A stunningly sad symbol

Rob McAllister (2'nd from Rt.) Color Guard Amherst July 4 Parade 

Amherst native Rob McAllister (5th Core, Team 6, Airborne Long-Range Reconnaissance And Surveillance team. RTLW) is one of those genuine Small-Town heroes who would equally stand tall as a hero in any Big-City in America. After watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11, he joined up at age 30--rather late in life for that kind of a job description where when used as directed you can die a horrible death.

Rob parachuted into Iraq two days after the “Shock and Awe” bombing campaign started in March 2003. He was wounded in an ambush a year later and awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. “His actions on the .50 caliber machine gun saved the lives of his fellow team members and allowed for the medevac of the wounded."

This morning I heard his familiar voice over the drone of a vacuum at the Golden Nozzle Car Wash on the Amherst/Hadley border. I was cleaning the inside of my Van because my wife was going to use it for the first time in a while and Robby was coming in for a car wash.

He said “I’m trying not to let this ruin my day, but obviously somebody resented my license plate and spit on my car.” I simply could not believe it and actually went to the back of his car to check, figuring it must me bird droppings. But sure enough, the rear-window exhibited a large glob of spit and on the side-window (a 90-degree angle away) another large glob.

Now if it were just one impact, I would think it was a mistake and the Nitwit spit in the air and the wind accidentally carried it to window and they were too lazy to clean it off. But two distinct hits at two distinct angles leaves little doubt it was intentional.

Rob McAllister's license plate is also very distinctive: A limited edition Veteran/Purple Heart plate that the state of Massachusetts issues (and does check the paperwork to ensure you are deserving.)

The Bully reported:

Well, it's about time.

So what do you know, Mr. Sanchez understands the concerns of a decorated, legit Iraq war veteran who shed blood for his country.

And what else do you know: the crusty Gazette has been sitting on this story for six weeks.

Would have been a tad more effective if Mr. Sanchez apologized to Rob McAllister in particular and in general the July 4'th Parade Committee. Although I'm glad the Gazette layout editor gave this long overdue mea culpa top billing and relegated Mr. Sanchez's fundraiser this evening on the town common to a less prominent position.

What took them so long?

Calvin's and Hobbes take

Why we fight

The British, under a white flag, surrender at Yorktown.

The Gazette refused to publish the following Letter To The Editor because it was “too negative.”

Subject: Fake Iraq War Vets march in Amherst 4th Parade
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 16:28:24

I am an Iraq war veteran who marched in the 4th of July parade in Amherst. It is my duty to inform the general public that there were people who marched with a group called 'Iraq Veterans Against The War' who were not veterans' of any kind. They portrayed themselves to be yet were not. As a decorated Iraq war vet I found it nauseating. It was despicable tasteless and truly pathetic.

Albert N Sanchez (groups leader): you allowed this. I don't know which non-Infantry, non-Airborne unit you were with in Iraq. But if they knew what kind of improper behavior you have shown marching fake vets for your "Band of Quitters" they would surely like to string you up.

Let me also remind the general public that Mr. Sanchez joined the military of his own free will; as I did after the events of 9/11. If he had a problem ridding the world of terrorists he should have stayed in his cubicle. Not joined the military.

As a former Iraq Airborne LLRP who saw action on a regular basis I must say Mr. Sanchez's actions are totally despicable. And they Do Not represent your United States Military in any way.

Sincerely,

Rob McAllister
5th Core, Team 6, Airborne Long-Range Reconnaissance And Surveillance team. RTLW

Blog Editors Note: John Langford was one of the fake vets Mr. McAllister references. And at age 69 he could hardly pass for “recent veterans and active duty servicemen and women from all branches of military service, National Guard members, and reservists who have served in the United States military since September 11, 2001."

Rob McAllister, an Amherst native, joined this elite branch of the military at age 30, after watching the twin towers fall. He parachuted into Iraq two days after the “Shock and Awe” bombing campaign started in March 2003. Rob was wounded in an ambush a year later and he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. “His actions on the .50 caliber machine gun saved the lives of his fellow team members and allowed for the medevac of the wounded."

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Politics on display at Amherst parade
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Springfield Republican

Indeed, a group of a dozen people from two antiwar groups, Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War, marched with their banner and T-shirts proclaiming their opposition to the Iraq War.

"It's a private parade. If there are rules, we're going to abide by them," said Albert N. Sanchez, an Iraq War veteran.
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Vince O’Connor, forever anti-war protester, goes out of his way at the July 28 Select Board meeting to champion a Umass student who is an “Iraq war veteran” (so why do you just know he opposes that war) who may want to run for X-Czar Awad’s Select Board seat. And in the discussion, Weiss--who posed in town center with an upside down American flag to protest our Iraq policy—Awad and Stein echoed the cause.

The nomination papers with 50 signatures were due the next day unless the Select Board postponed the election until November and obviously this particular unnamed Umass “Iraq war veteran” was far, far from Amherst.

The Select Board voted 3-2 (the new malevolent majority) to postpone the original election date, thus disenfranchising two experienced candidates who had done the work.

Hmmm…