CHATTANOOGA TERROR ATTACK

[scott19677]

Four Marines and one Sailor were gunned down less than a mile from my house here in TN. I have restrained from making any comments due to an anger I have never felt since 9/11. But it seems that all the news media can do is to try to reason why the shooter did this. So far I've heard he was depressed, he was about to go broke, he lost his job due to failed drug test, he abused drugs and other BS. Is it not clear, am I the only one who sees what is going on? These animals only want to kill us. Period.

His father has been investigated twice by the FBI for funding terrorism. His father still holds his job with the City of Chattanooga. ? His family had recently sent him to Jordan to get help for his "depression". His uncle was just arrested for unclear but related reasons in Jordan the day after. But yet this **** is still not called a terrorist. WTF! If I remember correctly there have been at least 4 or 5 shootings at recruitment centers, the Navy yard shooting, lets not forget the "workplace violence" massacre at Fort Hood. And then just today the POTUS was shamed into agreeing to lower the flag on the White House. Yet the investigation still centers on his mental status and even worse who had the handgun at the site of the shootings that did not belong to the terrorist.

See, the military personnel at these places are forbidden to carry weapons. It is suspected that the handgun found at the site belonged to one of the deceased Marines that he had stowed on his person unlawfully and when under fire he returned fire and wounded the shooter before being killed and then allowing a CPD officer to kill the shooter. Just imagine how much worse this could have been had the Marine not have had a means to try and defend himself. To me the CPD officer is a hero yet you will not hear any news media call him as such. NO it seems to be open season on police officers. When a police officer is murdered people cheer in the streets.? Yet when an officer drops one of these assholes the Justice Dept. swarms in like a tick on Dracula trying every trick in the law to convict them. Is it me or has this country lost it's damn mind? We need to clearly give our service men and police some clear domestic rules of engagement. Unleash the hounds overseas and domestically. We all know what happens to sitting ducks. Arm our service men on their bases and recruitment centers and let the police do their job. Anyway sorry for the rant. But please pray for the families of our soldiers, sailors and cops. If you can please do what you can to help the families of the fallen. I will leave it to you to find a legit site to send any support even a letter or a kind word. I have personally looked a few of these family members in the eyes and they are hurting.

 

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Scott Smith

Navy Petty Officer Randall Scott Smith, 26, of Paulding, Ohio, joined the Navy in 2010 and served as a logistics specialist. He died surrounded by family members two days after the shooting.

“It's hard to understand how somebody can hurt somebody that is serving for you, for your freedom, for your safety,” Smith's mother, Paula Proxmire, told News Channel 15 in Fort Wayne, Ind., after her son was shot.

Darlene Proxmire, Smith's step-grandmother, described him as a standout baseball player who received a scholarship to play in college. He had not been deployed oversees, she said. Family members said he was married with three daughters.

“He was a very good young man,” she said. “He loved the Navy.”

Tania Daugherty, Smith's second cousin, said he lived in Ohio before entering the service, and was transferred to Chattanooga recently after reenlisting.

In an interview with the local TV station, Darlene Proxmire noted that such attacks could happen anywhere.

“You think, 'Oh, that's not gonna happen' to your family — but by God, it can,” she said.

In a statement made on Twitter, Ohio's Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, offered his condolences. “Ohio has lost another hero,” he said.

According to the Navy, Smith was a surface warfare specialist, and had received the Navy “E” Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.

—Natalie Schachar

Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist

Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, 25, joined the Marine Corps in 2009. He served in the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Tennessee and had been on two tours during 2013 and 2014 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

He specialized in automotive maintenance and had received multiple awards from the Marine Corps, including the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

On Facebook, Tyler Larsen, a friend, mourned his death.

“RIP Carson Holmquist,” he wrote. “I was looking forward to grabbing drinks when you got out here.”

Instead, Larsen said that he would have a drink in Holmquist's honor.

Holmquist was seen in dozens of photos surrounded by family and friends. His family has requested privacy.

——————

For the Record

July 18, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: An earlier version of this report incorrectly said Holmquist served in Iraq. He served in Afghanistan.

