Family of Dead Marine Ordered To Pay Westboro Blood Money

Just when I think our judicial system can not get anymore absurd they prove me wrong and delve into new depths.

A judge has ordered the father of a dead Marine to reimburse Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist legal fees associated with a court case in which the homophobic, gay-bashing, mentally-unhinged, inbreeding cult had filed an appeal to earlier case. The case is also pending before the Supreme Court, but this judge decided to issue a ruling before the Supreme Court could weigh in on the case.

Lawyers for the father of a Marine who died in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters say a court has ordered him to pay the protesters' appeal costs.

On Friday, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered that Albert Snyder of York, Pa., pay costs associated with Fred Phelps' appeal. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at the funeral of Snyder's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, in Westminster in 2006.

Lawyers for Snyder say the Court of Appeals has ordered him to pay $16,510.80 to Phelps for costs relating to the appeal, despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the Court of Appeals' decision.

It wasn't bad enough that these bottom-feeding, subhuman oxygen thieves protested the funeral of this young man, but to order the father to pay for their frivolous lawsuit is just further insult to injury.

I hate the scum-sucking Westboro Church Family Cult with every fiber of my being, in case you haven't noticed, and just a suggestion: In order to make sure the payment is secure and everything, Mr, Snyder might want to look at adopting a former military working dog to deliver the extortion money to Phelps in person. I mean dogs suffer from PTSD too and, well, things happen.

Just saying.

UPDATE: (Via Gateway Pundit) I called Sean E. Summers law offices this morning and asked how we can help. They already set up this website– http://www.matthewsnyder.org/.

You can donate to the Snyder family– here.

Imagine The Baggage Fees Airlines Would Charge

Here is a little video to show what our guys in Afghanistan have to carry, what we called hump, when they go outside the wire.

LANGUAGE WARNING:



Water - Check
Bullets - Check
iPod - Check

iPod???

Back in the day when I did this for a living we did not have the ballistic armor vests that they have nowadays. The only thing between me and a bullet was the buttons on my BDU's, like we used to say. I know it is a hassle to wear, but not having it is far worse.

The poncho liner that he talks about is basically a nylon blanket. It can provide some protection from the cold down to about 35° or so but it certainly doesn't replace the warmth of a sleeping bag.

I am puzzled by the 2 MRE's for a seven day mission so I can only presume that they intend to resupply them.

As far as the ammo, he ain't carrying no where near enough. He needs to stock up in that department. Going outside the wire with anything less then 500 rounds for your personal weapon ain't going to cut it in my book.

Batteries, batteries, and more batteries. Those things are heavy, but they are used to power everything from their GPS, to their radios, to their Night Vision Goggles (NVG) so they are also an necessary evil.

'We Are Coming Home'

I want to share with you the words of a Marine, LTC Patrick Cashman. This is from an update he sent to the families back in the states as they began their redeployment back home.

"Sometime tonight our first main body flight should be departing Manas Air Force Base in Kyrgyzstan enroute to Hawaii. They will be followed, hopefully in short order, but the remainder of our main body flights as we return home. We are making every effort to communicate with our personnel in Kaneohe to provide as up to the minute information as possible regarding flight manifests and times. Occasionally higher priority missions result in reassignments or flight changes, please be assured that we will make every effort to get that information to Kaneohe for distribution as quickly as possible.

This is a bit of an odd update I’m afraid. It isn’t my intention to talk about Afghanistan or our mission here, but instead to address just what incredible men your Marines and Sailors are. I doubt that I will ever be able to express the extent of the respect and admiration I have for your loved ones in this Battalion. I can use words like dedication, courage, honor but in the end words don’t quite cut it. So let me tell you what I have seen:

I saw a LCpl bring in his buddy’s gear following a horrible IED strike and practically beg to go back out so he could get back in the fight.

I saw a Marine leaning out over the edge of a roof in the middle of a firefight, leaving himself in the open purposefully in order to tempt a enemy RPG shooter to break cover in order to end him.

