Fw: Attack!!! Straight from the Victim's Mouth

["spencer" <spencer@inu.net>]

Please forgive me for this one!!Mary Ann, TX

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From: Sean <sgt_lanester@mayanet.com.tr>
To: Mary Ann Spencer <spencer@inu.net>
Subject: Fw: Attack!!!  Straight from the Victim's Mouth
Date: Saturday, August 22, 1998 12:58 PM

Mom send this to people you know, let them get the idea of what is going on
over here

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> >
> Subject: FW: Attack!!!  Straight from the Victim's Mouth
> Date: Monday, August 10, 1998 7:24 AM
> 
> 
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From:	Hutchison Andrea AMN 39OSS/OSW 
> >Sent:	Monday, August 10, 1998 6:47 AM
> >To:	Annette Lightle; arneva mason; Craig Beverley; Dwayne Gutierrez;
Kelley
> >Jones; Robert Karnes
> >Subject:	FW: Attack!!!  Straight from the Victim's Mouth
> >Importance:	High
> >
> >
> >
> >----------
> >From: 	Ham Linda R SSgt 39OSS/OSW
> >Sent: 	Monday, August 10, 1998 5:10 AM
> >To: 	Andrea Hutchison; billybob; cassadym@hq.hqusareur.army.mil;
Catherine
> >Sheehe; chief sheridan; dad; danielsja@hotmail.com; Dionne; Donald
Godbey;
> >Freeman, Renee L.; George Traister; IWYS; JACKIE; Janel Heidebrink; John
> >Washington; KEITH; Kenneth Malmquist; Kenneth Rankin; Lashaundrea
Bradford;
> >Lee Jones; linda kiff; Linda Mango; Lynnealea@aol.com; macdaddy; matt
boyd
> >Subject: 	FW: Attack!!!  Straight from the Victim's Mouth
> >Importance: 	High
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From:	Rodriguez Robert SrA 39MDG/SGSAP 
> >Sent:	Sunday, August 02, 1998 8:20 PM
> >To:	Goodrich James MSgt 39MDG/EXEC; Hibbert Angelica Civ 39MDG/SGSL;
Hibbert
> >Benito SrA 39MDG/SGPB
> >Cc:	Lawrence Don Col 39MDG/EXEC; Dornin Ronald Maj 39MDG/EXEC; Lenahan,
> >Kelly; Mack, Gina; Pearcy, Jodi; Pope, Charles; Rodriguez, Robert;
Stanio,
> >Christylou
> >Subject:	Attack!!!
> >Importance:	High
> >
> >Sgt Goodrich, I have sent this letter to you, the pharmacy staff and
other
> >close friends in the hospital.  I have not sent it to the entire
hospital.
> >However, I feel it is important to educate our people on the real danger
out
> >there.  I leave it in your capable hands to determine wheather or not
this
> >message should be forwarded to all hospital personnel and the entire
base.
> >
> >Saturday, August 01, 1998
> >
> >Seven Turkish Nationals attacked me on August 1, 1998.  I completed
grocery
> >shopping at Migros(supermarket) by the Galleria Mall in Adana, Turkey. I
> >walked out of the store with my wife, 3-year-old daughter, Supervisor,
and a
> >Turkish friend.  It was approximately 1500 Hours.  The attack lasted
about
> >3-5 minutes.  During this time, I endured multiple injuries on my head,
body,
> >and mouth.  One of my teeth was fractured.  My head was banged against
the
> >hood of my car.  I was kicked and punched on every part of my body;
> >specifically my head, chest, and shoulder area. 
> >I believe the purpose of the attack was "strike" related.  My job within
the
> >military is medical in nature, these individuals attacked me without
warning
> >assuming that I was the "bad guy".  I feel that by beating on me, these
> >individuals were beating up the United States government, and Management
> >personnel on Incirlik.  I am disappointed, angry, and upset that this
has
> >occurred and I worry about the welfare of my family.  I also worry about
my
> >fellow GI's who have families and small children.  Luckily, these
individuals
> >did not have any weapons.  However, who is to say that the next assault
will
> >not end with the death of military personnel and or a loved one.  I
strongly
> >urge people to take action and send their families away from this place
until
> >the issues are resolved.  The "Neo" should be implemented immediately. 
This
> >incident has gone from a management-employee problem to an International
> >Political level of fear, mixed emotions, destruction and lack of
education.
> >I was trying to help out two good friends and also tried to find
supplies to
> >celebrate my daughter's fourth birthday on August 3, 1998.  Since the
strike,
> >my financial supplies have been depleted.  This attack has emotionally,