——————

—Natalie Schachar

Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt

Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt, 35, originally from Arkansas, joined the Marine Corps in 2004 in Burke, N.C. He was on active duty as part of the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Tennessee. Wyatt, who specialized in field artillery, had served three tours of duty, one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.

Wyatt's father, Allen Wyatt, praised his son as a good husband and father of two who enjoyed coaching his daughter's soccer team. In his youth, Wyatt had earned the rank of Eagle Scout and had hiked the trails of the Philmont Scout reservation. Both father and son ran the Marine Corps marathon together. Wyatt attended the University of Montana in Missoula, his father said.

On Facebook, Wyatt's wife, Lorri, posted a picture of her husband, in uniform, with their two children. Mourners posted their condolences. “He was such a great husband and father,” read one Facebook post. “I'm so so sorry for you Lorri, I am ALWAYS here for you.”

On Thursday, many of Wyatt's fellow Marines had changed their Facebook profiles to a picture of a black service ribbon imposed on the Marine Corps seal.

—Natalie Schachar

Lance Cpl. Squire K. 'Skip' Wells

Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, 21, a native of Georgia, joined the Marine Corps on Feb. 10, 2014, following in the footsteps of other family members with military backgrounds. Wells was on active duty as part of the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Tennessee and served as a field artillery cannoneer.

Known by family and friends as Skip, he attended Sprayberry High School and Georgia Southern University, school officials confirmed. He had planned on studying history in college, but left before receiving his degree in order to enlist, according to Andy Kingery, a family friend.

“I think he felt he was destined to be a Marine all along,” Kingery said.

In a statement, the university mourned his death.

“The entire Georgia Southern University community is saddened by the news that former student and Marine, Skip Wells, was killed yesterday in the Chattanooga tragedy along with three fellow Marines,” officials said.

Kingery said that Skip was awaiting deployment. Thursday was his first day of a voluntary two-week assignment at the U.S. Naval Reserve on Amnicola Highway.

“He was an outgoing kid, the kind of kid that you’d wanna hang around,” said Kingery. “He was very enthusiastic about everything he did.”

Friends described Wells as upbeat and patriotic, and said that he was active in Georgia Southern University’s Humans vs. Zombies group, which is a tag-like game played with socks and dart-blasters. “He was a great person and great American,” said Alex Morris, who attends Georgia Southern University.

Kingery also said that Wells had been in his high school marching band and the ROTC before joining the Marines. He was an only child, and a devoted son and grandson who always looked for opportunities to help, Kingery said.

— Christine Mai-Duc and Natalie Schachar

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, 40, a native of Springfield, Mass., served in the Marines for almost two decades. He was a member of the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Tennessee, specializing as a field artillery cannoneer. He was deployed twice to Iraq and also served in the Western Pacific, a Navy statement said.

A post on the Facebook page of a local restaurant, owned by Sullivan’s brother, Joseph, mourned his death.

“Rest in Peace Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan,” it read. “He was our hero and he will never be forgotten…Thank you Tommy for protecting us.”

Jim Leydon, a Springfield city spokesman, said the Sullivan family is active in the community and often held fundraisers for local schools and other causes. “They've really become ingrained in the city of Springfield,” Leydon said. Leydon said flags at city hall have been lowered to half-staff to honor Sullivan.

In a statement, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno offered his condolences. “This is a tragic loss not just for the Springfield community but for our entire nation. Sergeant Sullivan dedicated his life in brave service to his country and to see it end under such tragic circumstances is heart breaking.”

Sullivan was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, and a Combat Action Ribbon. He had also received the Korean Defense Service Medal, a Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and two Iraq Campaign Medals.

— Christine Mai-Duc and Natalie Schachar

 

[BlackZ71Silverado]

The saddest thing about this, as a country, our so-called leader will not call this what it is, terror attack. It took how many days for the administration to make a decision to lower our flags. I guess the great one has had arm twisting so now our service members who lost their lives to a terrorist on an unarmed military post can be honored.

 

It's time for each and every one of our service members to be armed while on post, there is no excuse to keep leaving them unarmed and helpless on active duty military post...............God Bless.

