Latest hell for ex-U.S. Marine: Chained to bed in Mexican jail

McClatchey Newspapers ^ | Dec. 6, 2012 | Tim Johnson

[huldah1776]

MEXICO CITY — As a U.S. Marine, Jon Hammar endured nightmarish tension patrolling the war-ravaged streets of Iraq’s Fallujah. When he came home, the brutality of war still pinging around his brain, mental peace proved elusive.

Surfing provided the only respite.

“The only time Hammar is not losing his mind is when he’s on the water,” said a fellow Marine veteran, Ian McDonough.

snip--- But Mexican prosecutors who looked at the disassembled relic in the 1972 Winnebago motor home dismissed the U.S. registration papers Hammar had filled out. They charged him with a serious crime: possession of a weapon restricted for use to Mexico’s armed forces

[huldah1776]

Anybody have any ideas on how to get this guy home?

[Signalman]

Anybody have any ideas on how to get this guy home?

Check. Contact the chief of the Israeli Commandos. They'll get this guy out.

[G Larry]

With a “Band of Brothers”.

[GeronL]

They told him the Donkey Show wasn’t worth it, but would he listen? Nooo....

...

too soon??

[GeronL]

Ross Perot got his people out of Iran once...

[Nowhere Man]

SEAL team 6?

[doc1019]

I would suggest petitioning the President, but considering his hatred of the US Military that would be a waste of time.

[G Larry]

When this was still the United States of America, The President and Secretary of State, would recognize there responsibility to protect it’s citizens.

They would use flowery language to send a quiet message to Mexico and tell them, “send our guy home now, or, we’ll come and get him.”

There would be a quiet response from Mexico, to the effect, “Sorry for the misunderstanding! Do you think he would like a beer for the road?”

[Gay State Conservative]

I feel bad for this guy for sure.However,Mexico...like the United States...is a sovereign nation.And not all sovereign nations have laws that Americans understand and/or agree with.The story seems to suggest that he did,in fact,bring a firearm into Mexico,apparently in violation of Mexican law.That's all the info I need.I,for example,have done some traveling in my day...including to Third World countries.One thing I learned early on...*particularly* when entering a Third World nation...is that you're at the mercy of *their* laws and at the mercy of *their* level of corruption.An American is silly to expect the same degree of “decency” in a Third World hell hole as he/she expects at home.

[CondorFlight]

“Anybody have any ideas on how to get this guy home?”

Pay the money—whether to the police, the gangs, or whatever. That’s they way it’s done in Mexico.

Don’ think that it’s a country run by laws, because it’s not.

[rolling_stone]

Don’ think that it’s a country run by laws, because it’s not.

yeah just like here

[luvbach1]

Pay the money—whether to the police, the gangs, or whatever. That’s they way it’s done in Mexico.

It's the institution of "mordida" (bribery) and indeed that's how its done.

[classified]

I agree! I have no, let me repeat NO desire to visit Mexico!

[Cyman]

This is crazy. I personally know a dozen hunters that have crossed in and out of Mexico, some for thirty years and never had any problems that a respectful smile and maybe a hundred bucks couldn’t cure.

Get in their face, disrespect them or dare them to react and your @ss is grass(unless you know someone of rank or importance)

These rules are well known and/or just plain common sense. Claiming to be unaware of Mexico’s vagaries just does not cut it with me.

[andyk]

The .410 bore Sears & Roebuck shotgun once belonged to his great-grandfather.

What, you were expecting an AR-15?

[RetiredTexasVet]

As Gov. Perry has been known to say, “don’t go to Mexico, it ain’t safe”. Take it to heart. It’s hard enough to keep Mexico out let alone doing something stupid like going there.

[Gator113]

Yes, we go and get him.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

How about a Prisoner exchange?

We send them 100,000 Illegals currently incarcerated for our guy.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Mexico files lawsuits in America over illegal immigration and we can’t get our citizen back home? Unreal.