Posted on 06/05/2011 5:32:24 AM PDT by nuconvert
In his best-laid plans, Richard King was set to leave West Point next year as both a starting cornerback on the Cadet football team and a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Instead, in a span of a little less than three months, he's been inflicted with likely career-ending injuries, busted to private and thrust into the queue for active duty — all, according to a lawsuit filed this week, the consequences of an unexpected encounter with R&B diva Patti LaBelle after King landed in his native Houston for spring break on March 11:
(link to surveillance video at link above)
(Excerpt) Read more at rivals.yahoo.com ...
Pitiful. I hope he sues and gets everything she ever owned, and every penny she ever makes from here on out.
Now there's a great idea. I hope that folks here at FR keep this story current.
He can still file a civil lawsuit, which he has, but that will not sway the uniforms at the USMA. Only a Congressional will get things right.
“If the entire video proves this young man was innocent he needs to contact his Congressman.”
Absolutely
“If they do this to a plebe, what about a troop in combat?”
They have brainwashed kids in K-12 so much that by the time they get into the military much of this seems normal.
If she had enough character to care her employees likely would not act as they did.
It seems a little odd that a WestPoint cadet and star footballer who has never been in trouble would suddenly start a fight at the airport. I cannot believe WestPoint has demoted this kid already and is shipping him out. The whole thing is very strange. I hope he gets at least $1million in case his career does not work out.
I am not one of those “sue happy” people. That being said, he lost his career. He may also have medical issues in the future as a result of the beating. As a person who still suffers from some neurological issues as a result of two serious concussions, I know that a injury to the head isn’t always resolved with some staples and a few tylenols. West Point should re-consider this and fast.
That depends upon who his congressman is. If the congress critter is a senior RAT, flaming lib or a member of the Black Congressional Caucus, fuhgeddaboudit!
Had it been Ted Nugent’s bodyguards and a black cadet, hate crime charges would have been filed. I submit that they should be filed in this case as well.
bttt
If the race had been reversed....
..with the same scenario....
...there would be bloody heck happening all around..
....SO LOUD..
..other news would be obliterated.
You can count on it!
HPD sucks!
Travis... the cadet was a SENIOR. He was due to graduate next December. So this situation is compounded by the fact that the cadet is fully-invested in the Army. A plebe hasn’t lost as much in terms of time-lost.
For West Point to take such immediate and drastic action, I suspect the contact from Houston PD came from a high-level police official who was more concerned with protecting Ms LaBelle. If the call came within a few days of the incident, rather than the day of the incident, I would further suspect the cause was retaliation after an unsuccessful attempt to have the incident go away, and the cadet's attorney saying "no way".
Houston would have been in flames within 24 hours.
Can you smell B.O.? I can.
As an upper classman (if the same rules apply today as in the 1970s) who falls from the commission path, he “owes” the USA equal years as a private soldier.
If his detailers are pressured (I hope not) he could get a real $#!+ assignment. Hope his years go well for him and he is not too bitter. Sounds like a good bio backdrop for a fictional character. Too bad it happened to him.
There but by the grace X 1,000 in my case.
Here is what I emailed to West Point and I would encourage others to let them know how they feel about this incident as well.
Please forward to the appropriate email address:
Dear West Point Public Affairs:
My wife and I are big supporters of veterans and our men and women currently serving in the military. We raise money for the USO, set up historical displays at schools, museums, parades and numerous other public events. We also do other volunteer work supporting military families.
We read of the attack on Cadet Richard King who was beaten by Patti LaBelle’s body guard thugs apparently at her direction. We watched video taken by airport security cameras and read accounts of eye witnesses. Then we read of West Point’s disciplinary action taken while King was still in the hospital. The disciplinary action was obviously decided on with no investigation, no due process, and no prior contact with Cadet King.
We have the honor of knowing many West Point graduates. We have always been very proud of them and their alma mater. Today we are disgusted and ashamed of the actions taken by West Point administrators. This surely is one of the darkest moments in all of West Point’s history. West Point administrators have permanently stained the reputation of the institution.
We will be calling and writing numerous contacts that we have in and out of the military, and our congressional representatives. It is so sad that a fine young man was viciously attacked and has permanent injuries that may end his military and athletic aspirations. But how does this compare to the injustice that has been done to the institution’s over 200 year old reputation by irresponsible administrators? They are the ones who should know better... they are the ones whose careers should now be ending.
If there are no substantial consequences for those responsible for this travesty... it will be obvious to all that honor is now only given lip service by those currently entrusted with upholding the sacred traditions at West Point. It will be obvious that these individuals think that honor is a concept for students and something that does not apply to themselves. We never thought that we would live to see the day that West Point was run by hypocrites who took their responsibilities so lightly. Shame! Shame!
Sincerely,
Here is what I emailed to West Point and I would encourage others to let them know how they feel about this incident as well:
Please forward to the appropriate email address:
Dear West Point Public Affairs:
My wife and I are big supporters of veterans and our men and women currently serving in the military. We raise money for the USO, set up historical displays at schools, museums, parades and numerous other public events. We also do other volunteer work supporting military families.
We read of the attack on Cadet Richard King who was beaten by Patti LaBelle’s body guard thugs apparently at her direction. We watched video taken by airport security cameras and read accounts of eye witnesses. Then we read of West Point’s disciplinary action taken while King was still in the hospital. The disciplinary action was obviously decided on with no investigation, no due process, and no prior contact with Cadet King.
We have the honor of knowing many West Point graduates. We have always been very proud of them and their alma mater. Today we are disgusted and ashamed of the actions taken by West Point administrators. This surely is one of the darkest moments in all of West Point’s history. West Point administrators have permanently stained the reputation of the institution.
We will be calling and writing numerous contacts that we have in and out of the military, and our congressional representatives. It is so sad that a fine young man was viciously attacked and has permanent injuries that may end his military and athletic aspirations. But how does this compare to the injustice that has been done to the institution’s over 200 year old reputation by irresponsible administrators? They are the ones who should know better... they are the ones whose careers should now be ending.
If there are no substantial consequences for those responsible for this travesty... it will be obvious to all that honor is now only given lip service by those currently entrusted with upholding the sacred traditions at West Point. It will be obvious that these individuals think that honor is a concept for students and something that does not apply to themselves. We never thought that we would live to see the day that West Point was run by hypocrites who took their responsibilities so lightly. Shame! Shame!
Sincerely,
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.