped out of line, tackled his a-- driving him out through the doors, and pinned him down in the parking lot. I checked him out throughly for wires or explosives while holding him down till the MPs arrived. They searched the entire lot/building/etc. and found nothing. I am just so very very proud that my son came out of the line of who knows how many and took care of business. Just wanted to stand up on the table and relate the story to everyone there---but they would have thought I was overly proud of him---Hey, I AM. Will said that he did not even think but just reacted and that he just could not stand to have some POS disgrace the flag in his presence. Will has been deployed twice and is now a Pathfinder. He has about twenty jumps in already. D---, I am proud of that lad!!!

 

[mrbro]

He did well, and so did you.

 

[birdshot8's]

your sons contribution to our country really brings home to me what this country represents, and why I should support my troops with more than words.

 

[lono]

Great son you have there. Makes me proud to be an American.

 

[whitaken]

I wish I could personally thank your son for what he did, and for his service to our country!

 

[Tim the student]

I'm assuming that was the PX on Smoke Bomb Hill... I hope at least. If it was the one on Ardennes, I'll be pissed.

He has about twenty jumps in already. D---, I am proud of that lad!!!

Just 20? He barely got rid of his stem! Kidding.

You should be proud of him. Out of curiosity, what unit is he in? I was in the 82d a couple of times (3-505 PIR and then again in 3-505 when it transitioned to 5-73, and then 5-73 of course.)

 

[oldbear]

First let me applaud your son and all of the brave young men and women who are serving to keep all of us safe. As reprehensible as the other persons act was, I don’t understand why your son felt the need to attack someone who was expressing an opinion which is protected by the first amendment. Was it the fact that the soldier appear to be Middle Eastern looking have anything to do with your son’s reaction? I really hope that this is the end of this unhappy incident and I hope for your son’s sake that it ended in the parking lot.

 

[InkEd]

Good work on his part.

 

[offroader1006]

The guy obviously was mentally instable. You never know what he might have tried to do.

Better safe than sorry if you ask me.

 

[Smokey in PHX]

Congrtulations to your son and you. Very few people comprehend what it is like to be deployed in a war zone. They think they know but most don't. America should be very proud of all these servicemen.

 

[rocky branch]

There ain't no 1st amendment in the military or any others.
There is the UCMJ.
There is also getting your azz kicked by a high testosterone level GI you may happen to pizz off.

Guess you never botherd to have the experience.

 

[oldbear]

rocky branch

Sir,

There ain't no 1st amendment in the military or any others.

I have no idea what you mean by others, but I do believe that members of the military do have a first amendment privilege, it may be limited at times, but it is still there.

There is the UCMJ.

As I’m a one and done I know about the UCMJ.

There is also getting your azz kicked by a high testosterone level GI you may happen to pizz off.

I spent 27 years as a street cop in a city with a large military population, sadly, on more than one occasion I had to fight a young “high testosterone level GI” I took some lumps but I never got my azz whooped.

Guess you never botherd to have the experience.

So in short I’ve been there done that and some more. I do thank you for sharing your thoughts on the matter.

 

[06]

Just talked with him today and related everyone's kudus. He said his main concern was getting him out of the store and immobile. That was the reason for tackling and pinning his arms. He had already searched him for detonating switches/etc. when the MPs arrived. He has had some experiences with things that go boom. His unit was stationed over a minefield and the EOD boys blew mines every day. Said he was very reluctant to dig a "cat hole" anywhere after that--lol. We have talked a lot about the Ft. Hood incident and the shooting at Ft. Bragg a few years back.
Tim, do not know which unit he is with. They used to live within sight of the parachute packing shed and we went to Smoke Bomb Hill church with them. He is a motor pool sargent over large wheel units and does field exercises with the artillery boys. In his spare time he shoots with his sniper buds. Gave him my 700 last year so he could play better. He reloads his own and he and I "argue" about loads all the time-lol. Last year we gave each other ammo for Christmas presents--same caliber. Mine were better--lol. Same boolits but different powders.

 

[LibShooter]

As reprehensible as the other persons act was, I don’t understand why your son felt the need to attack someone who was expressing an opinion which is protected by the first amendment.

Crazy folks do crazy things. We've seen it happen. The right to free expression has certain practical limitations. I'm sure there is some rule about open flames inside a public building on base. If nothing else, I bet the store is a no smoking area... that patch was likely producing some unpleasant smoke. That rule needed to be strictly enforced that day.

Ultimately, everybody has the right to express his or her opinion. However, when you choose a method likely provoke outrage and a violent reaction, don't be surprised if you end up on the ground with a headache.

 

[Justin]

Sounds like your son took quick action and everything turned out right.

That said, this isn't really an on topic discussion for THR's general gun discussion forum.