Passengers Refuse to Give Up Seats for the Family of a Soldier Who Gave His Life

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You know all those wonderful stories of Americans giving up their first class seats for soldiers? Well, here’s a kick in the gut (Hat tip: Thomas Ricks) to a military family, right before Memorial Day:

His name was Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Wilson – although I did not know it when his life brushed mine on March 25 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Lance Cpl. Wilson was not there in the terminal that afternoon; at age 24 and newly married, he had been killed in Afghanistan on March 22 by a roadside bomb. A coincidence of overbooked flights led our lives to intersect for perhaps an hour, one I will never forget.

I did not meet his family that day at the airport, either, although we were there together that evening at the gate, among the crowd hoping to board the oversold flight. I did not know that I had a boarding pass and they did not. I did not know they were trying to get home to hold his funeral, having journeyed to Dover, Del., to meet his casket upon its arrival from Afghanistan.

I also did not know that they already had been stuck for most of the day in another airport because of other oversold flights. But I did not need to know this to realize what they were going through as the event unfolded and to understand the larger cause for it. No matter how we as a nation have relearned the lesson forgotten during Vietnam – that our military men and women and their families deserve all the support we can give them – despite our nation’s fighting two wars in this decade, it is all too easy for most of us to live our lives without having the very great human cost of those wars ever intrude.

But it did intrude heartbreakingly that day at the airport gate. It began simply enough, with the usual call for volunteers: Anyone willing to take a later flight would receive a $500 flight voucher. Then came the announcement none of us was prepared to hear. There was, the airline representative said, a family on their way home from meeting their son’s body as it returned from Afghanistan, and they needed seats on the flight. And there they were, standing beside her, looking at us, waiting to see what we would decide. It wasn’t a hard decision for me; my plans were easily adjusted. I volunteered, as did two women whom I later learned sacrificed important personal plans.

But we three were not enough: Six were needed. So we stood there watching the family – dignified and mute, weighed with grief and fatigue – as the airline representative repeatedly called for assistance for this dead soldier’s family. No one else stepped forward. The calls for volunteers may have lasted only 20 or 30 minutes, but it seemed hours. It was almost unbearable to watch, yet to look away was to see the more than 100 other witnesses to this tragedy who were not moved to help. Then it did become unbearable when, in a voice laced with desperation and tears, the airline representative pleaded, “This young man gave his life for our country, can’t any of you give your seats so his family can get home?” Those words hung in the air. Finally, enough volunteers stepped forward.

I had trouble sleeping that night; I could not get out of my mind the image of the family or the voice pleading for them.When I met my fellow volunteers the next morning at the airport, I found I was not alone. One had gone home and cried, and another had awakened at 3 a.m.; all of us were angry and ashamed that our fellow passengers had not rushed to aid this soldier’s family and consequently had forced them to be on public display in their grief. We worried that this indifference to their son’s sacrifice added to their sorrow.

It turned out my destination was his hometown, so I was able to learn his name and more. I learned he had been a talented graffiti artist and had married his sweetheart, Hannah, the day before he deployed to Afghanistan. They planned a big wedding with family and friends for after he returned home. I learned how proud he was to become a Marine in January 2009. I learned that he and his fellow Marines liked to give the candy they received from home to Afghan children. In sum, I learned that he was the kind of honorable, patriotic young person we want defending our country and how great our loss is that he had to give his life in doing so.

I posted a message to his family on the online condolence book. I told them I was sorry for what they went through in trying to see their son’s body home, but because of it, many more people were going to have heard of Justin and his dedication to his country: I was going to tell everyone I knew about what I had witnessed and tell them his name. And I have.

I thought that was enough, until I received a thank-you note from Lance Cpl. Wilson’s father-in-law.It was a completely humbling experience; he wrote that he was glad I had been able to learn about Justin, and he wanted me to know that Justin “served knowing the risks, but felt it was his obligation and privilege to serve his country.” At that moment, I realized that in this day of an all-volunteer military and a distant war that touches so few of our lives directly, more people should hear the story of Lance Cpl. Wilson and his family.

