Posted on 11/03/2001 10:31:40 AM PST by B4Ranch
Newsgroups: alt.war.vietnam
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 8:04 PM
Subject: [the-longest-war] Decorated Vietnam Vet Arrested Guarding War Memorial and American Flag in San Diego
Decorated Vietnam Vet Arrested Guarding War Memorial and American Flag in San Diego
(EXCERPT) Arrested Vet's Dog, 'TJ' Taken Away and Placed in Pound On 'Death Row' While Attorneys Battle City to Free Both
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by Jaffe & Co. Inc., Crisis Management:
Robert Thomas Northcut is a decorated Vietnam Veteran. In the years that have passed since he was blown up in a delta ambush he spent his time in and out of Veteran's hospitals.
Ten years ago he walked out of the VA hospital never to look back. He found his way to Solana Beach, California where he has lived outside, as a homeless man, never panhandling a dime.
Each day he walks the streets with his trusty German Shepherd, ``TJ,'' given to him by caring townfolks. He always stops to greet people and pat children on their heads as they pet his dog and look in wonderment at this shell of a man, forever wounded serving his country in the war in Vietnam. His Purple Heart went the way of all his belongings when he decided to stop living in a VA hospital and get out and enjoy the beauty of the California coastline with ``TJ.''
His long shaggy Australian bush coat and Crocodile Dundee hat distinguish him for the hero he is as he is seen searching in the morning shadows looking for food.
For ten years Thomas has been the street ambassador of Solana Beach.
When he heard the tragedy of ``9/11'' on his little portable radio he was instantly moved to action. He now had a purpose, a mission, a reason to reestablish his identity. He went to the little traffic island of the City which houses the stone war memorial next to the large American flag pole. He took up residence next to the Memorial, resting his head each night on it to protect it from what he felt was a possible terrorist attack. Each night he lowered the flag and each day raised it to half mast.
Neighbors brought food for him and his dog and brought him newspapers to keep up to date.
It had all come back to him....a purpose, a vision, an identity. He was now back in the line of duty. Every small part helped. His was to raise the flag and to protect the Monument.
Early one morning after he raised the flag, the workmen arrived. As he saluted, they pounded into the ground the two foot square No Trespassing sign. Moments later they called the Sheriff's department and held Thomas there until they arrived.
The city code enforcer ordered a citation to be issued for Thomas Northcut for trespassing. Thomas crumpled it into his pocket and went back to his duties, guarding the monument.
The code enforcer patiently waited for the court appearance date to pass then asked that the arrest warrant be issued.
Thomas and his dog awoke to the angry sounds of deputies as they pulled him from the ground, his hat falling by the side of the Monument and dragged him away in one direction screaming for his dog as they dragged ``TJ'' away to an animal control truck.
Thomas was handcuffed and taken to jail to await arraignment. ``TJ'' was taken to the pound where if unclaimed, he will be put to death in a matter of weeks.
This story did not take place in 1975. It was Thursday, October 26, 2001. Thomas, unable to post the bond, waited in the lockup and had to be sedated because of panic attacks which resulted from his incarceration. Meanwhile, his dog, ``TJ'' has lost his appetite longing for his owner. And the flag just sits at half mast.
``How soon we forget,'' said Sam Georges, an attorney, U.S. Air Force veteran and friend of Northcut's who is trying to get people to help for the jailed vet get released and see that he's reunited with his dog, and in the process sensitize the city. Georges is also president of the internationally famous Anthony Robbins Companies.
``It's pretty obvious that a time like this, we need to show our respect to patriotic Americans to those who have fought to protect our freedoms. Especially those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces and sacrificed for our country,'' said Stephen Jaffe, president Jaffe & Company, a crisis management communications firm in based in Los Angeles.
This morning, Jennifer Lynch, Esq., an attorney living in Vista who heard about the Northcut case from friends, appeared, pro bono, on his behalf in Superior Court. She noted that Northcut has served several days in jail for essentially protecting a Monument to those who had died defending our country during a former war. Northcut remained silent but the Judge, a distinguished veteran himself, saw the sad irony of the case and dismissed it for ``time served.''
``Now there remains only one more injustice to be corrected,'' Lynch stated, ``and that's for Thomas to be reunited with his dog, 'TJ.''' Friends of Northcut have agreed to take him to the pound where ``TJ'' is being held tomorrow. ``If the city officials and the system doesn't get in the way, Thomas and 'TJ' will be together again, greeting the folks in Solana Beach and enjoying the freedom he gave so much of himself to protect,'' Lynch added.
For further information, please contact Jennifer Lynch, Esq., +1-760-643-4113; or Sam Georges, Esq., +1-619-417-1408; or Stephen Jaffe of Jaffe & Co., Inc., +1-310-275-7327.
SOURCE: Jaffe & Co., Inc., Strategic Media and Crisis Management
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011030/latu141_1.html
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um, Jim and John Robinson live there...
I am going to dig out the military base commanders names , addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, etc for Coronado Island and Miramar Naval Air Station. Monday morning lets send polite emails to the Mayor with copies to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the base commanders.
FOLLOWED
by telephone calls to the Mayor, the base commanders. If any of you chat on Yahoo.com or any other websites lets get this turned into a major case that will castrate this Mayor and his city workers. For less than $10.00 a piece we can make this mans life a bleeding hemorrhoid. We are the people who fought in Nam, Robert Northcut is one of us, a representative of the people who fought in that theater, came home damaged and is being crapped on by the Mayor of San Diego , California.
Please bookmark this website to your screen and Monday morning check back for all the names, numbers, email addresses, etc. They will be here available for you.
Mayor Dick Murphy
202 "C" Street, 11th floor
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: 619-236-6330
Fax: 619-236-7228
E-Mail: DickMurphy@sandiego.gov
President George W. Bush
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
First Lady Laura Bush
E-mail: first.lady@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Dick Cheney
E-mail: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Mrs. Lynne Cheney
E-mail: mrs.cheney@whitehouse.gov
Do not forget your own Rep!
Rep James Gibbons
E-mail: mail.gibbons@mail.house.gov
Bump!
Release T.J. to his owner, Mr. Robert Thomas Northcut, a Vietnam Vet and recipient of the distinguished Purple Heart award. You should be ashamed of yourselves. This dog is not dangerous just because he barked. This dog has not hurt anyone. His owner is a war hero. In this country's current political climate, you are opening a can of worms that you had better be prepared to eat, if any harm comes to that animal.
I just came from an internet site 70,000+ members strong, and the level of outrage is overwhelming. Veterans are furious. Politicians and the media are being contacted. There is talk of a boycott (just like the one Berkley is concerned about.) Let that poor dog go. He belongs at the loving side of his heroic master not on your "death row".
I intend to make some phone calls on Monday.
this german shepherd may be the only friend this man knows he has right now
email Mikel Haas, Director of Animal Control, San Diego (covers solana beach area)
addy at bottom of page
I think I'll just send this story to about 25 newspapers across the country... maybe with the header "You have a heart of Stone if you can read this unmoved...."
It just makes me so sick the lengths people will go. I would be PROUD to have someone defending a memorial in my city, sleeping beside it, tending to the flag found there, and bringing friendship and joy to all passersby.
Somewhere in this story is the story of pompous, unfeeling, uncaring people who hurt others without so much as a second thought.
But also in this story is the wealth of generous people, who gave up time and probably some money, to do the right thing.
No sorry, I live in Maryland. About 7 years ago I lived in Oceanside, just a few miles from SB.
Roger is a great conservative and will blow these folk out of the water. Someone in the SD area will know how to reach him.
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