Marine who lost arm, leg in Iraq mugged outside Washington

AP ^ | August 3 2006

[jmc1969]

It's another bit of bad luck for a Marine who lost an arm and a leg in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Mark Beyers was mugged and robbed outside a restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, last month.

The Marine from western New York was dining out with his wife, Denise, while finishing up rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

As they left the restaurant, five men approached them and asked for a cigarette. Denise Beyers tells The Buffalo News they gave the men a cigarette -- but the men grabbed her purse, kicked her and knocked the couple to the ground.

The thieves made off with 500 dollars just wired to them by a relative.

[1rudeboy]

If there is justice in this world, the arresting officer will be ex-military.

[BenLurkin]

Unbelievable...just disgusting.

[BookaT]

Losing your arm and leg is not "A bit of bad luck"!!!

Bastads at AP!

[Ron in Acreage]

damn democrats! Still loathing the military and those who served.

[EagleUSA]

The scum of the earth that this man fought and lost his limbs to protect, just paying back the debt they owe him...piles of excrement.

[Obadiah]

While they did not know he was an Iraq war vet/hero, they knowing knocked down a man with one leg and one arm. These "people" are beyond despicable.

[pissant]

These vile criminals need to be killed

[Sax]

If there is justice in this world, the arresting officer will be ex-military.

And they'll have an extraordinarily difficult time 'getting them in the car.'

[pissant]

And the perps were what race again???

[2banana]

If they ever come to Philly for a meal or treatment, I will volunteer to be an armed bodyguard...

[Obadiah]

Hmmmm....

[R. Scott]

As they left the restaurant, five men approached them and asked for a cigarette.

This has been a common ploy for many years – make that decades - to distract the victim. When it is tried on me and I am with someone we immediately split and flank the mugger(s). If I am alone my hand goes near my right hip.
In every instance the bad guys decided they didn’t really want a cigarette. Too bad such things are no longer (unofficially) taught in Basic Training.

[the invisib1e hand]

It's another bit of bad luck for a Marine who lost an arm and a leg in Iraq.

Another "bit of bad luck?" wtf kind of irresponsible remark is that? MSM journalists - are they worth giving an arm and a leg for?

[Garvin]

Former Military, Ex would be the likes of sKerry, Murtha and Lee Harvey Oswald.

[1rudeboy]

Sorry.

[Americanwolf]

anyone know if Codepinko has hit squads now?

[AdamSelene235]

Maryland is not a shall issue CCW state.

You are required to document *recent* threats and attempts on your life before the State will consider issuing a permit.

[dljordan]

We're looong overdue for a little chlorine in the gene pool.

[Concho]

Five against one is ..........

[billhilly]

It would be nice if all of Quantico marine personnel were temporarily assigned to that precinct in civilian clothing. Some serious education needs to be administered to the animals who did this, and any other thugs lurking around..

[fella]

Sounds like Code Pink has struck again.

[mware]

ping.

Ok what can we do for this family.

[thundrey]

Asking for a ciggarette or a light is a common tactic used by muggers as a way of distracting you before they pounce. If someone approaches asks you always say 'no, sorry' and keep on walking.
I'm surprised a former US Marine who I would have expected to be more worldly wise succumbed to that trick.
Not that that makes the criminals any less scummy though, especially robbing somebody who is disabled.
Hope they come accross somebody who has a CCW and gives them a 'light' they won't like in their arses....

[Tokra]

If there is justice in this world, the arresting officer, the judge, the jury AND the executioner will be ex-military.

[new yorker 77]

Another crap story from an MSM that wants you to think Iraq and Afghanistan are the new Vietnam.

There are real stories about soldiers being treated well if you like to look for them.

Cheers for a soldier - Pitcher's real talent is helping Afghans modernize their country

by Andrea Remke

August 3, 2006

U.S. Army Spc. Jeffrey Hawk of Petersburg throws out the first pitch at the Florence Freedom game Thursday night.

It wasn't a Nolan Ryan pitch, but it got about the same applause.

A soldier home on leave from duty in Afghanistan took the mound Thursday at Champion Window Field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Florence Freedom's game against the Chillicothe Paints.

Spc. Jeffrey Hawk, 25, of Petersburg, dressed in his camouflage fatigues, practiced his wind-up and threw a high curve ball to the catcher as his family, friends and hundreds of Freedom fans applauded and whistled.

"I'm just so proud of him," said Hawk's mother, Lisa Rowe, who was among the soldier's relatives, friends and former co-workers at the game.

