Posted on 08/25/2004 2:53:39 PM PDT by 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.
I agree ..
I don't agree with his actions .. but I've also never lost a child .. I can only imagine the sadness he's feeling
There was a time when I "lost it" at the news of the death of my brother. Until then, I thought I could handle anything. I understand this guy's reaction. You get irrational when you suffer a loss like this guy did. That he loved his son that much is on the other side of the scale of justice, I think.
Will do. Thanks.
I am sorry for the guy's loss, too, but what a dishonorable, uncivilized, stupid a$$hole!
A shirttail relative of mine (sister-in-law of my sister-in-law) lost her son in Vietnam. She snapped the day she found out he died. She never believed her son was in the casket (closed) and to the day she died, she never did believe he was dead. At one point, she spent her days and nights obsessing about having him exhumed so she could find out who the person in her son's grave really was & let that family have his body to bury. Nothing could assuage her pain, and 15 years after he died, her anguish was as new and raw as the day he died. I'm sure this shortened her life, but the denial that her son was dead probably prevented her from committing suicide to join him.
My record of service stands...and not only have I volunteered to return to service; I have been notified by personnel to update my physical and volunteer forms and security clearance.
Like it or not...I'm probably closer to the front than most and I am part of your Army.
regards,
Van
Dooley or Cadet?
Thank you for your service to our country.
Never mind; stupid question . . .
Nobody can rationalize his behavior, no more than they can understand the grief of losing a child unless they have lost a child themselves.
Taking a chance here: Skip the federal crime/idiot dad perpective - what if he was so disconsolate that he only hoped to join his son in heaven - using a marine van? He was IN the van on fire - I don't think he planned to survive. I only hope the marines were not badly injured saving him.
Sorry this is not a crime.
I agree ..
I don't agree with his actions .. but I've also never lost a child .. I can only imagine the sadness he's feeling
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I don't agree either. This is time of the greatest grief a person can ever experience.
Don't worry. Its not like they're going to raise your taxes over this one. Just borrow a little more.
This father's reaction is extreme but I assure you having someone tell you your son died makes you feel like you want to die as well.
Thanks!
Doesn't matter how close to the "front" you are or how many medals you have on your chest....the father's torching of the Marine van IS a crime. Hard to believe you were ever an officer.
TO Godebert
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I see that you are a KABA supporter. Can't be all bad.
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=303
Last time I looked, setting fire to a military vehicle was a crime. Attempted suicide is also a crime in all states.
Grief is not an excuse to commit a crime. It may be a reason, but it is not an excuse.
I cannot imagine the loss of my son. I've lost two great friends within the last 9 months. Both were horrific, out of the blue tragedies. It breaks my heart to hear of this father's grief and his reaction to it. God help me if I ever become as cold and jaded as some of the responses i've read on this thread. This isn't about politics or liberals or conservatives. This is about human life. The man lost his son.
Rest in Peace Marine.
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