Roy Exum
I didn’t pay much attention when film producer Michael Moore panned the record-breaking film “American Sniper.” Moore may be a genius on a Hollywood movie set but in the time I have followed his life he comes across as a liberal jerk. I simply chose not to pay any attention those I consider to be fools.
At the far other end of my personal spectrum is the American soldier. After squirming for a full four years when my son was “actively engaged” with a Ranger battalion in Iraq and Afghanistan, I still pay close attention to this nation’s greatest heroes.
So finally my ears perked up when Medal of Honor winner Dakota Meyer posted an angry response to a childish Tweet that Moore sent others of his ilk on Sunday night.
To set the stage, ‘American Sniper’ grossed a record-breaking $90 million last weekend, becoming the best debut ever in the month of January. When the movie’s success was revealed Sunday night, Moore’s Tweet read, “My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse.”
Obviously, the guy was seeking publicity for himself and, seriously, who really cares what he thinks or Tweets? He’s been labeled as “anti-American” for his attacks on large companies, gun control, Presidents Clinton and GW Bush, the health care system, the Iraq war, and on the list goes. He’s also ugly.
Well, you better believe Dakota Meyer cares and, if Moore’s insensitive Tweet bothers Dakota, it sure as heck bothers me, too. On Sept. 8, 2009, near the village of Ganjgal in Iraq, the raw-boned Meyer got word that three fellow Marines and a Navy Corpsman were missing after being ambushed. Meyer, 21 years old at the time, never hesitated.
Dakota commandeered a truck and drove right in the face of enemy fire. He found the bodies of the missing men and moved them to a safer area where they could be extracted. During his search while he was returning enemy fire, his citation reads that Meyer "personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe."
Then there is this other thing about Dakota Meyer. One year after his heroics, he went drinking with a friend and ended up trying to kill himself because of his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thankfully the Glock he carries in his pickup truck was out of bullets and Meyer soon got some help to get straightened out. PTSD is very real and we need to watch guard over our soldiers when they return from combat.
But the best story ever came in September of 2011 when President Obama was calling him to say Meyer would be the second-youngest soldier in the nation’s history to be awarded the honor at the White House. Dakota was working on a construction job and told the White House staffer to call back around lunchtime!
Make no mistake, if an All-American guy like Dakota is mad, we are all mad. So here is Meyer’s response to the zany Moore’s Tweet, taken from the “Scout” website:
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“I’m sure that his grandfather who died serving this country is rolling over in his grave knowing that his grandson is using him to justify him calling U.S. service men cowards. I’d be willing to bet that at some point during his grandfather’s service, he was watched over by U.S. snipers, and probably had his life saved more than once by U.S. snipers during the war.
“I served as a Marine sniper for three years, and I believe the film ‘American Sniper’ depicted what we do perfectly. A sniper’s primary goal is to eliminate ground threats for U.S. guys on the ground. Is that what a coward is? A person whose goal is to save the lives of his warrior brothers?
“No, cowards are people who didn’t have the guts to serve, and are happy to sit back in a free and protected country and call our service members cowards. I find it funny that this Moore guy would only say this after Chris Kyle was killed. I’d have loved to see him say that to Chris’s face.
“Look, I’ve never seen a Michael Moore movie and sure don’t plan to. I’d call on everyone to boycott this idiot’s films. Don’t embrace or support his ignorance.
“What would I do if I owned a Michael Moore DVD? I’d set it up out back and set my cowardly sniper skill on it.”
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Several liberals in Hollywood have joined in Moore’s sentiments but Sarah Palin, a lady from Alaska, gave them a piece of her mind on her Facebook page: “Hollywood leftists: while caressing shiny plastic trophies you exchange among one another while spitting on the graves of freedom fighters who allow you to do what you do, just realize the rest of America knows you're not fit to shine Chris Kyle's combat boots.
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“May the epic "American Sniper" bring nothing but blessings to Taya and the children of this true American hero. Thank you Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood for respecting the United States Military.”
royexum@aol.com