Army Veteran Kicked out of old navy...

[suntea14redolf]

I just hope that an example is made of the employee, impersonating a soldier is not any different than impersonating a police officer, FBI agent, CIA, and the penalties should be the same. civilians will think twice.

[finehoe]

I just hope that an example is made of the employee, impersonating a soldier is not any different than impersonating a police officer, FBI agent, CIA, and the penalties should be the same. civilians will think twice.

Uh, yeah, it's quite different.  I don't think the clerk was trying to fool anybody that he was actually in the military.

[Adam W]

I just hope that an example is made of the employee, impersonating a soldier is not any different than impersonating a police officer, FBI agent, CIA, and the penalties should be the same. civilians will think twice.

Uh, yeah, it's quite different.  I don't think the clerk was trying to fool anybody that he was actually in the military.

Be careful... I don't think he/she will understand and your post might elicit a rambling, creatively-spelled reply.

[Wevy]

Yeah, wearing military dress gear as "fashion" is kinda tacky and rude but for this guy to have been banned or whatever? He must've been making a hell of a scene about it. If he had issue with it, he could have brought it up to the person directly in a respectful manner, not run up to the manager and whine to them.

Now Toby Keith is going to write a song about Old Navy.

Illegal, actually.

[Charles Hunter]

Story's been picked up by HUffington Post on Facebook:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/22/army-veteran-old-navy_n_1618422.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

and includes a mention of MJ:

Others refuse to take Bennett's side, like one writer on the Metro Jacksonville forum: "Wearing military dress gear as "fashion" is kinda tacky and rude but for this guy to have been banned or whatever? He must've been making a hell of a scene about it. If he had issue with it, he could have brought it up to the person directly in a respectful manner, not run up to the manager and whine to them."

[NavyRet]

I'm still not buying any of this until more information is presented. There's NO WAY a guy was banned from a store by the manager, mall security and a deputy from the Clay County Sheriff's office for "pointing out" a uniform discrepancy. 

I'm a 20-year Retired Navy Veteran and still a supporter of Old Navy until I'm given more information from other sources. The news lady who's boyfriend took "45 minutes to put on his military name tag" did not possess the degree of credibility I require to join a movement to put a couple hundred teenagers out of a job.

Tomorrow, I'm wearing my Old Navy t-shirt to work.   neener neener

[Timkin]

Not that it makes it right but is it POSSIBLE, that employee had no idea that wearing these medallions  was a violation of the act of valor law? just plain ignorance?  So.. because this person , unknowing wears these and a Military Vet ,  takes issue with it ( which I do understand) , what ? should the employee be put to death for it or what would be suitable?

There is no way that it could be as simple as an employee wearing these, and a vet taking issue.   Some kind of commotion ensued which led to a deputy and mall security removing the vet.   I would not think especially a deputy would just go against the military code and escort the Vet out of Old Navy. Likewise , I doubt Old Navy would knowingly cause such a scene to as to knowingly hurt their image.  I would think Old Navy would have security camera , which might shed light on the actual events .

As to those of us who supposedly would not take the side of the military, never served and are yellow-bellied, I might point out that through no wrong on the behalf of some of us NOT ALLOWED to serve in the US armed services,  that does not quite constitute your attitude towards nonmilitary .   I don't think ANYONE here (or Old Navy or their employee), KNOWINGLY  disrespected the valor code.   The employee is most certainly aware now, and I doubt would do it again.

This situation would not sway me from purchasing from Old Navy and I personally think it has been blown so incredibly far out of perportion, that it is , quite frankly, pathetic.

[Jaxson]

If I had anyone to blame, I believe that the media deserve to be held responsible for these 'outrage of the day' stories in which they sensationalize an incident before the facts are all gathered for consideration.  By the time cooler heads enter the picture with a rational version of the story that includes the facts, the general public has already moved on to another outrage of the day.  This does a disservice to those who were portrayed in a negative light.  It can be difficult to add new light to these kind of stories once the media have run the narrative into the ground with superficial 'facts' that only serve to inflame public feelings but do little to expose the whole truth.

[Timkin]

If I had anyone to blame, I believe that the media deserve to be held responsible for these 'outrage of the day' stories in which they sensationalize an incident before the facts are all gathered for consideration.  By the time cooler heads enter the picture with a rational version of the story that includes the facts, the general public has already moved on to another outrage of the day.  This does a disservice to those who were portrayed in a negative light.  It can be difficult to add new light to these kind of stories once the media have run the narrative into the ground with superficial 'facts' that only serve to inflame public feelings but do little to expose the whole truth.

^ Agree wholeheartedly.   Also as mentioned before , I think security footage might well shed light on what actually happened.    Old Navy should not have to go belly up over this.  The employee very well could have been unknowing that he/she violated anything by doing this 

It is one thing when something is malicious and intentionally done as disrespect, and I just cannot fathom an Old Navy Employee putting their job on the line by such an act.

I have complete and total respect for any person who ever has or ever does serve in the Military.   But that does not mean I think they should be able to make a huge scene and use internet outlets to tarnish the reputation of a retailer.  They did not get removed simply for pointing this out... No way.

[rjr120]

Ok, I am a bit confused.  I keep reading replies that the guy was banned from the store, however Old Navy, Orange Park Mall, and the Clay County Sherriff (the entities who allegedly banned him) all say that he wasn't.

Also, I understand that wearing a military uniform and honors, AND claiming that you are/were in the military and those honors are yours, is illegal.  HOWEVER, using any part of the military uniform as a fashion is not.  If it were then the military would not continue to unload its surplus of these items, ribbons denoting honors included, to businesses that they know turn around and sell them to the general public.

