Marine to Be Discharged over Anti-Obama Facebook Comment

Marine Amputee ‘Humiliated’ on Delta Flight

Dec 142012

Delta Airlines(WASHINGTON) — A Marine, a double amputee, on a Delta Airlines flight earlier this month was reportedly treated poorly and humiliated by airline staff.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christian Brown was on Delta flight 504 from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Army Col. Nickey Knighton, a fellow passenger and veteran, sent a complaint to Delta Airlines about Brown’s treatment. The complaint was obtained by the Washington Post.

The Post reports that Brown was “clumsily wheeled to the back row of the plane” and “humiliated to the point of tears.” Although fellow passengers in first class attempted to give up their seats in exchange for Brown’s seat in the last row of economy class, airline staff would not allow it because it was time for the plane to take off.

Another passenger, retired Army Lt. Col. Keith Gafford, told the Post, “I have been flying with Delta for a gazillion years, and this crew treated Chris worse than you’d treat any thing, not even any body. I did 27 years in the military. I have seen a lot of things and have seen a lot of guys die, but I have never seen a Marine cry. What the kid said was, ‘I have given everything that I can give and this is the way I am being treated? This is how I will be treated for the rest of my life?’”

Brown also became sick during the flight, which may have added to his frustration.

In an emailed statement to ABC News, airline spokesman Michael Thomas said, “This story in no way reflects how Delta treats customers or the high regard we hold for our nation’s service members. We are actively investigating and have reached out to this customer and his family. We’re sorry for the difficulties that transpired.”

According to the Post, Brown was leading his squad on a foot patrol in Afghanistan’s Helmand province on Dec. 13, 2011, when he stepped on an explosive device that blew off both his legs, one above the knee, the other below his hip. He also lost part of his right index finger.

Today, Brown lives in an apartment on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He undergoes daily physical therapy to adjust to his prosthetic legs.

Sole Plane Crash Survivor Saved by Marine Friend

May 142012

Hemera/Thinkstock (file photo)(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — The sole survivor of a small plane crash in Kansas is in stable but serious condition after she was reportedly pulled out of the burning aircraft by a passenger — an Iraq war veteran who later died from his injuries.

Hannah Luce, 22, is in a Kansas City hospital with burns covering 28 percent of her body after surviving the Friday crash that killed three of her friends and the young pilot.

“While we’re thankful for this miracle of Hanna, we are truly grieving with all these parents,” Hannah Luce’s father Ron Luce said.

Hannah and her three friends were aboard an eight-seater twin-engine Cessna 401 plane, heading to a Christian youth rally called Acquire the Fire, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The rally was held by Teen Mania Ministries, an organization founded by Hannah’s father.

But after taking off from an airport in Tulsa, Okla., something suddenly went wrong with the plane, which landed in a field and skidded around 200 feet before hitting several trees and bursting into flames.

The pilot, 23-year-old Luke Sheets, died at the scene, as did 29-year-old Garrett Coble, and 22-year-old Stephen Luth.

Austin Anderson, a 27-year-old former marine who completed two tours in Iraq, had just graduated from Oral Roberts University with Hannah on May 5. Anderson reportedly pulled Hannah out of the burning plane, and the two were able to walk to a nearby road for help.

Anderson later died in the hospital, suffering from burns over 90 percent of his body.

Ron Luce told ABC News’ Kansas City affiliate KMBC that he knew Anderson and that he is the type of man that would save someone in that situation.

“He served two tours in Iraq, and he was willing to give his life for his country,” he said. “He was willing to give his life for a friend. He was always willing to go that extra mile.”

Ron Luce said his daughter, who was working on her master’s degree in counseling psychology, “just began to tear up” when asked about Anderson pulling her from the wreckage.

Hannah is now in serious but stable condition at the University of Kansas Hospital, where on Monday she will undergo skin grafts for her burns.

“She said, ‘I have all these burns,” her father said. “Then she said, ‘but I’m here. I’m here.’”

Marine Returns, Son With Cerebral Palsy Walks for First Time

May 102012

ABC News(NEW YORK) — A North Carolina Marine got a shocking welcome home from his son, who suffers from cerebral palsy. The young boy walked to his father on his own for the first time.

When Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cooney was deployed, his 6-year-old son could not walk. What he didn’t know was that the boy learned to walk while his father was serving in Afghanistan.

The heartwarming video was posted by Cooney’s wife Melissa Cooney on WelcomeHomeBlog.com, a website for videos of surprise military homecomings.