Hawk has been a soldier for three years serving in the Army Reserves 558th Signal Co. out of Kings Mills. He was previously deployed to Kuwait before heading to Afghanistan. Hawk, a graduate of Boone County High School and a member of the Florence Elks Lodge 314, has been enjoying his 15-day leave. He heads back to active duty next week.

Hawk said it was 138 degrees in Kuwait when he left.

"I've been enjoying friends and family ... just relaxing," he said. "The heat of the desert does a number on you."

It was a well-attended party for the Elks Lodge, said fellow member Steve Woods. "To put 50 of us in one place and have to even turn people away ... to come support him, shows how dedicated a person he is," Woods said.

Hawk is a communication specialist helping put together telephone and Internet systems in new buildings in Afghanistan. He said he tries to stay out of danger, as his troop lives among locals there.

"We're there to help rebuild the country and teach them," he said.

Rowe said she looks forward to the day he comes home for good.

"He's grown up so much since he's been (in the military)," Rowe said. "He told me, 'I've seen and done more than I ever thought I would in my lifetime.'

"I'm glad he's had this opportunity," she said.

Hawk said he has missed hanging out with his wife of four years, Tabatha.

Tabatha Hawk said it's hard sharing his time when he's only home two weeks.

"I told everyone this week, from Monday to Wednesday he's all mine," she said.

E-mail aremke@nky.com

Copyright 2006, Enquirer.com

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/NEWS0103/607280369

[billhilly]

Let's not make this a race incident. Who knows what race the victims were? Everyone knows that gangs of roving thugs in the cities are not wall street bankers.

[Eighth Square]

Generational Scum! Amen to your post!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I'm NOT talking about the victims, I'm talking about the PERPS..

[PA Engineer]

That was the first thing that caught my eye. There is no greater evil in America today than our occupation media.

[paddles]

These five were obviously the product of a hand-j*b on a hot rock in August. Way beyond despicable.

[Riverman94610]

Why does their race make a difference?They were heinous bastards whatever their color was.

[billhilly]

"I'm NOT talking about the victims, I'm talking about the PERPS.."

I and every poster on Free Republic knows what you are talking about. It was me who brought up the victims.

[McGavin999]

If there is justice in this world, the arresting officer will be ex-military.

If there is justice in this world the officers would see to it these guys never got arrested. Just sort of disappear.

[radiohead]

This has been a common ploy for many years – make that decades - to distract the victim

Yep. I did 10 years in Philly and even tho I've lived in much safer places since then, my radar goes up when someone asks me for the time or some other such thing. I don't lose eye contact with them until I've stepped away a bit. It probably seems strange, but you can't trust anyone.

I'm surprised this happened in Bethesda. I know the area well and it hasn't been known for crime, but with Metro access, maybe the criminals are importing themselves from other parts of the area. Looks like there's pond scum wherever you go, huh?

[Coop]

Ok what can we do for this family.

We'll come up with something. FReepmail me to discuss, please.

[pissant]

It makes no difference to me. A scumbag is a scumbag. It's just if they are white, the reporters say the are white. Just pointing out the PC bullshit that the media has sunk in.

[Coop]

Disgusted ping

[CometBaby]

Let's not make this a race incident. Who knows what race the victims were? Everyone knows that gangs of roving thugs in the cities are not wall street bankers. Well said. Further, I don't think they singled out someone from the Military. They were more likely seeking out someone they felt would not be able to defend himself. Have they started a fund for this Marine yet? I would like to send him a few bucks.

[mware]

Well lets stop complaining about who did it and work on trying to help this couple.

[mware]

you got mail

[Vision]

It's another bit of bad luck for a Marine who lost an arm and a leg in Iraq

What an arrogant, repulsive, and just odd way to describe this story.

[Hazcat]

I would think the people on FR could replace the $500.00 real fast. How do we get it to him?

[mware]

coop is working on it.

[Riverman94610]

Ok,I know what you are saying.Lots of times you can tell from the place what race the perps and victims are such as DC would be blacks,San Antonio most likely Latinos and Chico,Ca most likely whites.
Yet its hard to generalize.A cop just got killed in the hood here the other day and the perp was white.Or,I assume he was since he had an Italian last name.

[Hazcat]

Mark Beyers expects to be back home in the Buffalo area this weekend. His family is planning a fund-raiser for him on August 12th.

We need an address or some contact info!!

[Coop]

Well lets stop complaining about who did it and work on trying to help this couple.

Well said!

[pissant]

Now you're stereotyping. Just cause a perp has a last name like Maroni or Gianfranco doesn't mean he's not a Samoan. LOL