Lone Vietnam Vet Confronts Ferguson Protesters Stomping on the American Flag, did he do the right thing?

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:59:09 -0400

I am both professionally and personally disgusted, disappointed and just pissed off when I saw this video. It took a lot of courage to face the crowd here but in my mind, I think the Veteran did the right thing. What do you think?

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Tense video captures the moment a Vietnam veteran confronts Ferguson protesters who are stomping on the American flag.

Indianapolis-based reporter Patrick Calvert tweeted the intense video out on Monday.

“I fought for this flag,” the man tells a small group of demonstrators. “What’s he doing to my f***ing flag?”

“We’re doing this to your f***ing flag," a protester says as he grinds his feet into the stars and stripes.

“What does my flag have to do with this?” the man demands.

“It’s about what your flag represents that’s doing to us,” a protester responds.

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/08/11/watch-vet-confronts-ferguson-protesters-stomping-american-flag

Vet Confronts Ferguson Protesters Stomping on the American Flag

Tense video captures the moment a Vietnam veteran confronts Ferguson protesters who are stomping on the American flag.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 3:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:12:51 -0400

CSM Michael J. Uhlig Here's the link http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/08/11/watch-vet-confronts-ferguson-protesters-stomping-american-flag

Vet Confronts Ferguson Protesters Stomping on the American Flag

Tense video captures the moment a Vietnam veteran confronts Ferguson protesters who are stomping on the American flag.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 12 at 2015 3:15 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:15:02 -0400

No link Sir!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 3:18 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:18:27 -0400

In his mind he was doing the right thing. He was defending the American flag. The same flag they claim is the root of the cause. The same flag that has given them the freedom to assemble in protest and protects their freedom to do so. The same flag we have all chosen to defend.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 12 at 2015 3:24 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:24:20 -0400

Sir, I'm with you CSM Michael J. Uhlig! Makes me sick! I would have done the same - tried my best to keep it non-violent, but at the same time stand up for what I believe in - and I do believe in the flag and what it REALLY represents and that it flies with the breath of every person who ever swore to defend it!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 3:27 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:27:01 -0400

He did the right thing, he stood up for the flag without any physical confrontation. I see nothing wrong with that.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Aug 12 at 2015 3:39 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:39:12 -0400

I do not feel that he did anything wrong....for him. For me, I would have to do a quick risk assessment.... 'The Mob' is a fickle creature, secure in its numbers and because of the numbers secure in remaining unknown as an individual. Many times, once specific people have been identified, they are no longer secure in the mob mentality and will back off... In this situation, the risk for bodily harm is great, and probably more then I would be willing to take. Live to fight another day. In addition to that, part of what I have been fighting for and defending has been the RIGHTS that he/she is currently engaged in. I have the right to freedom of speech/protest, but they do also, as shown in courts of law. I would walk away, sad, but able to come to battle another day as needed.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 12 at 2015 3:43 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:43:33 -0400

He is a real American. I'm on his side for sure

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Aug 12 at 2015 3:55 PM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:55:50 -0400

...there just happened to be grizzled Vietnam Vet on a random street corner in Ferguson? Great timing...just as they brought out the flags.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Aug 12 at 2015 4:03 PM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:03:47 -0400

I'm surprised you even got information over the phone. At least he took the time to call you...wonder if he got paid for that? Do Doctors work on commission? You know you can report him to his state professional licensing agency...what's his name and what hospital was this? I don't think the patients veteran status matters...was this at a VA hospital?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 12 at 2015 4:04 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:04:04 -0400

He did the right thing but it was also a dangerous thing. The recent trend in mob mentality flag stomping is wrong - despite the 1A rights that protect it and it's perpetrators. Someone like this guy is going to get hurt or worse by putting themselves between an angry mob and the flag they are desecrating. If he tried to grab the flag to protect it he'd also have been in the wrong and probably would have been beaten by the crowd. SCOTUS needs to get it's head out of its collective 4th point of contact and rule that flag desecration is not protected by 1A so it can be legally stopped and vets won't be in the wrong for protecting our flag.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Aug 12 at 2015 4:28 PM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:28:00 -0400

Love her!
"Cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! What the hell's the matter with you? Stupid! We're all very different people. We're not Watusi. We're not Spartans. We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts! Here's proof: his nose is cold! But there's no animal that's more faithful, that's more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. So we're all dog faces, we're all very very different but there's one thing we all have in common we were all stupid enough to enlist in the military, we're the mutants..."
-John Winger, Stripes

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 6:11 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:11:11 -0400

He did the right thing. My concern is for his safety. I'm glad the group remained nonviolent.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Aug 12 at 2015 6:25 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:25:31 -0400

These thugs in Ferguson are Un American as it can get. They probably either didn't graduate high school or paid much attention....they probably have no idea about any of the world wars or our history....and just what did this guy mean by saying "it's what this flag represents to our people" am I missing something.