> >psychologically, and financially affected my life as well as the life of
my
> >family.  Before the August 1, 1998 payday, my checkbook was negative
(-$413)
> >due to preparation for the strike.  
> >I left my house in good faith to get needed food for my family's
survival.  I
> >followed command's decision to go in groups of people.  However with 4
adults
> >and one child, I was unable to prevent or discourage the attack.  I was
> >unable to get all of the items that we needed because of the small
selection
> >of items at this particular store.  This attack has left negative
impressions
> >of Turkey in my household and my family in the United States.  These
people
> >have declared war on us.  Every time that I see a Turkish person, I am
> >reminded of what happened to me and I want to hate and kill all of them.
 The
> >purpose of this letter is so that you do not blame the entire Turkish
Nation.
> > This violence and vandalism must stop. If we "the Americans"
reciprocate
> >this violence  this may go to death for all.  Just like every nation we
have
> >bad and good.  Do not blame the entire Turkish race.  I went from being
> >Airman of the Quarter for the Medical Support Squadron, Group and Wing
to
> >being demoralized, angry, and filled with hatred toward the whole
Turkish
> >nation.  I honestly and truly believe that the life of all Americans on
> >Incirlik are in danger, military and non military alike.  If you look
> >American, you may be subject to an attack.
> >If I were in a better financial situation, I would send my family to a
safer
> >place immediately.  Since this strike has put me in hole by close to 500
> >dollars, excluding the damages to my car, and my family's mental
anguish,  I
> >can not send my family to another country.  One has a different
perspective
> >on life once they are attacked.  Not knowing whether you will live or
die is
> >a terrible feeling.  However, having your family witness the attack and
to
> >think that they to can be hurt just as bad or worse after the attackers
were
> >done with me, multiplies that feeling of fear for life and loved ones by
1
> >trillion fold.  I now know what it feels like to see my life flash
before my
> >eyes.  All I wanted to do was get needed food and supplies for my
family.  My
> >wife is pregnant and I wanted to ensure she had the proper nutrition
during
> >this critical stage of her life.  Eating hot dogs and bread through a
strike
> >is not a nutritional meal.  Personally, I never leave the base unless I
> >really need something.  However, now I fear that if I have another
negative
> >encounter, I may lose my life.
> >I sincerely appreciate all of the help that was given to me by all.
> >Especially, I want to thank my wife Kamilla for her emotional help.  I
want
> >to thank Major Dornin for taking my three-year-old daughter with him
while I
> >gave a statement to Turkish police in Adana that lasted very late into
the
> >evening.  I also want to thank Tsgt Pope who gave me the needed
confidence
> >and courage to go out into Adana again to officially press charges at
the
> >Turkish Police Station against those people who attacked me.  I
sincerely
> >hope that these people are caught and punished.
> >In conclusion, please remember that there is power in numbers.  Although
> >there were four adults present, this did not prevent or dissuade an
attack.
> >I would suggest going in to stores in groups of 10.  Men please do not
take
> >your wives or children with you.  Try to imagine what goes through the
mind
> >of a 3-year-old girl when her daddy is getting punched, kicked, etc.  Do
not
> >put yourselves in a situation that can harm your loved ones emotionally
or
> >psychologically.  Once again I stress not to blame the entire Turkish
Nation.
> > Please forward this letter to as many people as you can.  I do not have
my
> >senators or congressmen's email in Florida or I would send them this
message.
> > I wish I could forward this message to let the entire world what has
> >happened to me.  This can possibly happen to all of us.  As for myself,
I
> >will live on cereal and grass for one month before I set foot outside of
> >Incirlik AB, Turkey.
> >
> >						Respectfully,
> >						Robert Rodriguez, SrA, USAF
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >