Submitted by M My first job in the Army was working with a JAG and I have so many stories, whether sad or funny, but this one, I can’t find a category for it. So, anyways, I was working with the JAG, as his Legal Clerk, and one day this guy dressed in civilian comes in to speak with the JAG, but the lawyer wasn’t in. He presented himself as a former Soldier, PFC So & So, who served gallantry and bravely with XYZ unit during the Panama War. Obviously, I had a dumb look on my face, and asked “Panama War? We didn’t go to war with Panama, it was a conflict to take Dictator Noriega out from power!” Little that he knew that I’m a history buff, and I knew about Operation Just Cause, which was the US Invasion of Panama, because I was in High School when that happened, from late December 1989 to late January 1990. And I remember that former President George H. W. Bush ordered the Invasion. So, this PFC So-So didn’t like my response, so he goes off telling me that it was in fact a declared war that lasted many years and he was in the jungles of Panama fighting against Noriega’s Army. I let him vent for a little while, and then I asked him why he needs to see the JAG. He tells me that he wanted to make a lawsuit against the VA, because they kept denying him VA benefits, like the Vietnam War Vets and all other veterans from past wars. That for a while he was getting some benefits, but later it was taken away from him, and he wanted to have the VA pay for what they did to him. He wanted over 10 million dollar or something like that, for back benefits and pain and suffering that he has gone thru this ordeal. I let him know gently that the current JAG can’t take personal cases to court, because so far, he is by himself and don’t have the time to do this, but at least he can give him some legal advice and recommend him a civilian lawyer that might help him take the VA to court. Well, he didn’t like the response. Right about that time, before he started to really act up, here comes a senior NCO that I knew, looking to speak to me about something. They greeted each other, but I didn’t know they knew each other. So PFC So-So goes on to yelling to me that he didn’t spend years in the jungles of Panama killing Noriega’s soldiers and civilians that got in his way, that he had so many kills, and he is not afraid of killing again if he doesn’t get what he wants. Basically he was threatening me and/or anyone else that would not comply with his wishes. He told me of all of the suicide missions that he went and that he survived to serve another day. That he got many medals for this time served in that war. Well, this crazy guy kind of forgot that a Senior NCO was in the office with us, and he was listening to all of the crazy stuff he was saying, and obviously he had enough. He got off from his chair and poked him on his shoulders. “Hey, guy, why are you saying? What the hell is wrong with you? Do you remember me?” And the PFC said, “I don’t know you, why?” And the Senior NCO replied, “I was in the same unit with you, when we deployed to Panama. I know you, you were that coward that kept crying like a little girl in your tent and in the barracks. You didn’t go to any missions, because you always find a way to not to go. You claimed PTSD. You cried that you didn’t sign up for this and that you wanted to go back home! The conflict lasted for a month or so, and you were out of there sooner than all of us. Your tour of duty in Panama lasted not even 3 weeks, and when you came stateside, you were given a Dishonorable Discharge and you were lucky that they didn’t do a Court Martial on your ass for disobeying orders. So basically what you are telling her is how you go on living, trying to get glory that you don’t deserved! Why don’t you leave, you piece of shit, sorry excuse for been a Soldier? I’m really ashamed that pieces of shit like you even dares to come in to the Armed Forces!” PFC So-So walked out of the office like he had seen the devil himself. Later, after he left the office, Senior NCO told me what really went down in Panama, and that this guy have been trying to place lawsuits against the VA for many years, he had tried to make lawsuits against the very own U.S. Army, because his DD214 was done incorrectly. He had sent letters to Congress to have the conflict changed from been a US Invasion of Panama to Panama War, because no one takes him seriously that he is a veteran of this so called war. Basically the guy had issues, and have been arrested a couple of times, due to the same thing he tried to pull in my office. So far, I’m alive and well. I haven’t seen this guy, since he practically fled from my office, and I still wonder how many people go one with their lives trying to pretend to be something that they are not, and taking away the honor and sacrifices of those who really served bravely and gallantry. Sadly, but there’s people like that in this world!
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 15:01:05 +0000