Bottom line is they are disrespectful and ignorant thugs who don't give a crap about anything especially TRUE JUSTICE.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:16:07 -0400

America is destroying itself from within this is only the beginning. Yes, we have our right to free speech. But this atrocity is a disgrace to every American. We are at war with ourselves now. These idiots don't realize how stupid they make themselves look on the news.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:36 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:36:55 -0400

I'm with you, CSM Michael J. Uhlig. Stomping on the American flag demonstrates that the protesters have no respect for America, our home. I think the vet was asking that: "What does 'my' flag have to do with your protest?" The answer is nothing. Those particular protesters apparently have no respect for our country, and the larger issue is respect for authority.

In any case, I think the vet did the right thing.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Aug 12 at 2015 7:46 PM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:46:48 -0400

This whole thing pisses me off beyond words.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 4:02 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 04:02:49 -0400

Something this is dangerous to be honest. I wouldn't have even been in the area. You have no clue how these protesters are going to react. They will move toward mob violence with little provocation. I admire what he was doing but it is a but too dangerous for me.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 13 at 2015 9:36 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:36:56 -0400

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I'm torn between your first survey answer of "He absolutely did the right thing." and "He did the right thing but should have had some backup. Going in there without someone to cover his 6 could be a bad day." I would have defended the flag as well and probably wouldn't have even thought about the 2nd and 3rd order affects of going in without backup in a situation like this (sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us). I would have felt a lot better with somebody covering my six, but of course I would have realized that well after the fact. I believe he had the right intentions and did the right thing, but he didn't think it through completely or his adrenaline got the best of him. I’m glad nothing happened to him and cooler heads prevailed in this instance. I believe protesters can make their points and get their message out without burning the American Flag. Just my two cents on the subject.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 13 at 2015 12:13 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:13:20 -0400

Much as I hate to say it - both of them were in the right.

However, of the two positions I do prefer the one advanced by the fellow who, in my youth, would most likely have been described as a "filthy, degenerate, hippy pig" to the one advanced by the fellow stomping on the flag.

Quite frankly, "the flag" didn't do anything to the fellow stomping on it - the fellow stomping on the flag (and all those like him who refused to stand up for their rights (or allowed themselves to be bought off with "entitlements") did it to themselves.

"Desegregation" didn't have to wait until the 1960s - but it did because of two factors [1] the existing political power structure didn't see any value in "black votes" and [2] the "black community" - by and large - acquiesced to both de jure and de facto segregation and racial discrimination.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 13 at 2015 2:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:01:10 -0400

He took a huge risk, but he stood up for what he believed to be true about our flag.

Response by MSgt Eric Roseberry made Aug 13 at 2015 9:41 PM

MSgt Eric Roseberry — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 21:41:58 -0400

Absolutely everyone in the United States Air Force has one purpose and one purpose only. Putting bombs on target. We are members of the Profession of Arms. Attacking the right target at the right time with the right amount of force for the right reason in the most efficient manner possible that requires an enterprise mentality. Soldiers and Marines absolutely do have a role in combat arms not played by many airman. Seaman... Hey 70% of the planet + everything within a couple hundred miles. Focus on the mission, let leadership work on post service employment.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 2:08 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 02:08:44 -0400

I wouldn't have done a thing. If it's a crime it's up to law enforcement to solve that problem. We have something called rule of law in the U.S. Right wrong or indifferent it's our way of life, and we are here to protect it. I take it back, I would have done something. I would have said you're welcome as I walked by. You're welcome for the freedom my brothers, sisters, and I have provided for you to express yourself so freely.

Response by MSgt Brian Welch made Aug 14 at 2015 10:03 AM

MSgt Brian Welch — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:03:50 -0400

He did the right thing to speak up. It was heated but without violence. I've said many times, I may not agree with the abuse of the flag but I did swear to uphold freedom. That includes even the freedom to act like an ass. So, as long as the Vet doesn't beat down the protester it's all fair game.