Pittsburgh hostage taker has “military background”
The Associated Press reports on this hostage taking guy in Pittsburgh and they start the article with the nebulous fact that he has a “military background”. No explanation as to the background at all, just the factoid all by itself. He could have grown up by a recruiting station for all we know.
He was also arrested for robbery a few months ago, but it’s more important to lead the story with this “military background” crap because it explains the whole thing so well.
[Klein Michael Thaxton] has a criminal record that includes a guilty plea to robbery earlier this year and a minimum six-month jail sentence.
But let’s get the military thing out front, shall we?
Thanks to Twist and Chief Tango for the link.
Category: Veterans Issues
1, 2, 3…..PTSD
RangerUp was posting this earlier, someone said he was in, but never deployed anywhere…
He probably has a public school background too. Did the AP mention that? He is or was probably employed. Did the story also say, for instance, that he has a retail or construction background? There are stories that one can conjure in which a military specialty is relevant to the crime perpetrated. But it is unabashed tomfoolery to include one’s possible military service in a story that has nothing whatsoever to do with that service. But it is stock in trade for the modern journalist.
You mean it is not likely that he had a MOS in hostage taking?
I’ve been poking around and NOTHING I’ve seen or heard gave any hint as to his “military background”. Was he Force Recon? How about a Green Beret? Maybe he was the feared Supply Clerk from the Pa ARNG. Did he do a full tour or did he wash out in book camp? 2-17 AirCav’s right. Unless the hostage served with the taker and maybe there was ome bad blood there, taker’ military background has nothing to do with it!
[…] on that “hostage taker” September 21st, 2012 Earlier today, I mentioned Klein Michael Thaxton who took a hostage in Pittsburgh today. At the time i was […]