Posted on Nov 20, 2016
Gold Star Family of Slain California Soldier Booed on Flight
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STOCKTON, Calif. -- The father of a California soldier recently killed in Afghanistan says he felt disrespected and hurt by passengers who booed him and his family when they were on a flight to meet his son's remains.
Stewart Perry, his wife and daughter were on an American Airlines flight Monday from Sacramento to Philadelphia with a transfer in Phoenix to receive the remains of his son, Sgt. John Perry, of Stockton, when the flight was delayed, the Stockton Record reported Saturday.
Perry, an ex-Marine who lives in Stockton, said the flight to Phoenix was 45 minutes late and the crew, fearing the Gold Star family could miss their connecting flight, made an announcement for passengers to remain seated to let a "special military family" deplane first.
Perry said several passengers in first class booed, complaining that it was "baloney" and that they paid first-class fares. He said he doesn't know if the passengers from Sacramento knew there was a Gold Star family on board or whether people sitting in the coach section complained.
"It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see," Perry said.
Perry, 30, and another American soldier died of injuries inflicted by an improvised explosive device Nov. 12 inside Bagram Airfield.
The husband and father of two young children died a hero, his father said.
"He made a decision that saved a lot of people," he said. "I was told that he was found protecting a female soldier. . He didn't get to live a full life, but he lived."
Copyright (2016) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see)
Stewart Perry, his wife and daughter were on an American Airlines flight Monday from Sacramento to Philadelphia with a transfer in Phoenix to receive the remains of his son, Sgt. John Perry, of Stockton, when the flight was delayed, the Stockton Record reported Saturday.
Perry, an ex-Marine who lives in Stockton, said the flight to Phoenix was 45 minutes late and the crew, fearing the Gold Star family could miss their connecting flight, made an announcement for passengers to remain seated to let a "special military family" deplane first.
Perry said several passengers in first class booed, complaining that it was "baloney" and that they paid first-class fares. He said he doesn't know if the passengers from Sacramento knew there was a Gold Star family on board or whether people sitting in the coach section complained.
"It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see," Perry said.
Perry, 30, and another American soldier died of injuries inflicted by an improvised explosive device Nov. 12 inside Bagram Airfield.
The husband and father of two young children died a hero, his father said.
"He made a decision that saved a lot of people," he said. "I was told that he was found protecting a female soldier. . He didn't get to live a full life, but he lived."
Copyright (2016) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see)
Gold Star Family of Slain California Soldier Booed on Flight
Posted from military.com
War on Terror
Warfare
Gold Star Families
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
A friend posted this on my Facebook timeline yesterday I can only assume had
I been present, after the alarms had been silenced and dust had settled I would've been escorted from the flight by air marshals and placed on the No Fly list having opened the emergency exit door and assisted some first no class passengers to the ground
I been present, after the alarms had been silenced and dust had settled I would've been escorted from the flight by air marshals and placed on the No Fly list having opened the emergency exit door and assisted some first no class passengers to the ground
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SN Greg Wright
As I said on another thread, I would have calmly explained why they were being asked to wait -- perhaps they didn't know. If that didn't work, I would politely tell them that that was my brother or sister down in the hold, and that if they didn't sit down and be quiet, I would be perfectly willing to accept the consequences of what happened next. If that didn't work, well. Air marshals would be escorting me, too. But I'd give them a chance to correct themselves first.
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