I’ve seen numerous Marines standing a lonely post in the pre-dawn hours, keeping watch carefully and correctly even though no one would know if they cut a corner, but doing it right because they were responsible for their buddies’ lives.

I watched a Sailor calmly grab his gear and run out in the open to a casualty who needed him, he never asked “How bad is he hurt?” or “How much enemy fire is there?”, the only thing he asked was “Where’s the casualty?” then he went. Because Corpsmen always come when they are needed, always.

I watched 19 and 20 year old men, who a mere few years before were undoubtedly typical self centered teenagers, earnestly try to make a young child who has only known poverty and war smile. I even saw a very imposing Marine in this Battalion who, frankly, scares the heck out of me, see a little girl off to the side of a group of kids with nothing in her hands so he very seriously went around saying “Somebody give me a teddy-bear, who has a F-ing teddy bear?” until he found one and presented it to her. The only person there with a bigger smile than the little girl was the Marine. He then went right back to chewing on his squad to keep their dispersion and move faster.

I watched FST medical personnel try every desperate measure to keep a good Marine with us, to the point of opening his chest and massaging his heart for what seemed like an interminable time. At the same time I saw a line of Marines and Sailors and Soldiers forming outside to donate blood, we had enough donors to transfuse all of Hannibal’s elephants but they all wanted to do something and at that time the only thing they could do was give some of their blood.

I watched an NCO very patiently sum up all the complex nuances of counter-insurgency warfare to a young Marine while both were being pummeled with stones and physically knocking intruders off our wall from a mob threatening to breach the walls of our police station; “They want us to shoot them, so then they can make us all look like bad guys.” So we didn’t shoot, even though we had more than sufficient justification, and in the end what could have been a horrible incident broadcast around the world actually became a positive as the locals started talking about the restraint of “their Marines” and became angry with the rioters for their “un-Islamic” behavior.

I watched a Marine, with excruciating slowness and superhuman patience, lead an Afghan Policeman through a patrol brief. And I saw the pride in the ANP officer’s face when he lead his patrol out the entry control point, in his town and in front of his people, with the Marines trailing along behind in case he needed some help. I also saw an Afghan Policeman’s face when I told him that the Marines thought highly of him and had told me that “Spider” (his nickname) was a good guy to have alongside you in a fight. He sputtered a little bit then said something short and stared at me very intensely, the linguist told me “He says he is just so very proud that the US Marines think that”. Once Spider was sure that I understood that he meant it, he strutted away like he had just won the world’s highest honor. And perhaps he had.

I know that for the rest of my life I will cherish this period in which I had the honor to spend my days among such incredible men. And I know that it has been your sacrifices that have made it possible. I thank you for allowing me this time with your loved ones.

We are coming home."

His unit lost nine Marines and one sailor during their deployment.

Welcome Home!

Happy 'Veterans' Day: Phony Marine Exposed

I haven't found any evidence this tool played dress-up other than to try to impress people at a reunion. Back during the height of the Iraq war there were more than enough phony soldiers popping up with the anti-war crowd. Anyway, get a load of the photo taken on Coronado. I'm surprised the weight of "his" medals didn't cause him to fall over.

A Palm Springs man who has never served in the military is expected to surrender to authorities Thursday to face charges of wearing military medals he did not earn, authorities said today.

Steve Burton, 39, has agreed to surrender at the U.S. District Court in Riverside. He was charged Friday by federal prosecutors in L.A. with the unauthorized wearing of military medals after he was allegedly seen and photographed wearing military uniforms and decorations.

The FBI was contacted by a Navy commander after she attended her high school reunion and saw Burton wearing a Marine Corps uniform displaying several medals, including the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and others, according to an affidavit filed in United States District Court.

The Navy Cross is the highest medal the Navy awards and is the second highest award given for valor, second only to the Medal of Honor.