[ron mexico75]

Four Marines and one Sailor were gunned down less than a mile from my house here in TN. I have restrained from making any comments due to an anger I have never felt since 9/11. But it seems that all the news media can do is to try to reason why the shooter did this. So far I've heard he was depressed, he was about to go broke, he lost his job due to failed drug test, he abused drugs and other BS. Is it not clear, am I the only one who sees what is going on? These animals only want to kill us. Period.

His father has been investigated twice by the FBI for funding terrorism. His father still holds his job with the City of Chattanooga. ? His family had recently sent him to Jordan to get help for his "depression". His uncle was just arrested for unclear but related reasons in Jordan the day after. But yet this **** is still not called a terrorist. WTF! If I remember correctly there have been at least 4 or 5 shootings at recruitment centers, the Navy yard shooting, lets not forget the "workplace violence" massacre at Fort Hood. And then just today the POTUS was shamed into agreeing to lower the flag on the White House. Yet the investigation still centers on his mental status and even worse who had the handgun at the site of the shootings that did not belong to the terrorist.

See, the military personnel at these places are forbidden to carry weapons. It is suspected that the handgun found at the site belonged to one of the deceased Marines that he had stowed on his person unlawfully and when under fire he returned fire and wounded the shooter before being killed and then allowing a CPD officer to kill the shooter. Just imagine how much worse this could have been had the Marine not have had a means to try and defend himself. To me the CPD officer is a hero yet you will not hear any news media call him as such. NO it seems to be open season on police officers. When a police officer is murdered people cheer in the streets.? Yet when an officer drops one of these assholes the Justice Dept. swarms in like a tick on Dracula trying every trick in the law to convict them. Is it me or has this country lost it's damn mind? We need to clearly give our service men and police some clear domestic rules of engagement. Unleash the hounds overseas and domestically. We all know what happens to sitting ducks. Arm our service men on their bases and recruitment centers and let the police do their job. Anyway sorry for the rant. But please pray for the families of our soldiers, sailors and cops. If you can please do what you can to help the families of the fallen. I will leave it to you to find a legit site to send any support even a letter or a kind word. I have personally looked a few of these family members in the eyes and they are hurting.

From a former Marine, I couldn't agree more.

[ron mexico75]

I've never liked that SOB in charge king O, but this latest refusal to lower the flag at the White House makes me sick to my stomach and I really can't stand him now.

 

I saw a picture on the news website where the house speaker lower the flag to half staff at the capital while the one at the White House was still flying high. I think the only reason he lowered it was due to public pressure. He's a sorry sack of excrement. Just like him or no one from his administration ever called the family of that girl murdered in San Francisco by the illegal alien that was deported five times.

 

But those thugs families trayvon Martin, Michael Brown etc. got all the well wishes in the world from the great divider.

[SnakeEyeSS]

I've never liked that SOB in charge king O, but this latest refusal to lower the flag at the White House makes me sick to my stomach and I really can't stand him now.

 

I saw a picture on the news website where the house speaker lower the flag to half staff at the capital while the one at the White House was still flying high. I think the only reason he lowered it was due to public pressure. He's a sorry sack of excrement. Just like him or no one from his administration ever called the family of that girl murdered in San Francisco by the illegal alien that was deported five times.

 

But those thugs families trayvon Martin, Michael Brown etc. got all the well wishes in the world from the great divider.

Yeah, remember, white house ordered the flag lowered when that former KKK high ranking official died. The irony of that still gets to me.

 

I leave you all with a quote from a very intelligent president, its on congress, but still applies to the president also:

 

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption."

---James Garfield

 

Remember, he won an election. Two, actually. Blame Americans for his actions. He can't do squat if he isn't in office. He was very honest about what kind of President he would be. "Change". All the signs were there. Thats what the people voted for. Thats what the people get.

[RyanbabZ71]

The saddest thing about this, as a country, our so-called leader will not call this what it is, terror attack. It took how many days for the administration to make a decision to lower our flags. I guess the great one has had arm twisting so now our service members who lost their lives to a terrorist on an unarmed military post can be honored.

 

It's time for each and every one of our service members to be armed while on post, there is no excuse to keep leaving them unarmed and helpless on active duty military post...............God Bless.

