Man Burns Marine Van After GI Son's Death

AP ^ | 8-25-04

[Mo1]

Sorry this is not a crime.

I agree ..

I don't agree with his actions .. but I've also never lost a child .. I can only imagine the sadness he's feeling

[Glenn]

but most of us handle it rationally.

There was a time when I "lost it" at the news of the death of my brother. Until then, I thought I could handle anything. I understand this guy's reaction. You get irrational when you suffer a loss like this guy did. That he loved his son that much is on the other side of the scale of justice, I think.

[armymarinemom]

Will do. Thanks.

[boxerblues]

Sorry about your brother, having lost several family members and am about to lose my the love of my life to cancer I do understand that part, but I still don't understand this guys reaction. Grief hits all of us differently

[broadsword]

I am sorry for the guy's loss, too, but what a dishonorable, uncivilized, stupid a$$hole!

[Catspaw]

But I'm willing to cut this devastated father a whole lot of slack. Everyone reacts to tragedy differently. Some people snap.

A shirttail relative of mine (sister-in-law of my sister-in-law) lost her son in Vietnam. She snapped the day she found out he died. She never believed her son was in the casket (closed) and to the day she died, she never did believe he was dead. At one point, she spent her days and nights obsessing about having him exhumed so she could find out who the person in her son's grave really was & let that family have his body to bury. Nothing could assuage her pain, and 15 years after he died, her anguish was as new and raw as the day he died. I'm sure this shortened her life, but the denial that her son was dead probably prevented her from committing suicide to join him.

[Van Jenerette]

You need to read what I wrote...not your interpretation of what you think I wrote. I, in no way rationalized this man's actions nor condoned it; I have a son who was an Air Force Officer(US Air Force Academy)...my wife is a veteran of Desert Storm and I have six children; I stated that I would not have wanted to be in that man's shoes. Period. No more...no less...

My record of service stands...and not only have I volunteered to return to service; I have been notified by personnel to update my physical and volunteer forms and security clearance.

Like it or not...I'm probably closer to the front than most and I am part of your Army.

regards,

Van

[BraveMan]

Dooley or Cadet?

Thank you for your service to our country.

[BraveMan]

Never mind; stupid question . . .

[af_vet_rr]

If you can rationalize this man's behavior, then how can you hold anyone accountable?

Nobody can rationalize his behavior, no more than they can understand the grief of losing a child unless they have lost a child themselves.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Taking a chance here: Skip the federal crime/idiot dad perpective - what if he was so disconsolate that he only hoped to join his son in heaven - using a marine van? He was IN the van on fire - I don't think he planned to survive. I only hope the marines were not badly injured saving him.

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Very sad. :-(

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Yes I agree. The grief is overwelming. These hacks on this thread have no heart. Most have seldom experienced death close to the heart. For these few heartless bloggers on this threat. Time to take your meds.
'

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Sorry this is not a crime.
I agree ..

I don't agree with his actions .. but I've also never lost a child .. I can only imagine the sadness he's feeling

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I don't agree either. This is time of the greatest grief a person can ever experience.

[Doe Eyes]

So how bad did the van get burned? We'll be the ones paying for it. I'd convict the moron too.

Don't worry. Its not like they're going to raise your taxes over this one. Just borrow a little more.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I have to say FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, being notified of your son's death is one of the worst emotional blows a man can experience. I will never get over it.

This father's reaction is extreme but I assure you having someone tell you your son died makes you feel like you want to die as well.

[Van Jenerette]

Dooley...then cadet...graduated class of '93. "Send me Men" was still up at the entrance...

Thanks!

[Godebert]

Sorry this is not a crime. This is real grief, heart killing loss There is not a group of 12 that would see this as a crime. How come you do??

Doesn't matter how close to the "front" you are or how many medals you have on your chest....the father's torching of the Marine van IS a crime. Hard to believe you were ever an officer.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

TO Godebert

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I see that you are a KABA supporter. Can't be all bad.

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=303

[P-Marlowe]

Sorry this is not a crime.

Last time I looked, setting fire to a military vehicle was a crime. Attempted suicide is also a crime in all states.

Grief is not an excuse to commit a crime. It may be a reason, but it is not an excuse.

[Liberty Valance]

I cannot imagine the loss of my son. I've lost two great friends within the last 9 months. Both were horrific, out of the blue tragedies. It breaks my heart to hear of this father's grief and his reaction to it. God help me if I ever become as cold and jaded as some of the responses i've read on this thread. This isn't about politics or liberals or conservatives. This is about human life. The man lost his son.

[Liberty Valance]

Rest in Peace Marine.