Suspicious, the commander asked to be photographed with Burton. The photo was used in the investigation. The FBI said it also found that Burton had made Internet postings about being a Marine and had written about his “combat experience” as well as his “service” in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also allegedly posted a picture of himself standing on a beach at Coronado wearing a Marine dress uniform with three rows of medals.

I Admire Her Spunk

Let me go on the record and go ahead and get all the male chauvinists stuff out of the way. I am opposed to women being in front line combat units like the infantry. Let's not get into all the arguments for and against it, I just wanted to give reader my stance. This is actually a subject I have a little bit of knowledge of since I did 20+ years in the infantry in the US Army.

Still with that being said I do admire her spunk, but I do have to question her sanity.

"It's a little bit (frustrating), I can understand why females are not out there, but at the same time I want to get out there," Boertmann said.

Her next sentence though betrays her.

"They have a really tight bond and I think 'wow I wish I could be out there and try it'," she says of the grunts.

Being a grunt is not something you can try. It is a lifestyle. You don't play at being a grunt, the stakes are too high. Every armchair video war game player thinks he can go out there and be a grunt.

While I admire her sentiments and respect her wanting to get out there and mix it up, I hate to rain on her parade but she does need to stick to doing what she is trained to do for that that too serves a vital purpose.

So read the story for the perspective it gives on the warrior spirit embodied in our service members and try to restrain from getting into the whole should they or shouldn't they serve in combat argument.

Marine Cleared in Fallujah Killing

John Murtha was unavailable for comment.

A military jury on Thursday acquitted a Marine sergeant on charges of murdering an unarmed detainee during battle in Fallujah, Iraq.

The jury also acquitted Sgt. Ryan Weemer of dereliction of duty in the November 2004 death.

Weemer hugged and thanked his attorney after the verdict, and his wife, sister and high school English teacher wept from front-row seats.

The panel of eight Marines who served in Iraq or Afghanistan got the case Wednesday and deliberated more than four hours.

Weemer, of Hindsboro, Ill., could have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison and dishonorable discharge if convicted of murder. The maximum sentence for dereliction is six months in prison and a bad conduct discharge.

In closing arguments Wednesday, a defense attorney said the 26-year-old Weemer acted in self-defense.

The prosecutor, Capt. Nicholas Gannon, recounted that Weemer said in recorded interviews that he shot the man and told a squadmate that he would have to live with that for the rest of his life.

Weemer also said in interviews that he and other Marines shot a total of four men in a house after their squad suffered its first fatality.

"I can't bring you an autopsy report," Gannon said. "I don't have one, but we have a lot of evidence that shows you beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused shot an individual in the chest twice.... The killing was unlawful."

The prosecutor told jurors they should convict Weemer of lesser charges of voluntary manslaughter or assault if they acquit him of murder.

During the one-week court-martial, the defense argued that the government could not prove Weemer killed the unarmed captive because there are no bodies, no relatives complaining of a lost loved one and no forensic evidence.

Weemer's civilian attorney, Paul Hackett, said in his closing argument that Weemer fired while he and other Marines were trying to seize a house from insurgents. He recounted testimony and statements of Weemer's squadmates that portrayed a confusing scene.

"This was chaos!" he said. "(The detainees) were not cooperating. If they're not cooperating, they're not under control. If they're not under control, they pose a threat to these Marines."

He Wants to Serve His Country, But An Idiot Anti-War Judge Won't Let Him

Some of these anti-war types are so detestable, but this idiot judge Marilyn Mackel deserves a special award for her sanctimoniously smug attitude.

Here you have a kid begging to serve his country, but since the judge obviously hates the military, his dream is being denied.

For now.

SIMI VALLEY - Shawn Sage long dreamed of joining the military, and watching "Full Metal Jacket" last year really sold him on becoming a Marine.

But last fall, a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner dashed the foster teen's hopes of early enlistment for Marine sniper duty, plus a potential $10,000 signing bonus.

