Joe Foss and our less than stellar airport employees...

[The Collector]

Saw this on another list, thought you guys might be interested:

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Joseph Foss got hassled by security guards at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport last week. These days that's nothing unusual, but Foss is 86. He is a former governor of South Dakota and a retired Marine general. And what made the crack security staff for America West suspicious was the Medal of Honor he earned in 1943 for his service in the Pacific theater.

"I was held up for 45 minutes, while they decided what to do about the medal," Foss tells the Washington Times. "I almost missed my flight, as they went back and forth." Foss earned the medal for shooting down 26 enemy planes. Good thing he didn't tell the guards that, or they'd never have let him fly.
<<<:mad:

[Fatty]

I'm sure he can come up with innumerable reasons why he should be exempt, as can pretty much anyone.  They were much too soft on him.

They should have simply bumped him from the flight immediately when he refused to comply and told him to come back when he was ready.

[The Collector]

I might agree if you could succesfully convince me a Medal of Honor is a potential weapon in the hands of an 86 year old man.

Otherwise, this is unnecessary harassment IMHO.

The Collector.

[Eagler]

its gotta be black and white, I don't want the "federal" employee at the security check using his "judgement" everytime there is an odd ball situation ... think there's more to the story than is posted here. Like, was he wearing the medal or was it in a huge frame he was carrying onboard the plane? Was his military issue Colt .45 right beside it?

[Fatty]

Oh my, the unneccesary harassment!  The emotional trauma!

I don't care if he was being stopped because his shoelaces had metal caps on the ends.  At that point he has two choices, either be a pompous bellybutton and hold up security (and everyone else in line) on account of he's above their petty concerns, or he can try to accomodate their concerns.

[The Collector]

Woah. wait a minute.  You ARE allowed to take metal on an aircraft.  They are not going to disallow coins, electric razors and tape recorders in your carry on.  So why the heck not a medal?  I seriously doubt his handgun was included in the package guys.

Done with this thread.

[Fatty]

I'm sure it had nothing to do with the bullet or the nail file.

[Tac]

I hope he enjoyed the latex glove massage.

Spread em and hold ur breath.. mwahaha

[MrLars]

Originally posted by Eagler
its gotta be black and white, I don't want the "federal" employee at the security check using his "judgement" everytime there is an odd ball situation ... think there's more to the story than is posted here. Like, was he wearing the medal or was it in a huge frame he was carrying onboard the plane? Was his military issue Colt .45 right beside it?

There was more to it. He had a metal hip joint and had to strip down to his skivies to prove it. Evidently the security guard didn't belive him when he said so...good for the guard Even the old chap didn't make a fuss about it, after all, even an 86 year old man can go off his rocker and cause a disturbance that could threaten the plane and passengers just as easly as anyone else.

KISS, make it B&W so EVERYONE knows the rules.

[Bonden]

I was the Airport Manager at MVY (Martha's Vineyard), for 10 years. I do have experience as to how airports of this size are operated. This situation should have never gone as far as it has at my airport; meaning we should have never have heard about it in the news or in this forum.

The security guards were doing their job as they were instructed; granted. Joe Foss was merely a passenger on an airline. Someone with any background in aviation and the history of this man and this country, surely could have had this incident cleared up with a minimum of fuss.  Unfortunately, we who have history are not manning the security gates these days.

If the incident had been reported to me as an Airport Manager, the red carpet would have been rolled out for him. This is my NOT so humble opinion on this subject.

I have been around and around with the FAA about Part 108, Part 109, Part 151, Part 139 and a few other parts also - so if you dont agree with me, dont respond.








   

You are either on the bus, or off the bus.

[Tumor]

Originally posted by Bonden

quote:
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You are either on the bus, or off the bus.
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Uhhm...you're quote.  Nobody should get special priv's period.  It's the responsibility of the security (contractor I'll wager) to train thier people properly.  In that...nobody flying commercial airlines should get any special priv's at all ever, no argument.  

[Tac]

Recognition is given, not demanded.

"In that...nobody flying commercial airlines should get any special priv's at all ever, no argument. "

Id disagree with that. If I were the manager of said airline and I happened to notice one of the passengers was a medal of honor holder, or a vet from ww2, korea or any other war, that guy would receive free first class upgrade without a second thought from me.

My uncle is a retired airline pilot, he used to fly for Avianca and SAM airlines (Colombian airlines) during from the 70's to the late 90's. The best story I ever recall him telling us is of when he was waiting for another jet to load passengers so he could unload his, he overheard a heated debate on the radio from the plane that was picking up people... One of our Korean war vets from the Batallon Colombia, by that time a 65+ year old guy and who'se years hadnt been kind on him was given a 3rd class seat because he couldnt afford better seats..and the plane was not fully booked.

Turns out the airport was almost paralyzed when half the jets refused to move until that guy was given first class seat. They say the guy was moved to tears that anyone even remembers what they did (sadly, back home our korean war vets, or any vets for that matter dont get any kind of benefits or govt aid, those that fought in korea are completely forgotten , nowadays less than 5 are alive from the entire batallion we sent overseas ).

So hell yes, give em some recognition, they earned it. It shouldnt be mandatory or expected of you, that'd be insulting to them and to you, yet they deserve the outmost respect and perhaps, a small effort to show that respect... it will make their day, and yours too.

[indian]

I would have proudly stood beside Joe foss and beat the toejam out of those sorry as uneducated trash they hire for airport security. Fatty you hit an all time low. Noone has the right or the power to take or make some one take off his medal of honor. Foss was one of the best pilots in WWII and if not for guys like him we would not be where we are today.

[chance-airwolf]

Not to get off track, but this week a Navy Commander visited my workplace for a program review... while on board the commercial airliner, he removed his coat while seated.  When the stewardess made the rounds to serve drinks, she refused to serve him an alcoholic beverage because his coatless uniform resembled the pilot's uniform.  Said it might give the impression to other passengers that airline employees were drinking on the job - Doh!
He pulled out his laptop and fired off an email to the airline with a few choice words regarding their service.

[Tac]

" I would have proudly stood beside Joe foss and beat the toejam out of those sorry as uneducated trash they hire for airport security "

Indian, if I brought in 2 men, both in their late 80's.. 1 of them with a real medal of honor, the other one with a replica of it...

how could u tell who was the real thing? You'd just take their word for it?

That airport security guy was doing his job, and he did it well. From what ive read he wasnt mistreated or insulted, just inconvenienced a little. Just the same as the next person in the line who made the metal detector ring.

Chance: thats just hilarious! airheaded stewardess lol.