Andrew Long’s family seeks recognition
23-year-old private Andrew Long was murdered as he took his last drag off of a cigarette outside of the Army recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas over two years ago. He was murdered because he was a US soldier by Carlos Bledsoe who pleaded guilty to the shooting on Monday. Bledsoe is an admitted jihadist and admitted that he murdered Long and wounded Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula in his own private war against the US military. Now the family wants recognition for their son’s sacrifice in the war against terror. From the Associated Press;
Long’s parents are fighting for formal recognition, namely Purple Hearts, for their son and his wounded comrade, Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula. Before the murder trial of Abdulhakim Muhammad ended abruptly Monday with a plea deal, they sent a hefty report to the Secretary of the Army’s office and The Associated Press, detailing why the soldiers deserve the honor.
They say they are not only seeking acknowledgment of the soldiers’ sacrifices but worry that without any formal recognition of being wounded in the line of duty, Ezeagwula – who still has shrapnel in his body from the shooting – may have to fight for ongoing health care.
Their goal seems nearly impossible. The award is usually reserved for U.S. troops wounded or killed in combat or in an act of international terrorism, and the Army says neither of the soldiers is eligible. While Muhammad called the shooting an act of war against America in retribution for the deaths of Muslims abroad, no federal terrorism charges have been filed against him.
So basically, because this administration isn’t willing to admit that there’s a real terrorist threat in the United States, these soldiers are deprived of the honor of the recognition of their sacrifice. If I’m not mistaken, the military members who were injured and killed in the LaBelle Disco bombing in 1986 were awarded Purple Hearts, how is this much different…other than the fact that Long and Ezeagwula were actually on duty at the time they were shot.
Category: Terror War
If they admit it, then they’d have to pay for it.
The greens at the Army-Navy Club don’t get watered for free, you know.
I wish there was a way to honor these guys without elevating Bledsoe from a murderer…
Well, unless it involves rightwing extremist Vets here at home, then it can’t be classified as terrorism. You should all know that. Didn’t you get the memo???
I know what you are saying OT.
If you read AR 600-8-22, enemy fire counts. Its a conundrum. This guy did in fact see himself as part of a Jihad, but if you do treat him that way, then you have to void his life in prison and send his ass to GITMO
Much like the Feds won’t file federal charges of bank robbery in most cases, letting state charges of armed robbery take precedence, the DoJ saw a cheap way out of this, let Arkansas foot the bill.
So, no terrorism, just a murder and attempted murder, under state law. According to Holder(spit).
Bledsoe traveled to Yemen, met with Anwar Al-Awlaki, and claims he was sent by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. “International terrorism”? Nope, nothing to see here, move right along folks….
I think Purple Hearts should be reserved for those injured on the battlefield, and a separate award should be created for those injured or killed by a$$holes. Kind of like the CAB and the CIB.
I understand the sactity of the Purple Heart and the CIB… but it does not diminish the wounds/lives given at the hands of people like Bledsoe and Hasan. Those men waged war against the US military on US soil… they deserve to be recognized.