'Avoid wearing of uniform' general warns local soldiers

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 13 April 2003 | Roddy Stinson

[Lacey]

"If possible, avoid wearing of the uniform when dining in public places." — From a "Protective Measures Awareness" notice sent to San Antonio's U.S. Army personnel by Maj. Gen. Darrel R. Porr on Friday

April 11, 2003, will be remembered as one of the saddest dates in Alamo City history.

Because of recent instances of harassment of uniformed personnel, Porr, the commanding general at Fort Sam Houston, felt compelled to warn the men and women who serve under him to use caution when traveling, shopping and dining in San Antonio.

"Two separate incidents against military personnel have occurred," Porr reported. "In the first incident, two males on the city's Northeast Side made threatening gestures and pounded on the car window of a drill sergeant and his spouse while they were on their way home.

"The second incident involved two sailors, in uniform, who were accosted by several males who said, 'You'd better not go to war,' as they departed a River Walk restaurant."

Porr provided this possible explanation for the hostile actions:

"There has been a significant increase of demonstrations throughout the United States in opposition to the ongoing U.S.-led military operations in Iraq.

"As individuals voice their opinions against military operations, they tend to direct their frustrations toward governmental and military symbols."

On receiving a copy of the notice from an anonymous e-mailer, I called Fort Sam to ask for more details about the incidents, in general, and the harassers, in particular.

A post spokesman indicated that more information was available, but declined "to go there."

He then made a point of emphasizing:

"Soldiers here in San Antonio have always proudly worn their uniform because of the support for the military.

"Previously, there has never been any perceived threat. This is quite unusual.

"Even during Vietnam, San Antonio was one community that supported the military forces.

"That's one reason the general put that notice out ... because (such harassment) is so unusual in this community."

The notice included cautions other than the warning not to wear uniforms when dining in San Antonio restaurants.

Porr also recommended:

"Be cognizant of people who gather and voice their sentiments against the military efforts in Iraq. Do not get involved."

"When in public facilities, soldiers should avoid conversations related to work or military operations in general."

"Always practice the 'Buddy System' when traveling."

"When in uniform, minimize the number of stops when traveling from home to work or vice versa. Wear civilian clothing when possible."

There you have it: San Antonio, Texas, anno Domini 2003, in all its un-glory.

What's worse ...

Community leaders continue to show pitifully little support for U.S. soldiers.

Example in point:

City officials have been mute as mice since troops entered Iraq. (The San Antonio City Council, which regularly passes resolutions honoring everything from the Dallas Cowboys to Hike and Bike Week, has deigned only to observe "a moment of silence" for the troops and their families.)

Add to that palpable hush the rants of the town's Saddam Hussein apologists, and "Military City USA" can easily degenerate into a South Texas backwater, where men and women in uniform can't safely wear their uniforms in public.

"Sad" hardly describes such a miserable state of affairs.

Fortunately, all of the news surrounding the recent threats isn't dreary.

One unofficial source I talked to said he had seen the police report of the incident on the River Walk, and he provided this description of the confrontation:

"Some Marines who were nearby saw what was happening and went to the sailors' aid.

"The matter was then taken care of by combined military action."

[chainsaw]

If I were that base commander I would have told the men and women to travel in groups and defend yourselves.

Those creepo are really cowards trying to act big.

[Wilhelm Tell]

This is sad. When I read the headline, I thought at first a U.S. general was reminding the Iraqi troops who "melted away" and went home to be sure and wear civilian clothes instead of their uniforms, so they wouldn't be mistaken as hostile (As if they needed reminding!). It is a sad day when our soldiers get attacked by "peace activists" at home. Observe how easily the leftists went from supporting a communist regime (Vietnam or you name it--any communist regime will do) to supporting the fascist, Hitler-loving Saddamite regime. The one thing not to change is their hatred for America and America's soldiers in particular.

[El Gato]

This is very strange. The Air Force *Requires* basic trainees, on the one pass they get during basic, to wear their uniforms. Air Force basic training is conducted *only* at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio. The Riverwalk often resembles a base club or the BX on those days, as do some of the nearby malls. (Not that I would have "hit the mall" on my one and only off base pass, in fact in a similar situation during AF ROTC, I went to Disneyland, but to each his own. I do note that female airmen are a bit more evidence at the mall compared to down on the Riverwalk)

[mystery-ak]

My hubby has never had any problems wearing his uniform off duty(store, out to dinner, etc) being a 1sgt he won't take sh$t from anyone and it shows.

