Gold Star’s dad says Biden bristled when told to learn stories of fallen servicemen: Washington Post



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A Gold Star father said President Joe Biden had bristled and responded bluntly to his request to learn the stories of his son Marine and the 12 other servicemen killed last week in Afghanistan, according to a report.

Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, told the Washington Post about his tense encounter with the president, who he said he watched as Biden spoke to him and his ex-wife about their fallen son.

Much to his dismay, Schmitz said Biden spoke more about his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, than Jared.

“Eventually the parents took out a photo to show it to Biden,” Matt Viser reported from The Post. “I said, ‘Never forget that name. Never forget that face. Never forget the names of the other 12,'” Schmitz said. “‘And take the time to learn their stories.'” Biden didn’t seem to like it, Schmitz recalls, and he bristled, offering a straightforward response, “I know their stories.”

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Biden has long been praised for his ability to empathize and connect with grieving people, given his history of family tragedy – in addition to the death of his son Beau, he lost his first wife and his young daughter in a car accident in 1972.

However, accounts from Schmitz and other family members of servicemen killed in the terrorist suicide bombing near Kabul airport have damaged that reputation. He has also been criticized for appearing to repeatedly look at his watch during the dignified transfer of fallen troops. Biden defended the chaotic troop withdrawal that saw the Taliban take control of the country and the Islamic State suicide bombing that marked the worst day for US military losses in Afghanistan since 2011.

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Cheyenne McCollum, sister of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, told “Fox & Friends” that she couldn’t bear to speak with Biden during their reunion. She also said he was talking more about his own son than his brother.

TOPSHOT - U.S. President Joe Biden watches alongside First Lady Jill Biden as they witness the dignified transfer of the remains of a deceased serviceman to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware on August 29, 2021, one of the 13 members of the US military were killed in Afghanistan last week.

TOPSHOT – U.S. President Joe Biden watches alongside First Lady Jill Biden as they witness the dignified transfer of the remains of a deceased serviceman to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware on August 29, 2021, one of the 13 members of the US military were killed in Afghanistan last week.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

“I was able to take about 15 seconds of his scripted false apology and had to walk away,” Cheyenne said.

Schmitz also opened up about his son and the tense conversation with Biden on “Hannity” Monday.

“He talked a little more about his own son than my son, and that didn’t suit me,” Schmitz said.

Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Schmitz if he saw Biden checking his watch during the ceremony to receive the 13 caskets of fallen heroes.

“Yes, I did,” he replied. “I leaned over my son’s mother’s ear and said ‘I swear to God if he checks his watch one more time’ – and it was probably only four times: I couldn’t no longer watch it after that. “

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“Considering the time and the reason we were there, I found it to be the most disrespectful thing I have ever seen.”

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