 

[jonsnow]

This Government is failing to protect its citizens on so many levels is sickening,and borderline treasonist. They let people who are here illegally, steal,rape and kill Americans. They let animals loot and destroy our cities all the while making excuses for them. They let terrorists kill us and all the while trying to find other reasons to explain their actions beside what it is, RADICAL MUSLIM TERRORIST.

Frankly the whole situation turns my stomach and makes me fearful for the future of the country I love.

[Atlas]

Does everyone understand why recruiters aren't allowed to carry weapons?

 

Do you all know why the flag at the White House wasn't lowered the day of, or following, the shooting?

 

Are we all clear that this is the United States of America, where crimes are actually investigated, there is due process, and the justice system can't make assumptions or simply press charges against someone because of the affiliations of one's father, or their uncle, or what you generally think about them as a person?

 

I feel so awful for the fallen and their surviving friends/family, but this blithering about Obama is absolute bullshit and it plays like the same old crappy broken record of horrible music, every time. If you want to be part of a country that persecutes and executes people based on incomplete information or because of whatever cause feels good at the time, then I suggest you find your home in the Middle East.

[ron mexico75]

Does everyone understand why recruiters aren't allowed to carry weapons?

 

Do you all know why the flag at the White House wasn't lowered the day of, or following, the shooting?

 

Are we all clear that this is the United States of America, where crimes are actually investigated, there is due process, and the justice system can't make assumptions or simply press charges against someone because of the affiliations of one's father, or their uncle, or what you generally think about them as a person?

 

I feel so awful for the fallen and their surviving friends/family, but this blithering about Obama is absolute bullshit and it plays like the same old crappy broken record of horrible music, every time. If you want to be part of a country that persecutes and executes people based on incomplete information or because of whatever cause feels good at the time, then I suggest you find your home in the Middle East.

Please, spare all of us your totally off base rhetoric. But since YOU posed the question, why don't you enlighten us?

 

Do YOU know why flags are ordered to half staff? Obviously not. Due process and investigation has NOTHING to do with it. Do YOU know the POTUS is the one to make the order to lower the flags when HE determines a need. Pretty sure 4 f'n USMarines murdered by a Islamic radical aka terrorist would warrant the lowering of the flag. Regardless of who did it or why.

 

You state we are persecuting based off incomplete info or how we feel? Do yourself a favor and wise up sir. Read the facts that have been reported. That's right, facts. Look what this guy googled on his computer, read about the man that raised him (father) and see if the FBI was ever involved with him.

 

Why do you think the speaker of the house lowered the capitals flag while the socialist king in charge flew it high and proud? Then several days later the pos lowered it. It's called respect and patriotism. Something that Muslim in the rainbow lighted house has no f'n clue about.

 

Look who pops and snaps a salute when the great race divider gets off of Marine One. A U.S. Marine! But that POS had to cave to public pressure and questioning before he lowered the one over the White House. But I guess you need a full fledged federal investigation in order for him to do that right?

 

I am a former Marine and what that POS did was VERY disrespectful.

 

Enlighten yourself

 

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/21/obama-orders-flags-half-staff-5-days-after-chattanooga-attack/30465575/

[Atlas]

1. Recruiters carrying weapons is/has been a legal issue. Read up on the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.

 

2. Deaths classified as line of duty are not always (per policy) observed by lowering the flag. That's not saying the flag shouldn't have been lowered, but there is policy around how the flags at the White House are handled.

 

Edit: By your logic, the flag at the White House probably should have flown at half-mast starting somewhere in 2001 (before then, too, many times, but let's just use it as a point of reference) and, it should probably still be lowered. How many people have we lost in the war over that time period? Are they not deserving somehow?

 

Using Google to query terrorist groups or information or having a father affiliated with terrorists does not mean the shooter is a terrorist.

 

Also, I don't take anything reported as "fact", but I do read a variety of news sources, extreme on both sides, some in the middle or with a slight lean either way, and also outside of America as well.

 

Let's be clear - any respect I have for you is for your service to our country, not your intelligence.

 

Please, spare all of us your totally off base rhetoric. But since YOU posed the question, why don't you enlighten us?

Do YOU know why flags are ordered to half staff? Obviously not. Due process and investigation has NOTHING to do with it. Do YOU know the POTUS is the one to make the order to lower the flags when HE determines a need. Pretty sure 4 f'n USMarines murdered by a Islamic radical aka terrorist would warrant the lowering of the flag. Regardless of who did it or why.

