Man Burns Marine Van After GI Son's Death

AP ^ | 8-25-04

[ambrose]

Posted on Wed, Aug. 25, 2004

Man Burns Marine Van After GI Son's Death

Associated Press

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - A man set fire to a Marine Corps van and suffered severe burns Wednesday after he was told his Marine son had been killed in Iraq, police said.

Marines went to the house in Hollywood to tell the parents of a 20-year-old private first class that their son died Tuesday in Najaf, police said in a statement.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, then walked out of the house with a torch and what appeared to be a container of flammable liquid.

The Marines tried to stop him from starting the fire, but he set himself on fire in the process and was inside the burning van when the Marines pulled him out and put out the flames, police said.

The man was taken to a hospital but his condition was not immediately available.

[Van Jenerette]

I'm in your corner on this one.

[SpyGuy]

Sorry this is not a crime. There is not a group of 12 that would see this as a crime.

This absolutely WAS a crime and if I were on the jury at his trial, I'd convict! Not only did this idiot destroy property, but he risked the health and lives of the Marines who had to pull his burning butt out of the flaming van.

[wideawake]

Thanks, SpyGuy.

[reagan_fanatic]

Losing a loved one can cause people to do a lot of things they normally wouldn't, but setting fire to that van will not bring his child back. What happened has happened, and no action on his part can change that. You don't honor your child's sacrifice in this manner.

May God help him find his peace.

[Slump Tester]

So how bad did the van get burned? We'll be the ones paying for it. I'd convict the moron too.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

What if the tank of that van he set fire to on a residential street had exploded and killed someone else's kid?
Destroying property is a crime on its face. Playing with his neighbors' lives and the other marines' lives is even worse.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I see your tag name is wide awake. But you are asleep on this one. Sorry.

[Kirkwood]

What if he pulled out a gun and started killing the Marines? I pity the man and appreciate his grief and anger, but his response was inexcusable. The Marines didn't kill his son. Religious fanatics did that.

[wideawake]

I see your tag name is wide awake. But you are asleep on this one. Sorry.

My, oh my, that's funny.

So, if the van had exploded and killed somebody he should get a free pass, right?

And if the dead hero's uncle had been so overwhelmed by grief that he decided to rob a bank, that would be cool too, right?

I'm a father and this guy is living my worst nightmare, but he had no right to play God with other people's lives.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Destroying property that doesn't belong to you IS a crime.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I wonder if the van was a military or Federal vehicle, then could it be a federal crime?

[wideawake]

It probably was, at that.

[ET(end tyranny)]

He should be charged with a federal offense.

[SpyGuy]

I'm in your corner on this one.

This is coming from a military veteran (a former commissioned officer, no less), a "Senior Policy advisor" to a US Congressman, and a purported conservative? I'm flabbergasted!

This man disgraced his son's honor, disgraced the Marine Corps, and provided propaganda material for America's domestic and international enemies.

But even if you don't care about honor and allegiance, how can you ignore that he willfully destroyed government property and endangered the lives of at least two Marines!

And you, Mr. Van Jenerette, advocate his crimes? What happened to the conservative principle of personal responsibility for one's actions? What happened to the rule of law? What happened to your Code of Conduct as a military officer?

If you can rationalize this man's behavior, then how can you hold anyone accountable? God help America if this is the thinking of military officers and congressional advisors!

[Leisler]

Allot of young men go into the military because they come from looser parents who are abusive, drunk, drug using, unemployed and so forth. Usually these parents resent the military for the positive change in their sons and now even daughters.

Anyways, the Marine was a adult, a man, and a Marine. Frankly, only he can speak for himself. And he did.

Knowing what we know about the media we might be able to gleam something. Nothing positive was said about the man that would bolster the man's reputation. Hence the usual sin of omission because it is useful to the leftist narrative.

[leadpenny]

You've posted the same message on two different threads. Show a bit of class and ask to have both of them taken down.

[boxerblues]

2 marines from Ca have died recently in Iraq, wonder which one. I cannot imagine this father grief but I dont understand his reaction.

Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, 22, of San Bernardino, Calif., died Aug. 21 from injuries received from to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Alvarez was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.


Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III, 27, Yuba City, Calif., died Aug 18 due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Sgt. Parkerson was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Ron in Acreage]

Tough shit. I'm pissed off we haven't taken out this Al Sadr puke.