I’ve thought a lot about what happened that day in the airport, and I choose to believe my fellow passengers were not unfeeling in the face of a soldier’s death and a family’s tragedy. They were just caught off guard – they were totally unprepared to confront the fierce consequences of the war in Afghanistan on their way to Palm Beach on a sunny afternoon.And I believe it was for this reason that people did not rush to the podium to volunteer their seats. It was not that they did not want to, and it was not that they did not think it was the right thing to do. Rather, it was because they were busy trying to assimilate this unexpected confrontation with the irrevocable cost of war and to figure out how to fit doing the right thing into their plans – to fit it into their lives not previously touched by this war. In the end, enough of us figured out how to do the right thing, and it turned out as well as such a painful situation could.

But still I wonder: Barring some momentous personal event that necessitated a seat on that flight, how could any of us even have hesitated? How could we have stopped to weigh any inconvenience to our plans against the sacrifice Lance Cpl. Wilson and his family had made for our country? In such circumstances, it is not a question of recognizing the right thing to do; we should know it is the only thing to do.

From what I have learned of him, in his short life, Lance Cpl. Wilson created a legacy of courage and patriotism that will not be forgotten by those who knew him. I hope there’s a greater legacy as well. I hope through this account of his family’s struggle to see him home, if ever again the war intrudes unbidden on my life or yours, we will know what we must do, and in their honor, and for all those who serve and sacrifice, we will do it.

In Honor of Lcpl. Justin Wilson, a Fallen Marine Hero

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Semper Fi, Lcpl. Wilson. R.I.P.

Perhaps it is time that the airlines institute a policy of automatically bumping passengers to accommodate the bereaved families of our military KIA.

👿 👿 👿 👿 👿

America is becoming a nation of JERKS! Thank God there were 3 people with seats on that plane who still understand what our military men and women are worth. It has been said before, but here it is again:

If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

Semper Fi, Lcpl. Wilson. R.I.P. God bless your family.

My son is currently serving in Afghanistan. He, like most of our military, do what he does because of his commitment to our country. It is a personal thing to him. He, nor I, expect others to understand what we feel about our country and the extent of our commitment. I would have felt that I had inconvenienced the passengers who had to be cajoled to give up their seats. I would have known there was no hurry any more.

I am sure that Justin would not have expected special treatment for his family. Our military members do not expect special treatment for what they do or have done. Many are embarrassed by special treatment. We do it because of a higher sense of duty than most people. If everyone exhibited a high sense of duty, would it be special?

Thanks for standing up for a soldier. It’s a sad commentary when people neither have the heart nor understanding when presented with this type of decision. And yes, I’m sure that some really couldn’t make that judgment because of logistics in their particular situation. But I am also sure that many people just turned a deaf ear and couldn’t be bothered. I am saddened and truly ashamed, for freedom is certainly not free and most people in America, have no idea of the cost. So much for education, huh? And yes, our military is fighting the war while most of America is at the mall.

“War is a Racket”, Maj General Smedley Darlington Butler, as aptly stated in 1933, MARINES DIE for the elitist, power seekers and the self centered who in their greed attempt to enhance their selfishness and their control. MARINES are Unique; past, present and future, for what ever the call, WE believe in GOD, Country, Corps, and Family. Only MARINES will turn the cheek, returned to WAR for that is OUR DUTY for GOD, Country, Liberty and The Corps. L/Cpl Wilson gave the ultimate price so others can enjoy their serfdom, selfishness, and power. …… Semper Fi, L/Cpl Wilson, where ever you are, once, always and forever A fellow Marine, God Bless YOU, Your Family, Praise the Lord, you now fight with St. Michael and Marines of History; ~ “Loyalty above all else Except Honor to the Corps” ~ Drew Malone; Raines III USMC 1967-1977

@Granny, that would seem to be a Policy change that makes sense and shows respect and dignity to both Our Fallen and their Families. It has been my opinion that the Military should pick up the tab for that type of travel for many years. They pay for Pelosi to fly in a Military A/C with catered gourmet meals, free high dollar booze, her Family Members and other Freeloaders. Why not show some Honor and Class for Our Heroes and their Bereaved?

If Obama can fly in Chefs, buzz NYC with a fighter escort and scare the hell out of folks, travel to Stockholm with an entourage that would make Foreign Royalty blush, then Family Members taking their Sons or Daughters on that last trip to the house deserve that degree of respect. 👿

I like your suggestion!

My first impulse is to agree with you, Granny. But then I think that maybe it’s good that people are sometimes put on the spot and forced to make a choice. It sounds like there were a few who had to do some thinking before they finally figured out what kind of human beings they wanted to be. Maybe that moment was an important test.