You state we are persecuting based off incomplete info or how we feel? Do yourself a favor and wise up sir. Read the facts that have been reported. That's right, facts. Look what this guy googled on his computer, read about the man that raised him (father) and see if the FBI was ever involved with him.

Why do you think the speaker of the house lowered the capitals flag while the socialist king in charge flew it high and proud? Then several days later the pos lowered it. It's called respect and patriotism. Something that Muslim in the rainbow lighted house has no f'n clue about.

Look who pops and snaps a salute when the great race divider gets off of Marine One. A U.S. Marine! But that POS had to cave to public pressure and questioning before he lowered the one over the White House. But I guess you need a full fledged federal investigation in order for him to do that right?

I am a former Marine and what that POS did was VERY disrespectful.

Enlighten yourself

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/21/obama-orders-flags-half-staff-5-days-after-chattanooga-attack/30465575/

[ron mexico75]

1. Recruiters carrying weapons is/has been a legal issue. Read up on the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.

 

2. Deaths classified as line of duty are not always (per policy) observed by lowering the flag. That's not saying the flag shouldn't have been lowered, but there is policy around how the flags at the White House are handled.

 

Edit: By your logic, the flag at the White House probably should have flown at half-mast starting somewhere in 2001 (before then, too, many times, but let's just use it as a point of reference) and, it should probably still be lowered. How many people have we lost in the war over that time period? Are they not deserving somehow?

 

Using Google to query terrorist groups or information or having a father affiliated with terrorists does not mean the shooter is a terrorist.

 

Also, I don't take anything reported as "fact", but I do read a variety of news sources, extreme on both sides, some in the middle or with a slight lean either way, and also outside of America as well.

 

Let's be clear - any respect I have for you is for your service to our country, not your intelligence.

 

Obviously you are an Obama loving liberal there's no reasoning with liberals so I will not post here anymore. I have no respect for you either since that's what you alluded to about me in your post in a passive aggressive way.

 

All you're doing is making excuses for Obama now lowering the flag at the White House. And you're going to go and try to post guidelines as to when it's lowered. He just lowered it donkey chops, you think he followed any guidelines or caved to public pressure because everyone else had there's lowered.

 

I gave you a link to a reputable newspaper, the military times did you even read it? I'm not the only one who's pissed at that socialist scumbag race divider.

[RyanbabZ71]

Everyone take a breath. Please abide by the site rules (no personal attacks)

 

 

Ryan

[Robert.jean1]

Not relevant to police but the most simple answer to our "arm the soldier" question is to allow them to utilize their right to carry concealed legally like the rest of Americans. They do not need someone to guard them as that only further stresses soldiers to fulfill yet another duty when they already have more than enough work to complete during the duty day.

If soldiers were allowed to concealed carry nefarious characters would never know whether the soldier was armed or not but would know he or she could be!

Most soldiers are already CCL holders and are only allowed to carry off installation and out of uniform.

The law signed into effect had its place when signed but these are different times.

[j-ten-ner]

edit...never mind

 

I'm sorry for the victims and their families

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[The Zip]

 

Arm our service men on their bases and recruitment centers and let the police do their job.

 

I have performed antiterrorism officer duties for more than 35 years for senior Department of Defense officials. The writing about recruiters being soft targets has been on the wall for over 900 years (a long time). The answer is not to arm recruiters because you don't want to get into a crossfire with local cops, but the time is long over due to move recruiters on active military installations. Most military installations are closed facilities and if you are not authorized on, you won't get on. Use an Air Force installation for example, the security force members carry long guns and a hand gun with a round chambered and on fire. In most cases they have three times more fire power than the local cops. Recruiters need to wear an ordinary blazer, white shirt and slacks. This may not have saved these service members but they would have an increased survivability rate with a lower profile. I actually think it was a bad move for the Marines to put their recruiters back in uniform and in recruitment centers, The Air Force temporarily moved their recruiters on active Air Force installations. One Air Force base I know of where recruiters moved to has 500 security force members on duty, the local PD has only 50 cops.