Joshua Sparling
Joshua Sparling, (b. 1981- ) is a Private First Class in the U.S. Army from Port Huron, Michigan, who was wounded in the War in Iraq. Since December 2005, Joshua has received significant publicity for being the victim of numerous incidents of aggression, attributed to his status as a veteran of the War in Iraq.
Death Wish
Joshua Sparling was injured in Iraq by an IED on November 20, 2005, and returned to the U.S. on November 24, 2005 where he underwent multiple surgeries to treat his wounds, including severe injuries to his right leg. [1] According to a letter written by Joshua's Father, [2] on the day he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Sparling received a letter from the Red Cross that turned out to be anonymous hate mail expressing the wish that the soldier reading the card would die.[3] A white supremacist with anti-government views later claimed to be the source of the death wish letter. [4]
Verbal Abuse
In Spring 2006, his father described how Pfc Sparling was insulted at an airport while in a wheelchair. [5]
The security guard said, “You are no different than any other passenger with no boarding pass - no go.”
My son started to cry uncontrollably and told the guard to go to hell. Sparling's father claimed that another lady then spoke up and said, “That’s what you get for fighting in a war we have no business in.” Madder and very emotional I asked, “Can’t you remember 9-11?” She responded that was just our excuse to be in Iraq when we should not be there and we deserved whatever we got. That is when my son really lost it. Three WWII vets were coming off flights into DC, gave my son a hug, and stood up to the lady and security guard. They stayed with my son until he flew out.
Spit
On 27 January 2007, at an antiwar protest at Washington DC, Sparling claimed that a passing protestor may have spit near him, according to the New York Times. [6]
Later, as antiwar protesters passed where he and his group were standing, words were exchanged and one of the antiwar protestors spit at the ground near Mr. Sparling; he spit back.
Supportive Publicity
Joshua's struggles have been featured by numerous media outlets and weblogs supportive of the Iraq War effort. Media coverage of the death wish triggered an outpouring of over 20,000 cards and gifts to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. Joshua was championed by Fox News commentator Sean Hannity who gave him gifts of several movies and an Ipod. [7] He has also appeared and spoken at Oliver North's "Freedom Alliance" concerts. [8] Additionally, Joshua and his parents were invited to and attended the 2006 State of the Union Address as guests of J. Dennis Hastert. [9]
Feces Flinging Incident On January 26th, 2007 Joshua was walking down a street in his home town when a large group of liberal protesters attacked him, spitting on him, and flinging feces on his uniform. He was attacked violently by liberals who shouted anti-troop messages at him and covered him in spit & feces as he lay on the ground unable to defend himself. Liberals & democrats hate our troops
Cheese Doodle Attack Liberal protesters attacked him as he exited a plane in Washington DC to meet with president Bush to discuss his heroism. He received many death threats and was called a baby killer and spit upon while police did nothing to protect him. The liberal protesters shouted with glee as they spit upon his unconscious body in the airport terminal. includes video footage
Controversy
Regarding the "Spitting Incident" No "spitter" was identified (other than by his own admission, Joshua Sparling) and it is unclear whether the Times reporter actually witnessed the alleged incident.
External links
- Brenner, Anita That your words may be put to the test La Canada Valley Sun
- Hullaballoo No Spit Zone
- Hullaballoo Spitting Image
- Kilmeade, Brian Insult to Injury Fox News
- Malkin, Michelle Good wishes for Joshua Sparling Malkin Blog
- Murphy, Shannon Wounded soldier flooded with goodwill messages Port Huron Times Herald
- Murphy, Shannon Some 20,000 well-wishers pen soldier who got hate mail Lansing State Journal
- The Sean Hannity Show link to video from The Political Teen Blog
- The Gunn Nutt Airport insult incident
- New York Times Protest Focuses on Iraq Troop Increase
References
- ^ Injuries.
- ^ Injuries.
- ^ Malkin, M., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ Source of death threat., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ Insults
- ^ Times article
- ^ Hannity Gifts, Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ Freedom Alliance., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ State of the Union Invite, Retrieved January 30, 2007.