Afghan War Veteran shamed for his service. How would you handle this?

2015-04-27T19:55:02-04:00

The author of this seems to be a Vet as well. I'm just curious: Has this happened to any here? How did (or would) you handle it? Who thinks the note writer is taking the first amendment just a bit too far?

You won't believe how this Afghan war vet was shamed...

On Sunday, April 26th, Matt went shopping at a local Safeway grocery store in Vienna, Virginia with his daughter. It was upon return to his vehicle in the parking lot that he discovered a note left on his windshield, shaming him for his service in Afghanistan and wishing death upon his daughter.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 27 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-04-27T19:56:33-04:00

Seeing this more and more. All these people that feel that our being in the military means we support constant war in the world, which we all know is untrue.

Over the last few years I have been sure to understand that I am not defending American freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, as some individuals would want us to think, but I am choosing to support the needs of the people of this country. Sadly I feel that we are being used for political means and not for the actual defense and support of our nation. I just try to find solace in knowing that in my role I can support our troops and help keep them alive as well as helping those who cannot help themselves while overseas.

This may not be the particular issue, but we do see a reduction in the respect and treatment of veterans instead of attacking the politicians that are creating the states of warfare.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 27 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-04-27T19:59:35-04:00

"Stupid is, as stupid does" Too bad. I think we've seen things like this before. This is an obviously cowardice act by some ignorant alpha hotel trying to make a mute point. Like Octo-Mom, ignore them and they shall go away.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 8:01 PM

2015-04-27T20:01:14-04:00

Pitiful and sickening, SGT Richard H.. That fellow served - at least in part - to defend the right of that clown to write that note and leave it on his vehicle. How ironic.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Apr 27 at 2015 8:05 PM

2015-04-27T20:05:57-04:00

And this is EXACTLY why I do not put "I served" stuff all over my daily driver cars.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 8:06 PM

2015-04-27T20:06:28-04:00

Seems just like those who served doing Vietnam were treated.

Cowards get brave when they can be anonymous.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 8:14 PM

2015-04-27T20:14:23-04:00

Wow! How incredibly cowardly this note writer is. Also hating on the veteran is one thing but as a parent, you threaten my kids and this sweet gentile southern lady with damn sure tear your ass apart! Don't mess with Mama Bear!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 8:32 PM

2015-04-27T20:32:07-04:00

I had something similar, but not threatening to a family member. I have a Purple Heart license plate and had a guy drove up to me as I was getting out of my car. His comment was he wished I would have died instead of just getting wounded. Needless to say the little POS drove off like a bat out of hell.

This was in another state, I have only had positive reactions from my peeps here in TX

Response by SPC Michael Frugoli made Apr 27 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-04-27T20:41:53-04:00

I don't talk about some of my actions over there out loud (Iraq) i think most of us give are selves a hard enough time about what we did. and maybe you didn't do anything.

But i wont tolerate any threats towards my family. you can mess with me verbally all you want. NOT my family

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Apr 27 at 2015 8:45 PM

2015-04-27T20:45:42-04:00

Just a small taste of what we Viet vets experienced.
I'd have placed the note in a baggy and turned it over to police and if necessary paid to have the car printed, and then went into the store to try and view any camera footage of the lot. My first personal reaction would be to want to pull their skin off with vice grips, but most of these types are cowards and human poseurs anyway and hardly worthy the effort of sending them to an IC ward.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Apr 27 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-04-27T20:56:17-04:00

Someone who disagrees with the Afghan war, I can understand. I've been there myself.

Threatening the life of myself or my family is crossing the line. I would report them to the police and initiate legal action against them. If the police or judges refuse to intervene, I'd find them and kill them myself to ensure the safety of my family. They have declared their intent and I would have no intention of allowing them to follow-up.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 27 at 2015 9:20 PM

2015-04-27T21:20:19-04:00

This Matthew Zeller?????
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/25/225858836/u-s-soldier-crusading-for-afghan-interpreter-who-saved-his-life

U.S. Soldier Fights For Afghan Interpreter Who Saved His Life

The American military's Special Immigrant Visa Program is designed to grant those in Iraq and Afghanistan who help U.S. forces get visas, especially those whose actions put them in danger. But an interpreter who took up arms to save an American soldier and now faces Taliban death threats has been forced into hiding.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:21 PM

2015-04-27T21:21:23-04:00

Well, the note-writer certainly exercised his or her 1st Amendment right. Too far? Not really.
They did, however, do an outstanding job of being a passive-aggressive p**sy.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:27 PM

2015-04-27T21:27:28-04:00

Bottom line.... every family gene pool has a strain of stupidity, ignorance and cowardice in it. Some are silent and some just need to be, but don't know any better. People who do with this ignorant ass did so in cowardice. We have evolved into a society of "only my opinion matters" and if yours disagrees with mine, some idiots take it to the level as was written on the note. Unfortunately along with this turn in a good portion of our society, another portion has for too long sat back in political correctness and allowed it to happen and in my opinion to get completely out of control.

People like this will not stand up and defend their stance (obviously the leave the note and run tactic), because they are gutless. I have long passed the point of allowing you to bash me with your beliefs in tolerance within my bashing your ass right back with mine.