I guess I’m really not sure which is best. Bereaved families of those KIA clearly deserve every possible consideration.

Randy Fitz, you are wrong. Your son deserves every scrap of special treatment that we can give him, because he has promised to give his life for us and our way of life. And until very recently, the military DID get special treatment. During WWII if you were not military or a military dependent traveling with a service member you might never get a seat on a train. My Dad used to tell of sneaking his brother’s wife down to Pensacola by pretending that she was his wife because that was the only way they could get her there. And when my ex found himself suddenly jerked off the transport to Vietnam and presented with orders for Germany and a two week pass, he got bumped to the very head of the line for a seat home from the Left Coast.

What these people did not deserve was to have to stand there as someone begged and pleaded for seats. How very devastating. Those seats should have simply been provided by bumping passengers off the list, no questions. Airlines bump people all the time. Lance Corporal Justin Wilson’s family should never have been embarrassed in this manner.

Broke my heart to read that anyone even hestitated. I am thankful that there were some Americans to be proud of and I’m talking about the three that immediately came forward. The other three had to be shamed into doing the right thing.

Lcpl. Wilson is I’m sure being given the honor due him as a warrior for right. “No greater love …”

Semper Fi, Marine. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Posted on his FB page, words are never enough.

Let’s see… individuals from DC travelling to Palm Beach… Tea Party types, right? Right??

Grrrr!!! 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿

The passengers should have been given one chance to do the right thing and voluntarily give up their seats. Then the airline should have bumped the self-centered jerks. What does it say about our country everyone of those passengers weren’t anxious/honored to give up their seats? It’s called common decency.

As a Marine Mom, these kind of stories eat me up inside. Dear Lord…. what is wrong with the people living in this country?????

My heart breaks for this family, and for all of the families that have lost loved ones fighting for freedom. If Americans don’t stand up for freedom, and for our soldiers, where will be? Each and every one on that flight should have offered their seat. But there are so many selfish Americans in our country so this story is not at all surprising.

Rest in peace Lance Corporal Justin Wilson. Thank you for your sacrifice. You will not be forgotten.

Harsh as it sounds, I think that those who did not respond were speaking out, saying that they do not support the foreign wars that our government has gotten us into.

This is a very hard way to make such a statement. It puts this bereaved family right in the middle, bearing the full burden of the message, which is perfectly horrible.

But I think that many, many Americans simply do not see the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq as their wars. These are wars that the Washington elites have carried us into, but they do not represent the thinking of many in small town America who simply do not see them as part of protecting America. I think that it troubles many of them to see their sons and daughters go off to fight in those wars, but they do not try to stand in the way. They just don’t see it as their war.

I am afraid that this is what was happening in the airport that day. We are not a united country any longer. Our government does not do the bidding of the people, but rather it does what it wants to do, and tries to pretend that the people support what it does. When the people do not support it, then we get situations like this one.

Dear Marine Mom in Arizona – My generation fought in Vietnam. I could tell you stories that would make your hair curl, believe me. For every one of those stories, though, I can tell you a modern one. These days I live in Vermont. One thing most people don’t know about Vermont is that our Green Mountain Boys (some are girls these days) still exist and they have been on constant active duty since immediately after 911. When my husband went to war there was no sendoff, no calling cards, and definitely not a star to hang in my window. Vermonters these days make sure that is not the case for our men and women today. Every unit that ships out has a huge send off. Every family is given a service star banner. A couple of years ago several hundred of our people were called up to ship out to Iraq just a couple of weeks before Christmas. Local businesses and one of the bus companies took the families of every one of those men & women to the base down south where they were preparing to ship out. Some of us who watched eggs and worse thrown at our friends 40+ years ago don’t intend to let that happen again.

Must have been a lot of progressives at the airport that day. Pisses me off both as an American and as a retired Vietnam vet. Wordsmith you and the other two ladies done good.

Dr.D,
You are actually trying to make the case that NONE of the other passengers support the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan? I find that very unlikely, but even if you are correct why punish military family members?
This is a simple case of boorish, selfish behavior by infantile “Americans” who, very apparently, always think only of themselves.

Makes me feel like crying. I would have given up my seat, but would have had to make several changes first. It would have cost me money to give it up, but sometimes you just do stuff for other people.