The store employee WAS NOT claiming to have served in the Marines nor was the employee laying any claim to the honors.  The employee was completely within his (I'm assuming the male gender due to the Marine jacket, however I apologize if I am wrong) rights as a US citizen to dress in whatever fashion he desires.  It is within the Army vet's rights to disagree with that fashion, but NOT within his rights to demand the employee conform to his version of what fashion is.  In fact, the only thing that may have been violated besides the employee's personal freedom would be the Old Navy employee dress code, but I doubt it because it is quite liberal.

There is not enough being said about what actually happened, and until security camera footage can shed some light on the matter, all of this is only hearsay.

Also, before any “silly civilian” comments are thrown my way, I served in the United States Navy.

I rarely inject my opinion in these threads because so many of them turn into “I’m right” “No, you’re wrong, I’m right” arguments without much thought being put into what is actually being said.  This is my take on this particular issue and I will not comment any further and will not respond to comments made about my reply.

[Adam W]

Ok, I am a bit confused.  I keep reading replies that the guy was banned from the store, however Old Navy, Orange Park Mall, and the Clay County Sherriff (the entities who allegedly banned him) all say that he wasn't.

Also, I understand that wearing a military uniform and honors, AND claiming that you are/were in the military and those honors are yours, is illegal.  HOWEVER, using any part of the military uniform as a fashion is not.  If it were then the military would not continue to unload its surplus of these items, ribbons denoting honors included, to businesses that they know turn around and sell them to the general public.

The store employee WAS NOT claiming to have served in the Marines nor was the employee laying any claim to the honors.  The employee was completely within his (I'm assuming the male gender due to the Marine jacket, however I apologize if I am wrong) rights as a US citizen to dress in whatever fashion he desires.  It is within the Army vet's rights to disagree with that fashion, but NOT within his rights to demand the employee conform to his version of what fashion is.  In fact, the only thing that may have been violated besides the employee's personal freedom would be the Old Navy employee dress code, but I doubt it because it is quite liberal.

There is not enough being said about what actually happened, and until security camera footage can shed some light on the matter, all of this is only hearsay.

Also, before any “silly civilian” comments are thrown my way, I served in the United States Navy.

I rarely inject my opinion in these threads because so many of them turn into “I’m right” “No, you’re wrong, I’m right” arguments without much thought being put into what is actually being said.  This is my take on this particular issue and I will not comment any further and will not respond to comments made about my reply.

I'd be willing to bet he threatened the guy who was wearing the jacket. A friend of mine had that happen once. But who knows. It's all so silly, really.

[Timkin]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Army-veteran-kicked-out-of-Old-Navy/-/475880/15185148/-/10nt1v9/-/index.html

RJR.... This story is the origin of the thread. it is from this that it was stated the Vet was removed / banned from  Old Navy.

With regard to your post.  I agree . completely.   Seriously doubt the Old Navy employee wanted /intended to offend anyone , especially a Veteran.

Of course then there is the ensuing post  from another Veteran, essentially siding with the Vet in the story, and for that I take no issue either.

I did take issue with his comments that followed ,which essentially said that everyone should be on the side of the Vet who was removed from the store (to an extent.. I agee)  but then the comments after that , I definitely take issue with.. and those being that those who never served basically are yellow-bellies, etc etc etc.   So in that regard, I do not side with the Poster. 

As the previous poster just said, Most likely there is something about this that was not presented ..like the WHOLE story. and it is ridiculous that either Vet thinks boycotting Old Navy is appropriate, but hey, to each their own.   Would not  make me want to.


The Channel 4 Story states that he WAS banned and was escorted out by Clay County Sheriff's Deputy and Mall Security.   I have not read or heard otherwise.  Not to say it is not true.   IF the story is true, it only makes sense that something ensued other than him asking the employee about the jacket and speaking to a manager. 

[RockStar]

Look, the guy was wearing it as fashion, not impersonating or passing himself off as someone who earned the medals. I think that any reasonable vet would know the difference. Was he in full dress from top to bottom? No. He had a jacket on he got at a thrift store. Probably had a Ramones tshirt on underneath..lol...nobody was going to mistake this kid for a vet/war hero. Besides, most vets/true heroes that I've met are the least likely to flaunt it.

Gimme a break. We've got more important things to worry about, like the fact that we're turning into a country of crybabies.

[Adam W]

Sorry, Ock, but no soldiers have gone to their deaths defending my freedom or anyone's, for that matter. At least not for a over 100 years.

I'm not saying we shouldn't have been involved in WWII, but our involvement had a lot more to do with geopolitics than 'freedom.' The guys killed on the Arizona were 'collateral damage' resulting from American policy towards Japan. Japan didn't attack Pearl Harbor because they wanted to deny Americans their 'freedom,' they attacked Pearl Harbor to knock out the Pacific Fleet so they could continue to rape China and SE Asia.

Again, I'm not saying we didn't do good there in the long run, but we certainly didn't get involved out of a sense of altruism. And most who ran out to enlist did so as a result of sabre rattling on the part of the Gov't.

And, after the war, Americans have continued to give their lives to ensure many around the world don't have any freedom. We've used our military might to thwart democracy and ensure open markets for American goods and military hardware.

You can't complain about 'a war we should never have been in' and then turn around and talk about people taking a bullet to protect my freedom.

America's freedom has never been challenged. And that's not because of the military - it's in spite of the military.

I know they're people who are just doing their jobs, but I don't see the difference between guys getting blown up in Iraq and Soviet soldiers getting blown up in Afghanistan. We cheered Rambo in the cinema, yet fail to see how are actions are no different than the Soviet baddies in the movies. That's sick.

[IamAmerican]

and a conversation about a scuffle in an old navy store matures into conversations about wwII strategery.