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**Team Sergeant** · 09-12-2009, 10:34

Thank you Ashley Meeks for taking the time to do the research..... TS

Las Cruces man takes down Nazi flagBy Ashley Meeks Sun-News reporter
Posted: 09/12/2009 12:57:18 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES - The upside-down American flag and a Nazi flag flying above it outside an East Mesa home disappeared Friday after a visit from federal authorities, neighbors' protests and days of community outrage.

In addition, claims made by Ken Triplett, who flew the flags, to the Sun-News about his military service have been denied by two U.S. Army Special Forces Command spokesmen.
The flags were gone when 63-year-old Victor Chavez checked at 2:30 p.m. Friday, he said. The neighbor and disabled Army and Navy veteran, who wheeled his walker in front of Triplett's house on the East Mesa for five hours Wednesday in protest, said despite his aches, he feels "wonderful."

"I'm glad he (Triplett) came to his senses," Chavez said.

A message seeking comment left for Triplett at his business, New Mexico Roof Coating Co., was not immediately returned.

Triplett, 54, told the Sun-News he'd seen combat from 2003-2006 as a Special Forces sergeant, but there's "nothing that we can link that individual to our organization," said U.S. Army Special Forces Command Public Affairs Officer Maj. Emanuel Ortiz Cruz.
"There's nothing that can prove that he went through the Special Forces course or assignation," said Ortiz Cruz, who could not find Triplett's name in his databases. "We can not confirm that he was part of Special Forces. We don't have any record indicating that."

A check of academy records failed to find Triplett either, said Ben Abel, spokesman for the JFK Special Warfare

Center and School in Fort Bragg, N.C. There are about 5,000 Special Forces members out of about 1 million Army members, Abel said.
"We do not have that name in our database," Abel said, adding that with the time Special Forces training takes and Triplett's age, "it's not adding up to sound right."

While Triplett had said he'd take his flags down after an audience with a politician, Chavez said Triplett got a visit from FBI and Las Cruces police on Wednesday instead.

"People were worried. Some of the neighbors there were worried that there was going to be some violence," Chavez said.

LCPD spokesman Dan Trujillo confirmed police assisted another agency for about two hours on Wednesday evening, but would not confirm or deny LCPD was assisting the FBI investigate rumors of a bomb threat. FBI spokesman Steve Marshall said the bureau couldn't confirm or deny pending investigations.

"I was a little worried myself. I don't want to get shot again," said Chavez, who was wounded in Korea. "But I thought, I've been shot before. If it happens, it happens. I'm going to make my point and if he's stupid enough to do something like that, at least it ends there."

Luckily, that's not how the story ended. Chavez said Friday he was flying the American flag he carried in front of Triplett's Reynolds Drive house Wednesday, but in memory of Sept. 11 this time.

"He has some legitimate gripes. We all do. Gee whiz, I wish things would be different, too. But there's ways to change it and that's not the way, obviously. And I hope he learned something from it," Chavez said. "The guy doesn't realize how good he's got it, I guess."

Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_13322056

09-12-2009, 10:34	#2
Team Sergeant Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 20,929	Thank you Ashley Meeks for taking the time to do the research..... TS Las Cruces man takes down Nazi flagBy Ashley Meeks Sun-News reporter Posted: 09/12/2009 12:57:18 AM MDT LAS CRUCES - The upside-down American flag and a Nazi flag flying above it outside an East Mesa home disappeared Friday after a visit from federal authorities, neighbors' protests and days of community outrage. In addition, claims made by Ken Triplett, who flew the flags, to the Sun-News about his military service have been denied by two U.S. Army Special Forces Command spokesmen. The flags were gone when 63-year-old Victor Chavez checked at 2:30 p.m. Friday, he said. The neighbor and disabled Army and Navy veteran, who wheeled his walker in front of Triplett's house on the East Mesa for five hours Wednesday in protest, said despite his aches, he feels "wonderful." "I'm glad he (Triplett) came to his senses," Chavez said. A message seeking comment left for Triplett at his business, New Mexico Roof Coating Co., was not immediately returned. Triplett, 54, told the Sun-News he'd seen combat from 2003-2006 as a Special Forces sergeant, but there's "nothing that we can link that individual to our organization," said U.S. Army Special Forces Command Public Affairs Officer Maj. Emanuel Ortiz Cruz. "There's nothing that can prove that he went through the Special Forces course or assignation," said Ortiz Cruz, who could not find Triplett's name in his databases. "We can not confirm that he was part of Special Forces. We don't have any record indicating that." A check of academy records failed to find Triplett either, said Ben Abel, spokesman for the JFK Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, N.C. There are about 5,000 Special Forces members out of about 1 million Army members, Abel said. "We do not have that name in our database," Abel said, adding that with the time Special Forces training takes and Triplett's age, "it's not adding up to sound right." While Triplett had said he'd take his flags down after an audience with a politician, Chavez said Triplett got a visit from FBI and Las Cruces police on Wednesday instead. "People were worried. Some of the neighbors there were worried that there was going to be some violence," Chavez said. LCPD spokesman Dan Trujillo confirmed police assisted another agency for about two hours on Wednesday evening, but would not confirm or deny LCPD was assisting the FBI investigate rumors of a bomb threat. FBI spokesman Steve Marshall said the bureau couldn't confirm or deny pending investigations. "I was a little worried myself. I don't want to get shot again," said Chavez, who was wounded in Korea. "But I thought, I've been shot before. If it happens, it happens. I'm going to make my point and if he's stupid enough to do something like that, at least it ends there." Luckily, that's not how the story ended. Chavez said Friday he was flying the American flag he carried in front of Triplett's Reynolds Drive house Wednesday, but in memory of Sept. 11 this time. "He has some legitimate gripes. We all do. Gee whiz, I wish things would be different, too. But there's ways to change it and that's not the way, obviously. And I hope he learned something from it," Chavez said. "The guy doesn't realize how good he's got it, I guess." Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462. http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_13322056 __________________ "The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
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