Sgt. Mark Prendeville
Posted on 09/28/2015 9:18:32 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
A hospital has apologised after an RAF sergeant was asked to move out of sight of other patients in case his uniform caused offence.
Sgt. Mark Prendeville, who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, was at the Emergency unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kent after fire extinguisher chemicals got in to his eyes during a training exercise
Aircraft engineer Prendeville was relocated twice by hospital staff who said his uniform “might upset people” because “we have all kinds of different cultures coming in”.
The 38-year-old was “dumbfounded” to be told on two different occasions to stand out of the view of other patients. He was wearing a camouflage combat uniform.
63-year-old Jim Prendeville, who also served in the armed forces, said he was “disgusted” by the way his son was treated.
“One of the staff asked him if he would stand around the corner so he wouldn’t be seen by other people in case it may upset them because he was in uniform.
“He went round the corner not to make a fuss but then another member of staff asked him to move again in case anyone saw him because he was in uniform.”
“He said 'why should I move', and they said because your uniform might upset people, we have all kinds of different cultures coming in and you might upset them.”
“The way they treat our servicemen - they’re willing to put their lives on the line and they’re treated like lepers when they go to A&E.”
The sergeant, a father-of-one was treated for the chemicals in his eyes and prescribed drops. He is expected to make a full recovery.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
“I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!”
“Tommy” by Rudyard Kipling
Second time I saw this story.
We dont have “all different kinds of cultures” in America. We have American culture.
I enjoy some of the traditions from Italy my grandparents and parents kept. That is not a “culture”. Also, for better or worse they will be gone with the next generation.
My “culture” is speaking English, supporting the troops and the Constitution.
Yes Sir.
You beat me to it. I think England has fallen for the second time since 1066.
I thought at first I was reading the header incorrectly.
Much to my dismay,I wasn’t.
.
Unfortunately, they are committing slow-motion suicide. WE ARE NOT FAR BEHIND IF WE DON’T CLEAN UP WASHINGTON.
bmp
Knowing Kent, I’d move him for his own safety. The majority despise the military and the mussies would not hesitate to spike his IV.
We saw that kind of behavior here at the end of the Viet Nam war.
Sgt. Mark Prendeville
I’m offended...at the hospital staff.
Wow, never read that poem before. Thanks.
May I borrow what you said, and paraphrase? Our people are from Ireland
?
We dont have “all different kinds of cultures” in America. We have American culture.
I enjoy some of the traditions from Ireland my grandparents and parents and family friends kept. That is not a “culture”.
My “culture” is speaking English, supporting the troops and the Constitution.
They were only affraid that it might offend the MUSIM’s, Well too bad for them.
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Absolutely!! Plenty of Americans of Irish descent here on Staten Island :)
Oh for crying out loud. This in England? They have fallen to a new low. I say that if the sight of a military uniform offends anybody, let them take their sorry selves to a different medical facility.
Have a family friend. Dating an ex marine. He’s one of the top ten people I’ve ever known BTW and he’s just a kid
Her ex college roommate, in grad school in some humanities program FWIW has been bugging her to get over to visit says no not if you bring your boyfriend. I’m against the military. I don’t want to meet him
Texas BTW
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