WWII vet, beaten by teens outside Eagles Lodge, dies

(Source: Story Link Below)

Simply saying it's unacceptable doesn't do the matter justice. It really doesn't. Let me share what happened here. The police even got very clear (for a change) video stills of the two guys who did it.

WWII veteran Delbert Belton survived being wounded in action during the Battle of Okinawa only to be beaten and left for dead by two teens at the Eagles Lodge in Spokane on Wednesday evening.

Belton, 89, died from the injuries he suffered in the beating Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

This is clearly in the tragedy category of violent crime and they believe it was random. The teens just picked him for some reason they figured was good enough and beat him to death. As the story reports, he didn't die at the scene but shortly after.

"Shorty," as he was known by his friends at the Eagles Lodge, served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during WWII and was shot in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa. He went on to work at Kaiser Aluminum at the company's Trentwood plant for more than 30 years. Belton's wife passed away several years ago.

He loved playing pool, even though he claimed he was no good at it and had been a member of the Eagles Lodge for the last four months. In addition to playing pool he loved working on cars.

Sounds like a nice guy and a traditional American from the "Greatest Generation", as they're known. It's sure one heck of a way for a life like that to end. By random, brutal violence of a couple teens.

Spokane police are looking for two male suspects in the attack. They said the suspects are African Americans between 16 and 19 years old. One suspect was described as heavy set and wearing all black clothing. The other was described as being about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds. There was no description of what clothing the second suspect was wearing other than a silk do-rag.

Source

It's important to note. Nothing in the story is suggesting it's racial, nor am I. It could just as easily have been an old Chinese or Mexican man unless we hear differently. Age, is the reason I say that. I think they picked him for his obvious weakness in comparison. Not so much as a White old man.

There is simply no indication it was anything more than 2 legged predators that took down an older man, relatively alone in a parking lot. That was far more than enough though. Brave, these two....are not. Really. Teenagers against a man pushing 90. The Brutality of this is absolutely unbelievable and I do hope they get these two soon.

Here is the follow up with the Police images of the two...and no, it isn't of them committing the crime. They were right next to another business it looks like they went in and out of to have been recorded.

Suspects aren't always in $10 quality fuzzy video

What is this nation coming to? Life is becoming as cheap as it is in any 3rd world back alley, right out in public and full view. Some people ask why defense is something Americans have a real concern with. This should answer questions like that, at least to some degree. This society keeps getting more and more brutal out of age groups often the least capable of compassion, empathy or reasoning with.

Duplicate Thread.... Mods, kill it when possible. The time stamp indicates it was a coin toss with posting the same literal minute, as it happens....

*Duplicate but with different tones..entirely. Still..Missed it by less than a minute. Those are the breaks.

reply to post by wrabbit2000


Still no word from Obama on this obvious hate crime?
Why am I not surprised?

reply to post by wrabbit2000


How dare you Wabbit thread police your own thread?!?!

It is a sad story though, this man survived the odds, just to be killed by some stupid worthless tugs. My heart goes out to him.

WOO HOO 1000 stars!

Vile; disgusting.

These teens should be hung in public.

Imagine that was your relative, they sought out someone they figured couldn't put up a fight. Beyond cowardly, I don't see why they should be sent to prison and kept alive at our expense.

Holy crap balls. We all talk about George Orwell's "1984", a visionary book. Sadly I think it is about time we start talking about another great but frightening book called "A Clockwork Orange". Violence for the sheer fun of violence is not just an indicator of a sick individual, but a sick society as well.

How the F@#$k is it even possible to want to beat that old man up. Wish I could shoot the bastard kids myself, in front of all Society and most importantly in front of whatever sad excuse of a family these kids have.

Pardon me I have to go be sick to my stomach.

Beating an 89 year old man. Cowards.

reply to post by Lysergic


If I said what I really think... I would be immediately banned
The double standards in my country are just to strong

reply to post by Mamatus


Society today I think belongs in the ICU of mental illness. People today are frustrated because they aren't rock stars and millionaires, they take out their anger on the weaker ones in the form of a temper tantrum, because they feel entitled to a lifestyle they wont ever earn.

Character and values mean nothing to the idiots of my generation.

reply to post by wrabbit2000


In 04' or 05' I was at a 4th of July parade in Dallas with 2 buddies of mine and our wives. On one corner there was a group of younger guys holding signs protesting the war in Iraq. Of course we moved. One of those punks decided it would be a great idea to burn the American flag in front of some old American Legion members who were simply trying to enjoy the parade. I saw one of the older guys (appeared to be in his 80’s) in tears…then he headed straight for those idiots and attempted to take his flag away from them. I was proud of that old guy….what a tough old bastard!!

I’ll just say this….my buddies and I got that flag for him.

I wish someone would have been there for Mr. Belton. Too may punks in this world with no respect for anything.

Originally posted by Sharingan
reply to post by Lysergic

 

If I said what I really think... I would be immediately banned
The double standards in my country are just to strong

I believe you, believe me I held myself back.

As per OP request.

Closed.