Posted on Oct 4, 2015
I went to the Chow Hall this morning, left pretty pissed off. Would you do the same thing I did?
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My spouse and I went to the gym this morning and had a great workout. After my shower, I went to the DFAC for Sunday morning brunch. spending time with the Soldiers as well as chow was great.
We noticed a couple (probably in early-mid forties) sitting at the next table with three young children (ages estimated at 6, 8, 9)....the children were running all over the place - not being watched or corrected by the either parent....looked like they had been there for quite some time as well because there was food, wrappers, plates all over the place.
I noticed the children playing around the area fallen hero table so I approached the father, I thought I was very restrained - here's what happened:
Me: Sir, do you know what this table is here for?
His reply: "roger, I know the meaning".
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
(the children were still running around.....now the youngest was pulling at the fallen hero table cloth)
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
Me: Sir, do you truly understand the importance of this display, and understand what it exactly means to all of us within this community?
Reply: Yes
Me: Sir, please get your children under control!
At that point, he grabbed his son and put the child over his shoulder and walked with him back to the table and then turned him lose & let him go back to "roaming" all around the DFAC....next to the stoves and all the other appliances (in the back) which are not so kid friendly!
How would you have handled the situation? Directly? Indirectly (thru the DFAC manager? Ignored the situation completely, (it aint my business).
We noticed a couple (probably in early-mid forties) sitting at the next table with three young children (ages estimated at 6, 8, 9)....the children were running all over the place - not being watched or corrected by the either parent....looked like they had been there for quite some time as well because there was food, wrappers, plates all over the place.
I noticed the children playing around the area fallen hero table so I approached the father, I thought I was very restrained - here's what happened:
Me: Sir, do you know what this table is here for?
His reply: "roger, I know the meaning".
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
(the children were still running around.....now the youngest was pulling at the fallen hero table cloth)
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
Me: Sir, do you truly understand the importance of this display, and understand what it exactly means to all of us within this community?
Reply: Yes
Me: Sir, please get your children under control!
At that point, he grabbed his son and put the child over his shoulder and walked with him back to the table and then turned him lose & let him go back to "roaming" all around the DFAC....next to the stoves and all the other appliances (in the back) which are not so kid friendly!
How would you have handled the situation? Directly? Indirectly (thru the DFAC manager? Ignored the situation completely, (it aint my business).
Fallen Soldiers
Respect
Disrespect
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 100
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig Well one or the other had to be military didn't they, CSM? I'm curious why you didn't just pull rank.
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I would probably have said something....I probably would have told him that it wasn't a play ground and that if he wanted his children to play he should take them outside or to the park.....I would have let him know that he and his wife were being extremely disrespectful and then I would have said "SHAME ON YOU!".....then went to the management.
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I would have done the same, at the Legion post that I'm apart of had something similar happen even people taking the chair to sit in....I think it's direspectful to mess with a fallen hero or MIA table, I think you handled it fine. I would have probably gotten the manager involved as well though. SPC Boyd Army Whoa!
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I believe you did the right thing. But once they went running off back to the table i would have kindly asked them to leave the premises. If not there will be someone to escort them out. That was disrespectful when he replied he knew the meaning of the table. So that meant he didnt care. He would once the mps showed up tho. Haha.
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I think it may have worked out differently if you let your spouse approch their mother. Guys can't handel this stuff. Two women would have come to a better conclusion.
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CSM, what you did was handle it a lot better than I would have but I do have ONE nagging little question. Where were the rest of the NCOs or ANY Soldier for that matter? This is a situation that you should have never even had to deal with.
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
There is more, I saved the Paul Harvey portion as to use the situation as a leadership development opportunity....there were NCOs in the mess hall, I addressed them as well.
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SSG John Mitchell
CSM Michael J. Uhlig - I knew you had to have left that part out. No CSM that I ever met or worked for would have allowed any Soldier much less an NCO in the current vicinity escape unscathed.
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I would have intervened but had the kids gather around and explain to them what the meaning of the display is for and give them "a heads up" on what is expected of them while attending such areas as the DFAC. Spread the traditional meaning of service life and all it encumbrances!
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Former Marine Cpl Barron says boot up the asses of each of those little bastereds and a ball grab from behind on the old man. But then again who knows whats going on behind the scenes.
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I have eaten at the DFAC with my Wife and Son....sometimes its just cheaper than going out, my Son is 7 and knows what that table is for...I would have done the same thing you did CSM.
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