Air Force Serviceman Punches 13 yr Old Boy.... Thoughts?

[Alecksander]

Here is the link from New York Times if you want to read the article:

U.S. Airman Is Suspected of Punching Japanese Schoolboy - NYTimes.com

So basically, a soldier was drinking at a bar located at the bottom floor of a building in Okinawa , is hammered, walks upstairs into this Woman's apartment where 2 boys were sleeping, punches one of them in the face and kicks in a TV... then falls from a third story window. Sounds like a comedy movie about fraternities.

Of course I don't think the whole story is being told. With tensions being so high with the Okinawans protesting American presence on the island and the new Ospreys the military brought in, more than likely they are trying to make this issue bigger than it might actually be.

Sounds fishy, what are your thoughts?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

After 4 years in the Navy.....

watching drunk servicemen do lots of weird things , I would believe it in a minute. It's not just military people though, just look at all the YouTube videos to see what people drunk or on drugs do. When peoples brains are scrambled , it's like they are from another world.

Uncle Frank

 

[Alecksander]

So true Frank! I was in the Navy and I totally understand that servicemen can get stupid, as I've done idiotic things with alcohol in the mix as well. I don't doubt what he did, I just doubt the story that the Okinawan police are telling. There's probably more to it. Either way, no American soldier should punch a kid. It disgraces us the world over.

 

[ewww]

Yeah, the same in russia. There are so many drunken idiots, not only in army. I 100% beleive that story.

Poor kid, I am very sorry to hear about such behaviour from person who suppose to be a defender.

 

[kappa]

I am in Okinawa and military. I know sometimes people do stupid things when drunk but punching a jr high school kid? I hope he was thrown out of that third floor window by the kid or his family. No sympathy here. And good luck with the navy hospital. They may do worse to him through incompetence than a fall from a third floor window ever could.

Yeah, we all know that with the osprey here it is very touchy feely politically and the news will blow anything out of proportion if an American screws up now BUT punching a kid in his own house is pretty screwed up. I am tired of being punished for idiots.

 

[Glenski]

Makes me wonder if he knew the kid's mother, or had had a poor relationship with her/the kid, and took it out on the kid that night. After all, the door was unlocked. Why else would he have chosen that place? Random selection seems too strange, even for a drunk.

 

[Alecksander]

Exactly my thoughts Glenski. What happened to make him do that? Whatever it is, it doesn't excuse his behavior but there's two sides to the coin and only one side is being shown.

 

[Korra]

That is stupid. Plain stupid.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I have to agree that something is missing.

Its possible that he just cold cocked the young man as the press makes it sound. But its also possible that the young man attacked the invader of his home and then got punched. Not that either one helps the serviceman much as he was so wrong from the start, but if a 13 year old attacks you its not odd that you would punch him.

Now I bolded a part of the above in an attempt to avoid having someone come here and accuse me of saying the serviceman is being railroaded and should be set free with apology money in his pocket, cause you know, that sort of silliness has been happening a lot here lately.

In fact, even if the 13 year old punched and got punched in return, then threw that man out the window, I salute him. And the serviceman is to blame for everything that transpired after the break-in regardless. Nothing changes the fact that he broke into the young man's apartment. There is zero need to pretty it up or exaggerate, but that never stopped the press any other day!