thedrifter
02-15-07, 06:27 AM
Marine's medals delay his return to Camp Lejeune
By Michael Yoder, Staff
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Feb 15, 2007 1:38 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. -
In an age of heightened security at airports, no one is immune from scrutiny – even a U.S. Marine.
Derek Smith, a 19-year-old graduate of Penn Manor High School and recent graduate of boot camp for the U.S. Marines, found out the hard way Feb. 5 at Lancaster Airport.
Smith was leaving for Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to start a nine-week training course. He had been home since he graduated boot camp Jan. 12.
His mother, Jodie Groff, said he had to be back at the base by 1 a.m. Feb. 6. However, his flight was delayed by several hours to the point that he was going to miss his connecting flight in Pittsburgh.
At the airport, Smith was required to walk through the Transportation Safety Administration metal detectors.
But the ribbons and medals on Smith's uniform set off the detectors several times.
Groff said she became annoyed with the TSA employees' treatment of her son when they asked him to take off his medals, jacket, belt and shoes.
She said she started to yell at the security workers.
At one point a Manheim Township police officer spoke to the TSA workers about the incident, but the officer did not question Groff.
Sgt. Bill Sindorf of Manheim Township police confirmed a patrol car is sent to the airport for all incoming and outgoing commuter flights. He said if there is a problem the police will step in.
Groff said she understands people have to go through security at an airport, but she said she felt her son was unfairly singled out even though he was in uniform.
"I can still see (Derek's) face," Groff said. "It went from a mother concerned for her son to total disrespect for a person in the military. I was totally shocked and appalled at how he was treated."
Jim McQuillan, a TSA employee at Lancaster Airport, said he wasn't present for the incident but interviewed the other employees.
McQuillan said Smith was asked to take off his outer garments, including his jacket, and to take all the metal off his uniform. He said Smith complied without question and said the incident was more about an upset mother than a security concern.
"There was nothing unusual, nothing strange, nothing out of the ordinary," McQuillan said. "It was perfectly within the normal parameters at any airport."
Cpl. Shane Suzuki, a pubic affairs official at Camp Lejeune, said if a soldier is on leave he has to follow the same regulations as any other person.
Suzuki said the Marines recommend soldiers going on a plane avoid anything that might raise security questions, including carrying liquids. He said Marines have to go through "common sense" training in boot camp on fine points of how to act in public.
"We're held to a higher standard, and we expect that and accept that," Suzuki said.
Smith made it safely to Camp Lejeune late in the afternoon Feb. 6 and did not get into trouble for arriving late. He is now in training and could not comment about his experience at the airport.
Groff said the whole incident still leaves a bad taste thinking about the security and what her son experienced.
"Derek joined the service to fight against this very thing," Groff said.
E-mail Michael Yoder at myoder@lnpnews.com.
Ellie
By Michael Yoder, Staff
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Feb 15, 2007 1:38 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. -
In an age of heightened security at airports, no one is immune from scrutiny – even a U.S. Marine.
Derek Smith, a 19-year-old graduate of Penn Manor High School and recent graduate of boot camp for the U.S. Marines, found out the hard way Feb. 5 at Lancaster Airport.
Smith was leaving for Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to start a nine-week training course. He had been home since he graduated boot camp Jan. 12.
His mother, Jodie Groff, said he had to be back at the base by 1 a.m. Feb. 6. However, his flight was delayed by several hours to the point that he was going to miss his connecting flight in Pittsburgh.
At the airport, Smith was required to walk through the Transportation Safety Administration metal detectors.
But the ribbons and medals on Smith's uniform set off the detectors several times.
Groff said she became annoyed with the TSA employees' treatment of her son when they asked him to take off his medals, jacket, belt and shoes.
She said she started to yell at the security workers.
At one point a Manheim Township police officer spoke to the TSA workers about the incident, but the officer did not question Groff.
Sgt. Bill Sindorf of Manheim Township police confirmed a patrol car is sent to the airport for all incoming and outgoing commuter flights. He said if there is a problem the police will step in.
Groff said she understands people have to go through security at an airport, but she said she felt her son was unfairly singled out even though he was in uniform.
"I can still see (Derek's) face," Groff said. "It went from a mother concerned for her son to total disrespect for a person in the military. I was totally shocked and appalled at how he was treated."
Jim McQuillan, a TSA employee at Lancaster Airport, said he wasn't present for the incident but interviewed the other employees.
McQuillan said Smith was asked to take off his outer garments, including his jacket, and to take all the metal off his uniform. He said Smith complied without question and said the incident was more about an upset mother than a security concern.
"There was nothing unusual, nothing strange, nothing out of the ordinary," McQuillan said. "It was perfectly within the normal parameters at any airport."
Cpl. Shane Suzuki, a pubic affairs official at Camp Lejeune, said if a soldier is on leave he has to follow the same regulations as any other person.
Suzuki said the Marines recommend soldiers going on a plane avoid anything that might raise security questions, including carrying liquids. He said Marines have to go through "common sense" training in boot camp on fine points of how to act in public.
"We're held to a higher standard, and we expect that and accept that," Suzuki said.
Smith made it safely to Camp Lejeune late in the afternoon Feb. 6 and did not get into trouble for arriving late. He is now in training and could not comment about his experience at the airport.
Groff said the whole incident still leaves a bad taste thinking about the security and what her son experienced.
"Derek joined the service to fight against this very thing," Groff said.
E-mail Michael Yoder at myoder@lnpnews.com.
Ellie