I am also saddened by the selfishness I see everywhere.

I wonder how many of the other passengers on that flight even stopped to think.

What goes around comes around and someday when they need a hand, maybe one of us will step up and help them. Maybe then they’ll learn that generosity does not come as gifts from the government, but out of the pockets of friends and strangers.

A lot of people are undeserving of the sacrifices our service men and women are making. The three who had to be shamed into doing the right thing spring immediately to mind. And no, I don’t care what their reason was.

Semper Fidelis, L/Cpl Wilson, a good man from a good family. There’s a lot of good Marines there where you are, I knew some of them.

The amount of selfishness in our society is astounding at times. For all the grief conservatives get for espousing the virtues of the nuclear family unit, this type of thing is the outcome when the family unit breaks down.

R.I.P. & Semper Fi, Lcpl. Wilson

I agree with Granny. Its time that our Airlines put these people on the flight and bump the other passengers. I would proudly give up my seat for the Family of a fallen soldier. I hope those who where on that flight felt guilty and shameful.

We are a better nation than that !

RIP !

@ Randy

My Son is there as well. 1st Marines, 11th Battalion at Firebase Fiddler’s Green.

Semper Dad

WORDSMITH: thank you,hope it will never happen again, the responsible of that flight, should have done it themself from the beginning, without hesitation. my regrets to the family for having lived that embarassment. and LCPL. wilson may the LORD take you in his arms, and look over your loved one.

Re Soon to be Ex-ExZonie:

Go to hell. The friend who linked this to me is a “Tea Party type” (who admits to crying about the story). I’m a “Tea Party type” (and prior service).

You (and everyone else here) need to stop making a story about how selfish some idiots are into a political diatribe.

I wholeheartedly agree with Granny about bumping passengers for military families. However, I want to pose the question as to how it would be determined who gets bumped and who doesn’t?

In the case presented in the article, only 6 seats were needed. So how would a rule or policy that bumps and compensates passengers be implemented? How would those who are bumped be chosen?

Just curious.

Thanks for sharing this, Word. Hopefully, this was an anomaly and most Americans do the right thing for our soldiers and their families when called to do so.

That’s a sad, but also, uplifting story.

WTF is wrong with America…

: Easy — they should be bumped depending on the order of their reservations/ticket purchase. The last three to book would be the first three off unless others volunteered.

: You do not mention the name of the airline involved in this story. When my dad passed away unexpectedly three years ago I had to fly from the east coast to Texas to attend the funeral. I contacted American Airlines, provided proof of death, and the airline bumped another passenger to accommodate me. I can’t believe this was not done for the Wilson family. Thank the Lord I did not have to stand in front of an unknown crowd and beg for a seat to honor my father and provide comfort to my mother and sister.

The left/progressives keep telling us “it takes a village.” But “a village” is a faceless monolith. It really takes neighbors — Good Samaritans who pitch in and do the right thing because they know they should. For those of us who are Christians that means heeding Galatians 5:14: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Many of us were taught the Golden Rule years ago along with our ABCs until the “village” kicked the church out of the schoolhouse. The “village” hasn’t been the same since.

RIP Lance Cpl. Wilson. May God bless and protect your family.

@Granny: I thought of that too, but how would they verify it? Too many people would try to take advantage of it. It doesn’t take very many to ruin something for others.

In defense of some of the passengers, it is possible they had important meetings they were trying to get to on time.

I am sure I would have given up my seat, and I hope I would have let them have the $500 voucher from the airline.

Dr D is wrong.

They didn’t step up because it was too much work. This is the vast majority of Americans, who are sheep. They don’t want to be bothered or bother anyone else. Had this been a plane load of WWII generation their would have been plenty of seats offered.

Sacrifice is a learned trait for many. If a person is raised, as the post WWII generation was, that they are the most important people around, they will act accordingly. The sixties generation, the “me first” generation, the “I’m Okay you’re Okay” generation all suffer from the same illness. They do not understand that for a nation to survive its citizens must sacrifice. They are the same people who stand around waiting for the government to come and fix it.

That’s okay. It is a lesson that will be forced on all of us here soon as the system cracks and begins to fail. Some will stand, some will wait, some will crumble.

