Posted on 12/20/2004 7:52:58 AM PST by iwannaknow07
HIALEAH, Fla. -- A Florida man has apologized for setting fire to the van driven by a team of Marines who had come to tell him his son was dead. Carlos Arredondo had a private meeting with the Marines Saturday at a base in suburban Miami. When it was over, Arredondo saluted and embraced the Marines.
Arredondo was celebrating his 44th birthday at his home in Hollywood on Aug. 25 when the Marine van pulled up. Arredondo had been expecting a call from his son. Instead, he was told Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo had been killed in combat in Najaf.
The father said he "got very upset." He grabbed a propane torch and a gasoline can from his garage, smashed a window of the Marines' van, poured in gasoline and climbed inside.
He was burned over a quarter of his body when he turned on the torch. He saud it was accidental. The Marines put out the flames on his body.
Was heavy drinking involved?
This will always be a cloud over his feelings about his son. I am hoping he can have some peace eventually.
We all grieve for the loss of his son, and hope the best for the father and the family.
"I guess I've always been kind of a hothead."
He was burned over a quarter of his body when he turned on the torch. He (said) it was accidental."
He said it was accidental. That is a rather long, elaborate and involved accident.
Not funny. I vote you for the most insensitive remark of the day.
A man loses his son ON HIS BIRTHDAY, and all you can do is make stupid jokes. I am ashamed of you. If you have any honor, you would FReepmail the moderator and ask him to pull your comments.
We should not add fuel to the fire (no pun intended), however, the guy went overboard. Imagine if everyone acted that way upon hearing bad news.
Another screaming class Alpha fire....
I imagine that he regrets his actions but probably wasn't in his right mind at the moment.
I agree...ignorant and insensitive!
If you had any sense of what a man is, you would know that the "man" who lost his son is no part of a man. You are clearly unable to see that, and I pity you. This person's actions endangered others, brought shame on himself and his family, and dishonored the memory of his son. He deserves much worse than the ridicule of strangers, but that's all I can offer him.
Bad news is a flat tire or losing your job. Losing a child is catastrophic. He was overcome by grief, and may have wanted (in that instant) to end his own life to stop the pain of the loss. It is just a tragedy all the way around.
Some threads seem to bring out the Bill Maher's of Free Republic...tasteless and dark.
What always surpises me is the level of anger, on a personal level, that people can summon for any thread...at any time.
Prayers for this family.
If the Marines that you contend that he endangered (they apparently did not feel endangered) can forgive him and YOU cannot, it is you I pity.
When you are rude, insenitive, and wrong and apologize, you have honor.
When you are rude, insenitive, and wrong and try to place the blame on others, you are a cad and a lout.
I see you are new here. If this format does not suit you, you are free to leave and not come back.
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