Posted on 09/21/2004 2:49:30 PM PDT by AdrianSpidle
Barton Cannot Return To Iraq Due To Injuries
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A local soldier back from the war in Iraq said he was beaten at an area concert because of what was printed on his T-shirt, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.
FeedRoom
Soldier Reportedly Attacked
Foster Barton, 19, of Grove City, received a Purple Heart for his military service in Iraq. He almost lost his leg last month after a Humvee he was riding in ran over a landmine.
Barton said he was injured again Friday night in a crowded parking lot as he was leaving the Toby Keith concert at Germain Amphitheatre. The solider was injured so badly that he can't go back to Iraq as scheduled.
"I don't remember getting hit at all, really," said Barton, a member of the 1st Calvary Division. "He hit me in the back of the head. I fell and hit the ground. I was knocked unconscious and he continued to punch and kick me on the ground."
Barton and his family said he was beat up because he was wearing an Iraqi freedom T-shirt.
"It's not our fault," Barton said. "I'm just doing a job."
According to a Columbus police report, six witnesses who didn't know Barton said the person who beat him up was screaming profanities and making crude remarks about U.S. soldiers, Burton reported.
One witness, a friend of the alleged attacker, said Barton hit first. Police said they do not think that witness is credible since the six other witnesses said Barton was hit from behind.
Barton's mother said she has a message for her son's alleged attacker, who police said ran into the crowd after the incident and was not arrested.
"He needs our prayers, just like the insurgents, because he's a coward," Cindy Barton said.
After a two-week leave, Barton was supposed to return to Iraq Tuesday. But his broken nose will delay his return.
Barton is waiting for doctors to tell him when he can return to active duty. He said wants to go back as soon as possible because his unit was just attacked. Eleven soldiers were wounded and two were killed, he said. Copyright 2004 by nbc4i.com.
And this time, they need to be answered in kind ten times over. If I witness this, I'll be in the fray. Nobody spits on or touches a US soldier in my presence without getting their butt kicked. Period.
Isn't there lots of military presence in the Columbus area? How about someone pays this jerk a visit? I think someone needs an attitude adjustment.
It's disturbing that there'd be an anti-war attendee at a Toby Keith concert. But I suppose there are conservative bleeding hearts too.
Kerry and the left created just this sort of atmosphere during the Vietnam era. Kerry and the Dems are doing it again. It's just beginning, too. It's going to get worse for returning vets. This time, however, because of terrorist attacks, I do not believe the country will be as tolerant. The Swift Boat ads might start linking these current liberal attacks on veterans with Kerry and the Dems because their rhetoric is the motive force legitimizing the verbal and physical assaults. From my personal perspective, it's like Yogi Berra said, " It's deja vu all over again."
On TV the left "supports" the troops, but in reality these vermin despise them and what they stand for. They represent the best in America, and America is what they hate.
Here's the Newslink, not a bloggers self promotion
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/3746350/detail.html
No kidding! Must be circumstances we aren't aware of.
- Again, so easy for me to say, but I'da been right in there swinging away, and I don't care if the guy was 6'8" 350.-
I agree, and I'm only 5' 1" and 120! But I can certainly get other like-minds riled up about it, for assistance!
If they have this friend of the attacker, then they'll be able to identify the attacker, right? He's probably being arrested right this minute, right?
Kerry would be proud.
"We'll put a boot up his ass, it's the American way..."
That happened to the soldier because of the climate of hate for soldiers that Kerry engendered by his anti-war actions after the Viet-Nam war and is continuing to do now.
"I'm John Kerry, and I approved this attack."
Maybe the attacker was just in the parking lot looking for trouble, not a concert-goer.
Was the attacker tall, skinny and have an UGLY wife with him that smelled like Ketchup?
Yep. This is one of those wish-I-had-been-there moments.
Am I out of line here, or is it fair to say that this attack shows a clear link between Islamic terrorists and American leftists? I'm not saying they're actively coordinating -- only that they seem to want to attack the same targets.
Any comments from T. Keith??
I'd not be surprised to hear him make a blanket challenge from the stage at his next concert: "You want a piece of one of ours? Come see how you like me."
(Note: Toby is a BIG man... and very defensive of our troops.)
How Sad....
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.