“When my husband left on his deployment, our 6-year-old son could not walk on his own,” Melissa Cooney wrote on the site. “He has cerebral palsy. Doctors originally said that he would never walk or do much of anything. While daddy was away, he learned to walk. For his homecoming, we set it up for Michael to walk to his daddy for the first time ever! We kept the fact that he could walk a secret the whole time his dad was gone!”

The family could not be reached to comment. Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that causes physical and mental disabilities.

In the video, Sgt. Cooney crouches down and watches in amazement as his son walks toward him when they see each other in a gym at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune. When the boy gets within arm’s reach, Cooney scoops him up in his arms and the two share a long hug.

Attorneys Will Continue to Fight Dismissal of Marine Critical of Obama

Apr 262012

(SAN DIEGO) — Civilian lawyers for the Marine sergeant discharged Wednesday for posting critical comments about President Obama on Facebook say they will continue to fight his dismissal in civilian courts.

On Wednesday, Sergeant Gary Stein was given an “other than honorable” discharge from the Marine Corps for disparaging comments that included labeling President Obama an enemy.

The Marines said the comments by the nine-year veteran were detrimental to good order and discipline and violated military law. Because of the “other than honorable” discharge, Stein will be demoted to lance corporal and be ineligible for most federal veterans benefits.

The conservative U.S. Justice Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union say they will continue to fight Stein’s dismissal in federal courts.

They believe the Marine Corps overreached its authority and violated Stein’s First Amendment rights to free speech. Earlier this month, a federal judge denied their request for a temporary restraining order to block Stein’s dismissal.

Gary Kreep of the U.S. Justice Foundation told ABC News that, once Stein has transitioned out of the Marine Corps in a few weeks, “we’ll be amending the complaint to reflect a request for relief for his reinstatement to the Marine Corps. ”

A spokesperson for the ACLU confirmed that the organization would continue to try and block Stein’s discharge through the federal courts.

Kreep said his organization is committed to taking Stein’s case all the way to the Supreme Court if that’s what he wants.

Stein expressed his disappointment about his discharge on his Facebook page. “I have spent the last 9 years honorably serving this great nation and the Corps,” said Stein. “Even though I will be discharged no one can take the title of Marine away from me. I thank my family and friends for their support and love. Today is just the start of the rest of my life. Semper Fi.”

Kreep said Stein’s case has united groups from across the political spectrum because “free speech and due process rights are important.” He added, “It shows people who disagree on a variety of issues can come together, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Marine to Be Discharged over Anti-Obama Facebook Comment

Apr 252012

Creatas/Thinkstock(SAN DIEGO) — A conservative Marine who started an armed forces Tea Party Web page has been given an “other than honorable” discharge for misconduct after declaring on Facebook, “Screw Obama. I will not follow all orders from him.”

Sgt. Gary Stein later clarified his remarks to say he wouldn’t follow unlawful orders from the president and argued his online comments were protected by the First Amendment, ABC News San Diego affiliate KGTV reported.

In addition, he has expressed regret for his remark, at one point writing on Facebook, “The words that I used were tasteless and I could have articulated my point more clearly. I am man enough to admit my mistakes.”

But Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo, the commanding general for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, nevertheless upheld an earlier decision by an administrative separation board to give Stein the “other than honorable” discharge, according to a news release by the Marines.

Stein, 26, based at Camp Pendleton, was put on notice of a possible violation of the Uniform Code of Justice last month after his Obama comment, KGTV reported. The military subsequently cited other anti-Obama comments in Stein’s online postings.

On Wednesday, Stein acknowledged the discharge on his Facebook page.

“I have spent the last 9 years honorably serving this great nation and the Corps,” Stein wrote. “Even though I will be discharged no one can take the title of Marine away from me. I thank my family and friends for their support and love. Today is just the start of the rest of my life. Semper Fi.”

The manner of discharge will hit Stein in the wallet, according to the Marine statement.

“A Marine being separated as a result of adverse conduct can receive an other than honorable characterization of discharge if the basis for separation is the commission of a serious offense which is a significant departure from the conduct expected of a Marine,” the statement read. “Marines administratively separated with an ‘other than honorable’ discharge are automatically reduced to pay grade E-3, to become effective upon separation.”

The move is expected to mean Stein will not receive benefits following his nine years of military service. His contract with the Marines was scheduled to expire on July 28.

Stein tried to stop the tribunal’s processes by filing a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court in the Southern California District, but federal judge Marilyn Huff denied the request.

She told one of Stein’s attorneys, “You understand it’s a pretty sensitive comment that he made,” adding, “He can’t do that,” KGTV reported.

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