Army Veteran Contacts VOICE: Jacket Stolen, Where's Respect?

Darren Doyle, Editor:
The Edmonson Voice receives dozens of emails, messages, and phone calls throughout the week, ranging anywhere from inquiries about articles and ads to how "Rachel" from "card services" can save us money. 

Readers sometimes send letters to the editor in the form of emails or Facebook messages, and we've also received typed and even handwritten letters, but today we received a unique phone call from a local army veteran with an interesting, yet sad story.

The man wished to remain anonymous so he didn't write a letter. He said he served two tours in Iraq and two more in Afghanistan during the years between 2005-2012. 

"A couple of weeks ago, I went for a motorcycle ride and left the house with my army-issued jacket," he said. "As I started down the driveway, I realized it was a little too warm for the jacket so I stopped and hung it on my mailbox with plans on getting it later."

He never saw the jacket again. The man said he rode for a couple hours but when he returned, his jacket was gone. Someone had taken it from his mailbox.

He said that he wasn't one of those guys who always looked for someone to thank him for his service, nor did he wear clothing that drew attention to the fact that he was an army veteran. 

"I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or anything like that," he said. "I'm proud to have served my country and no thanks are needed and no one needs to know my name. Maybe someone really needed a jacket, if so, okay, but who does that?"

He said he'd like to have the jacket returned for the sheer sentimental value, but what he really wanted to say was that it's a shame that such a small item was purposely taken from his driveway in broad daylight.

We agree. If it were January and ten degrees, then maybe taking a jacket from someone's mailbox might seem like a good idea, but in late September, it really shouldn't be necessary to grab a jacket, especially an army-issued jacket from a veteran that served four different tours. Obviously nothing on the jacket gave any indication of four tours, but it's not hard to see that an object is military-themed. Most importantly, it's never any trouble to know if something belongs to you or not.

The army veteran didn't ask us to ask the public for help in getting the jacket returned, but we are asking.

If you have the jacket and would like to return it, contact the Edmonson Voice office at 270-597-6550 or send an email to: [email protected]. We'll keep your name anonymous and no questions will be asked. We'll even provide you with a new jacket if you need one.

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