In denying the Royal High School student delayed entry into the Marine Corps, Children's Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel reportedly told Sage and a recruiter that she didn't approve of the Iraq war, didn't trust recruiters and didn't support the military.

"The judge said she didn't support the Iraq war for any reason why we're over there," said Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley USMC recruiting office.

"She just said all recruiters were the same - that they `all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.' She said she didn't want him to fight in it."

Sage, 17, said he begged for Mackel's permission.

"Foster children shouldn't be denied (an) ability to enlist in the service just because they're foster kids," he said. "Foster kids shouldn't have to go to court to gain approval to serve one's country."

Mackel, a juvenile dependency commissioner at the Children's Court in Monterey Park, declined through a clerk to speak about any court case or comments she may have made in court.

Transcripts of juvenile court hearings require a special release from a judge. Court officials said a transcript of the Sage hearing, if released, would not be available for a week or more.

After Sage submitted a winning entry to the lawmaker's Write a Bill Challenge, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth introduced legislation last month that would allow foster teens to enlist in the service without express permission from a judge.

Instead, AB2238 would allow foster children 17 or older to sign up with the consent of a foster parent or social worker.

"Here is one impressive young man who somehow made it through the challenge of the foster system, had a clear sense of a career path and was denied that opportunity by a judge basically because of her personal bias," said Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, who will honor Sage today at a Royal High assembly.

"I find that to be a horrific abuse of her power."

It was Oct. 12 when Medrano, in crisp dress blues, appeared with Sage before the commissioner to petition for his early enlistment.

The USMC Delayed Entry Program, like those in other services, allows high school seniors to enlist in the service up to a year before starting boot camp.

Recruiters encourage students to hone their study skills, learn to eat right and become fit enough to don a uniform.

By "DEPing in," students can enlist at 17, get their high school diploma, then lock in a military job such as Force Recon - or scout snipers. They also qualify for a signing bonus.

"We just gave out the last one for recon today to another kid for $10,000," USMC Master Sgt. Edgar Carpenter of the Marine Recruiting Office in Simi Valley said Wednesday.

"The Delayed Entry Program supports everything a parent would try to do: We make them stay out of trouble; get them in physical condition; and get them indoctrinated into the Marine Corps culture."

Only Mackel - and it appears a court bailiff as well - objected to the program, despite pleas from Sage and Medrano.

"I tried. I said, `Please.' I begged. He tried, he said, `Please' and begged," Sage said. "But she refused."

Mackel said she denied delayed enlistment to an eager Navy recruit as well, Medrano said.

She expressed concern that recruiters treat recruits "like another warm body," he said. "She said, `All you care about is your numbers."'

At this point, the 10-year Marine said the court bailiff raised his hand and addressed the young Sage.

"My son's in the Army," he said. "He did the Delayed Entry Program. They don't care about you. They're just there for the numbers.

"I said, `No, I'm not them," Medrano said. "I care about Shawn (and) about every single person I put into the Marine Corps. I follow them. I take care of my kids. I treat them like my Marines.

"It just felt like, wow. I even told Shawn, I said, `Dude, it feels like we've been burned at the stake at the Salem witch trial.' She just had some kind of animosity toward military personnel."

Early this year, Berkeley city officials drew national fire for calling Marine Corps recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" while granting free parking for anti-war protesters. Lawmakers in Sacramento and Washington pushed bills to deny millions in funds to city coffers.

Sage, who lives in Simi Valley but is originally from Florida, was abandoned by both parents when he was 2 and now lives in a foster home with his brother.

He had wanted to join the military ever since he'd met a service rep at school at age 7 - first the Air Force, then the Navy, finally the Marines.

His foster parents, as well as his social worker, supported his decision to enlist early. Despite being denied, he still shows up for USMC physical training.

"Did they ever kick my butt," he said proudly. "They still do."

There's another butt I'd like to kick.