I can tell you this- had my ex-partner (a former Sgt in the tank corp) been anywhere near this embarrassment he would have made sure the family had seats and then forced a number of extra passengers to give up seats as a penalty for not stepping up. Every left looking, hippie-like metrosexual type would be given the heave-ho. “Give me your ticket and start walking. Don’t make me get the drug dog over here to sniff your luggage for the dope I know you have stashed inside… Start walking you treehugging, Obama voting, eco-freak!”

Then I’d have to listen to him mutter curses under his breath every time he thought of the situation for a month or better.

@Wordsmith: I agree we should all do our part. That is why I said that I know I would have given my seat and that I hoped I would have given the family the $500 voucher from the airline.

I even thought about the story after I made my post. I wish you would have thought to call the local media and tell them the story. Hopefully there was a Fox station close by.

One reason the general public doesn’t think much about the military is the propaganda media. I never read newspapers or listened to the news for several years until Obama told me not to listen to Fox News. I have listened to them ever since.

I have sent the following letter to 25-30 propaganda media and haven’t gotten an answer back yet:

I would like to know why you call the USA a democracy instead of a republic. Is it because you want democrats in office, and if you call it a republic it will remind the public of republicans? If not, will you start calling it a republic from now on?

I suggest all conservatives ask their local propaganda media the same question or one similar and see if you get an answer back. Go the next step further and ask the national propaganda media like I did and see if they answer you.

@Granny: You are right. I wonder if any of the non-participating passengers had trouble sleeping that night or since?

I am sick and embarressed that ANY american would not have rushed to give their seats to this family, who forever will mourn the loss of their beloved, a family member who made the ultimate sacrifice , for you and me. This is a sad day and time for America, to what low will we stoop. Our Illustrious Congress can pass laws,bills and Heavens knows what else and live like elites at the taxpayers expense. Granny posted the perfect example It should be LAW that our fallen Heroe’s and their Families should be taken to wherever theyneed be to meet there loved ones and transport them home.May God Bless Our Military,and their families Thank you for all you do

This story hit me with an unexpected avalanche of tears. I just do not know what to say; I am so ashamed of my fellow countrymen and women.

It made me cry to think that not enough people volunteered to help out this family. It is shameful that they considered their plans more important than helping out this Marine’s family in their moment of grief. They would not be able to have plans without this young man’s sacrifice and that of his family. God bless them and may God forgive those selfish individuals who did not volunteer.

As an added note – for those of you with airline miles, you can consider giving them to Fisher House in the Hero Miles program: http://www.fisherhouse.org/

I’ll give up my seat and miles.

In the case presented in the article, only 6 seats were needed. So how would a rule or policy that bumps and compensates passengers be implemented? How would those who are bumped be chosen?

Just curious.

Seat bingo. “Row C, Seat 6′, please come to the check-in counter. You are bumped.”

Wordsmith – Misread the story. Am sure you would have behaved like Ms. Getz had you been in the same situation. Ms. Getz is a great American for stepping forward at the time.

Let this be a lesson to all of us.
Thank the Military at every oppotunity that presents itself
Thank the families of all Military personnel, they suffer also.
ALWAYS be willing to give and help especially when it inconveniences us.Dying is a great inconvenience for them, and never comes at the best time for the families.
Bearing this in mind regardless of your political bent, will serve our Nation well,as Americans we have a responsibility to do just that

I hardly know what to say! But I do admire the people who gave up their seats and thank you from a greatful American. And to the family; my heart breaks along with yours! I am deeply sorry for your loss; God Bless him and keep him at rest and peace.

The West Point creed of Duty, Honor, Country, holds true for every military member who serves, no excuses, no apologies.

@libertyandvirtue.com: It’s because of Marines like Lance Cpl. Justin Wilson and many others in all of the services that went “Over There” to fight OUR battles that we have a CHOICE do give up seats or not. In a lot of other countries you wouldn’t have a choice if someone in the government wanted your seat. Thank you Justin for doing your part in letting some of us be jerks without punishment.

Dear Smorgasborg
In a true patriots mind it would never been a choice, It would be considered a duty. While I understand that they fought died and were injured to give us an American way of life, in my mind chioice would never have entered the picture, just as they served and considered it a duty, I would have given my all for them. Maybe I think differently because America allowed me to enter her homeland and allowed me citizenship, nothing is too good to retrn to my adoptive land
Thank you America