I will respect everyone's differences from mine, as long as they give the same respect in turn.

with all that being said, the low life SOB that left the note.....should have been caught and had the living shit beat out of him. That way, he would have voiced his opinion with his note and I could have voiced mine by rearranging his face. Then calmly went on my way feeling pretty damn good about it. Just my lone opinion, some will say a bit over the edge... and they're right also.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 27 at 2015 9:41 PM

2015-04-27T21:41:45-04:00

SGT Richard H. Nice passive digressive move by the author of the note. Yes, they have a first amendment right, no the written statement does not met the threshold of a direct threat.

When I meet someone critical of the war effort and of my role in it, I remind them they sent me there. The response is usually, 'no I didn't'. Then I remind them that Bush had TWO congressional authorizations for use of force in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even for Iraq 2/3 of Democrats voted for use of force. Obama has been in office for six years, we have troops in both locations now. If you are a Republican/Democrat/American, you send us there.
They usually react by walking away or denial of voting for the wars, look at the public record facts have a way of being inconvenient to partisan arguments.

I am willing to serve for them, even if they are ungrateful a$$hole for it.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:52 PM

2015-04-27T21:52:52-04:00

SGT Richard H.. I have always found this deeply saddening . . . Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 27 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-04-27T21:56:34-04:00

Some people are stuck on stupid.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 27 at 2015 10:16 PM

2015-04-27T22:16:26-04:00

When someone attempts to belittle or shame you, consider the source. Are they worth even a moment of your precious time on the earth? Why get bothered by someone who is clearly in touch with their inner demented self? Let is roll off you. Now, if someone you really respect, and who is worthy of your respect gives you a butt chewing, let those ones sink in real hard and consider pulling your head out of your butt. Someone you don't even know? Go sell crazy somewhere else buddy, we're all full here.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 27 at 2015 10:21 PM

2015-04-27T22:21:40-04:00

Two thoughts

1. Spineless worm who wrote this doesn't have the balls to say a word, but leaves a note.... And likely has never left the town they are in and has no idea what the world is really like....

2. Unfortunately, this is who we protect and their right to be total douchebags. We don't have to like it, but every one gets an opinion.

Sorry....

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Apr 27 at 2015 11:37 PM

2015-04-27T23:37:14-04:00

I don't get how this is perceived as shaming anyone. Some idiot, one who obviously knows the person well enough to know they have a daughter, left a cowardly note. I think it's more a matter for the police as a possible stalking incident, but shaming? Never.
Military people are called on to do many things. We do great things, terrible things and everything in between, but it's not like we are personally making the call, we are carrying out orders. We don't celebrate the terrible deeds that are done, we do them and move on as best we can.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 27 at 2015 11:44 PM

2015-04-27T23:44:43-04:00

1) Take note.

2) Fold note.

3) Put in pocket.

4) Forget about it until laundry day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 1:32 AM

2015-04-28T01:32:09-04:00

Say what you want to me, I have thick skin and can take it but leave my family out of it. I would not have been able to hold my temper in check.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 1:59 AM

2015-04-28T01:59:53-04:00

Move on, nothing here....we get discriminated against....there will be always people that do not agree with what we do, much of it humanitarian...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 2:11 AM

2015-04-28T02:11:18-04:00

I have yet to have anything like this happen. This is shocking. I am surprised that didn't add a hash tag to it. People are so brave behind a keyboard or in this case a pen. They really think they are going to accomplish something by doing this. They are a sad excuse for a person. At the end of it I pity their sad pathetic life they live with this much anger in them that they resort to such an act.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 28 at 2015 8:31 AM

2015-04-28T08:31:41-04:00

I will pray for that sad pathetic person. They have obvious issues that they need help with.

Response by SPC Anne Miller made Apr 28 at 2015 8:49 AM

2015-04-28T08:49:27-04:00

I've read the note and a lot of the comments here.
I read that as "crossing the line" (child starvation) and a "direct threat".
The words were written "directly" on paper and placed "directly" on his windshield.
I really don't see it any other way.

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 28 at 2015 10:07 AM

2015-04-28T10:07:53-04:00

Typical of the far left, to lash out at people from the safety of an anonymous note or from behind the keyboard. I am sure who ever it was feels so proud or that tasteless act; when in fact they are Chicken Sh!t

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-04-28T12:23:14-04:00

Not surprising for something like that to happen in that part of Virginia.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-04-28T16:47:44-04:00

While I strongly disagree with the note left...the first amendment is there to protect unpopular speech.

That said...how did they know Matt was a veteran, or deployed to Afghanistan?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 9:58 AM

2015-05-03T09:58:47-04:00

I find that a punch in the face works. No but really when something like that happens. Your in a very bad position. And you need to get out and away from the people your dealing with. You can't win that one , not at that point in the day. Because even though the Nation knows you did a great job , you were doing something very deadly and you were told when to use you weapon and when you had to stand there like a sitting duck. Who could endure that. But today American Society understands the truth. the WAR was make believe , many men and women died , true. But the Nation was misled by parts of the media about the facts. And as things got worse we could not do the job right. So only certain parts of the effort , in the end were good for the world. Most was bad , the Drugs come for Afgan, OBL lived another 10 years , oil firms got rich , banks did big business and so on and so fourth. Be proud of your service but don't defend the matter to other people , they just can't understand why it happen in the first place.