'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."

[henderson field]

What he should have done is issue side-arms to everyone.

[laz17]

Harrassing military personnel should be considered the same as harrassing police officers. Arrest the harrassers. They are not practicing freedom of speech -- unless you consider it hate speech. This garbage has to stop. Cut them no more slack.

[Cacique]

ping

[nutmeg]

This is appalling!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

No one has mentioned this yet. I've read that certain parts of Texas have a significant Middle Eastern population.

I'd still like to know the cultural background of the harassers. I'm betting white college anarchists or Middle Easterners on visa.

[Minty]

Which proves this is not a peace movement but a political agenda. Their objective is not to oppose a war but destroy, demoralize and damage all that is representative of America. It has to come to a point in which this will back fire at them. It has to.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"but a uniform doesn't make you superman."

No, but an AK-47 or M16 or some kind of side arm might stop these idjots from pulling on Superman's cape.
I don't know what kind of guns our people carry-and I really don't care what they're called. All I care is that they work.
And I think it's way past time our people are allowed to defend themselves against these morons.

[NMFXSTC]

On the "dark side" it's all political speak, Bro...on the battle side, it's balls and guts.

Sorry, but a flag officer tellig his troops not to wear "uniform of the day" sucks and so does the general.

(27 years and retired SNCO with two Purple tickers...and damned if I would change clothes over on incident...in fact, I'd see the general and ask just WTF he thought about his troops when he asked them to in fact, disgrace the uniform by denying it!)

[nanny]

Sorry, that had to be some yaankees down here for a visit.

[JoeGar]

This reminds me of my departure from San Francisco for Vietnam in 1968. We were warned not to wear our uniforms in San Francisco. However, 24 hours before departure all of our gear except for one uniform was loaded on airplanes and that uniform was all we had left to wear. So that's what we wore around the city. Folks could not have been more hospitable. Everyone wanted to buy us a drink. Folks there seemed to be embarrassed by their city's reputation.

[nanny]

This is very strange. The Air Force *Requires* basic trainees, on the one pass they get during basic, to wear their uniforms.

You are right about the basics wearing their uniforms and there are basics downtown always.

I am sorry, somehow we are talking about military people here, folks. If they think a soldier can't defend him/herself in San Antonio, Texas, they had better not consider sending them to war. This sounds a little over the top.

My husband spent 4 years at Lackland, brother and son went through basic there and I can tell you there are other and more dangerous 'things' in downtown San Antonio than people who would like to harrass you. Strange story - almost unbelievable.

[Ron H.]

"someone needs to issue that base commander a set of balls."

[Tennessee_Bob]

an AK-47 or M16 or some kind of side arm might stop these idjots from pulling on Superman's cape.

Get a grip.

I don't know what kind of guns our people carry

Let's see - for the ten years I was in, I didn't carry a military weapon. I was a jet engine mechanic. The last thing you wanted was me carrying around an automatic weapon. Besides, there are laws in place that prevent us from bearing arms against American citizen.

[Tennessee_Bob]

"Texas rednecks" are not going to be giving our servicemen crap, put that in the bank! Ten to one they were college students or cholos.

I don't put anything past anybody anymore.

[Centurion2000]

Yeah, that'll work. One GI computer tech against a couple rednecks - someone who isn't trained in hand-to-hand against a couple guys who go out every Friday and barfight. Sorry, but a uniform doesn't make you superman.

Start issuing sidearms .... it'll stop.

[Rebelbase]

My first take on the title was similar, only I thought it would be about an Iraqi General telling his troops to ditch their uniforms and fight as civilians.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Change federal law so the military can bear arms against its citizens.

[Centurion2000]

Change federal law so the military can bear arms against its citizens.

The military can already use deadly force against its citizens. Try and sneak onto a nuclear weapons storage facility.

[harpseal]

Another amen from here. I also endured this crap in the early seventies and fortunately I did get to kick some butt without repurcusions. If this happens in my presence even at my age in my mid fifties I will still manage to kick some butt I am so close to having nothing to lose that they do this in my presence at peril to thier lives.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Used to work at one, thanks. Different situation. In your example, you have people breaking into a controlled facility, just like climbing the fence at the base, or breaking red on the flightline. They're going past the signs that clearly say "Deadly Force Authorized." They're in our facility at that point and they've opened themselves up to deadly force. What you're suggesting is arming troops and having them in the general populace as armed military. Completely different issue - apples and oranges.