June 11, 2025: The Worst Day in the History of the 82nd Airborne

Troops seen booing President Biden and the free press should be punished with an Article 15.

Courtesy of AP

I once received an Article 15 when I served in the US Army. I did nothing bad, but I foolishly broke a rule. The first rule was that I complained to the base chaplain that my company commander, Captain Asshole (I don’t remember his name and I am sure he is MAGA today if still alive), was not letting me apply for a West Point appointment. Active duty troops under 20 were being invited to apply, and he refused to process my application because my platoon sergeant and I had a personality conflict.

Long story short, I was permitted to apply but was later dinged on an inspection. In my closet, I had an empty beer bottle collection of about 10 interesting beers I had found — and illegally consumed — in the Monterey, California area. I was only 19. Two days after the inspection, I was called to his office and informed that I would receive an Article 15 for underage drinking. I was no longer acceptable to West Point. I lost rank, not that I had much, was fined, and had two weeks’ extra duty. At 19 years old, I realized how I had been thoroughly screwed over by the system, and by grotesque people abusing their power.

What Donald Trump did the other day at Fort Bragg was grotesque. It was the behavior of a dictator, but then we have come to expect that from him. The behavior of the troops gathered, however, was appalling. I get that many are just stupid kids, similar to what I was like back then, when I kept those empty bottles in my wall locker even though I was underage. Nonetheless, there are officers in charge of those troopers, and knowing Trump’s penchant for disgusting and disrespectful speeches, they all should have been warned to refrain from the cheering that ensued.

Trump called out the free press and hinted that they were the enemy of the people. The troops booed the press. Trump complained about how horrible President Biden was, and they booed. Donald Trump hates those troops and refers to them as suckers and losers. Should one of them die in the line of duty, he will mock them, and yet, those dunces love him.

I respect the military because I served, but I don’t put them on the pedestal that many who never served do. Many men and women in uniform are barely literate and, in many ways, not very good people. Just because someone signs up to serve the country doesn’t make them a hero. I served for four years and two years in the reserves. I never require anyone to tell me thank you. The army paid for my college. I learned Russian in the military. I learned how to study in the army, so I would later graduate from Rutgers College and Columbia University with a master’s degree in international affairs. The military made me better.

Unfortunately, today, in many chow halls on military bases, Fox News is blaring in the background. The troops are being brainwashed. They vote for Trump and Republicans, who then vote against their interests and blame Democrats.

The behavior displayed yesterday at Trump’s protest against American democracy scared me. It made me realize how quickly and easily he will be able to get those well-armed and well-trained dummies to use their might to crush us, the patriots who recognize that Donald Trump is an enemy of American democracy.

Shame on the “All American Division.” Yesterday was one of their worst days on record.