I was worried about my son traveling in uniform with all these looney peaceniks, only because Jonathan, like his dad wouldn't put up with it....he's such a scrappy young guy....a lean, mean fighting machine..LOL

[El Gato]

Hmmm. Slack jawed, mouth breathing, knuckle dragging Texans....Sorta dispels the 'Texas is conservative' line

Remember San Antonio is a tourist town as well as a military town. Many of those tourists are foreigners Like from Boston, Minneapolis or San Francisco :)

[Feckless]

As a CCW toting Texas combat vet, I pledge to intervene in any situation where I see men and/or women in uniform being harrassed by these commie pukes. Texas law permits the use of deadly force to protect yourself or another from a threat of violence.

Let's see.... center of mass.... double tap...... feared for my life. Yep, that'll do it.

[x1stcav]

Damn! With a husband and a son active duty you can feel doubly proud.

[fella]

per post #2 - You bet ya.

[Dubya]

Thanks for the info.
This is so sad.
I am so mad.
Eve and me like to go there and have a fun weekend.
I am not sure if we will or not anymore.
Like to go to John Hagee's church.

I emailed JH and the writter of this article.
I will call the newspaper tomorrow.
This needs to stop now.
This is Mexico getting even with America.

[brydic1]

Remember the City of San Antonio is governed by left wing hispanic democrats. That may be the reason there is no longer in support for the Armed Forces in what used to be a great American City.

[JoJo Gunn]

http://afr.com/iraq/2003/03/27/FFXIPKBKRDD.html

"Most US academics now agree that stories of Vietnam vets being spat on and derided on their return home in the early to mid 1970s are - as best as anyone can determine - urban myth, according to Larry Lichty, a journalism professor at Chicago's Northwestern University."

[oyez]

Sounds like Key West, when I was there in the late '60's. Anyway the Navy closed most of facilities in the '70's leaving them high and dry. I think they call it Gay West now days.

[BlueOneGolf]

I saw a thread a few days ago that detailed how a DoD employee (civilian, I think) got caught at a trafffic light in D.C. near a war protest. Some of the scum saw her
DoD access sticker on her windshield and surrounded her car. While yelling obsceneties and pounding on the glass they keyed her car up pretty badly before the light turned green. I swear if I see this kind of crap in Louisville I WILL assist the military person. Protesting is fine but the Lefties are going nuts. Also if you get wind of any Lefties planning criminal acts then report it to local law enforcement, the FBI and Homeland Security. They've got to be stopped just like the Terrorists do.

[Gamecock]

I assure you General Porr has the largest set around. He has spent his most of his career on the "dark side." It has been my privilege to serve with him twice. His only concern is the safety of his soldiers.

[TaMoDee]

You got that right! Most of the current/past "Commanders" like Gen Wesley Clark got where they were/are by being PC during the Klinton years. WP has always produced A** Kissers
since day one. The current CSA is a PRIME example of PC. He is so far over his head that he is an embarrassment!
His decision to buy the Army's black berets from CHINA
was the reveling of his IQ. The POWERS in the 5-sided
puzzle palace will not allow him to show up on TV least he say something that is as stupid as he is.

[oyez]

The next time I go to a resturant and see a couple of GI's in uniform I will insist that our waiter intercept their tab.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Amen, there will be another war starting right then and there.

[x1stcav]

HooAhh!

[El Gato]

I went to basic training at Lackland back in 1985. It sure seemed like an exotic place to a country boy from Mississippi back then. Still, it was a Southern town. Now, I gather that it is more Mexican town.

Not all that much more so than in '85. I've only lived here for 4 years, but I've lived in Texas since '77 and first visited San Antonio in the early 80s. The Riverwalk has acutally been cleaned up and improved since then.

Still, the Mexican American guys I served with were very patriotic. Are the illegal immigrants a different breed of cat? Am I wrong to assume that these anti-military incidents even involved Latinos? Damn these politically correct newpapers. Sometimes it would be helpful to know the race and ethnicity of people in the news.

I can't speak to Mexican Americans in general, but Tejanos are definitley very patriotic. So much so that the harrassers in this case were lucky they didn't end up cut, or smashed in the mouth, from the Tejanos observing the incicdent. I know in my part of town, the far west side, which is majority hispanic, it wouldn't be tolerated for long.

I suspect the harrassers were slime that oozed down from Austin,

[buffyt]

Wear your uniform! Wear it PROUDLY!

Just spent the day in Houston. Saw lots of red, white, and blue shirts. Saw one shirt that said NEVER FORGET THAT WE DIDN'T START IT!

Saw a man in a shirt that said PROUD NAVY DAD.

At our WalMart in Lake Jackson, they have photos of all of our local heroes who are serving in the military, right up on the front wall!

MOST people are FOR the war against terror. It is a minority who is against it! IGNORE THEM!