Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point, Altmire said. Robert Heffington, a former lieutenant colonel and West Point instructor who met Mr. Rapone, told the website that his online ideological screeds reveal the philosophical infatuations of a precocious adolescent in a best-case scenario. It was more about taking pleasure in going out every night and killing people with impunity. https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl, My eyes are seriously about to roll out of the back of my head. For sure, Pat was abig influence on me. Hes an exceptional soldier, the Twitter account, @DSAVeterans, wrote. Aside from his recent West Point graduation, Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. (Source: Twitter). However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.. Looks like the Commie Cadet is well on his way to become the first Army General who advocates the overthrow of the American Government. In an interview with In These Times, Rapone tells his story of his journey from GI Joe to an anti-war activistand why Rubio got himwrong. Although Im not apacifist, Inever called for any explicit violence. Fanning wrote that their conversation will be called "Resisting Within the Ranks." "Spenser is being discharged from the military with an Other Than Honorable discharge this June, in part, because [Marco] Rubio penned a panic-stricken letter to acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy demanding the branch nullify Rapone's military commission after seeing this photo," he wrote. 2?pe5 uxk+qeO/jiez,&V%?`L"[A aiJeyr~]Jx$r!6'bw stream There are a lot of veterans both active duty and not that feel like I do.. The class of 2022 included 400 minority cadets, among them 186 African Americans, 104 Hispanic Americans, 99 Asian Americans and 11 Native Americans, according to West Point. Send tips tojonah@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Communist ex-Ranger and West Pointer receiving a other than honorable discharge. Due to the form of discharge received, Rapone may be ineligible for VA benefits or the GI Bill. Spenser Rapone, a former second lieutenant whose Communism Will Win photo rocked the internet in 2017 after being featured by this publication, has received an Other Than Honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. He posted January 18 on Facebook, May we all learn from her example of what integrity and strength of conviction truly entails.. Spenser Rapone, the former second lieutenant whose Communism will win photos went viral in 2017, has received an other than honorable discharge from the Army. Take the story of Gas Turbine Systems Technician 3rd Class Peter Mims an E-4 whose disappearance sparked a massive man overboard search last year. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members. The Army wont say. Richard L. Rapone explained that Spenser tried to join West Point straight out of high school but was not accepted. Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers President, 125 Years After the Pullman Uprising, We Could Be on the Verge of Another Sympathy Strike Wave, Barbara Ehrenreich on Science vs. Mysticism. Latest news and commentary on Spenser Rapone including photos, videos, quotations, and a biography. He also stated publicly that Vice President Mike Pence is a fucking medieval, cold-blooded killer.. The Army confirmed that Rapone graduated from West Point in 2016 and is now serving as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York. Inspired by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously took aknee to protest police violence, Rapone wore aChe Guevara T-shirt to his West Point graduation in May 2016 and turned his cap over to reveal the hand-scrawled message, Communism willwin.. Spenser Rapone, a former second lieutenant whose "Communism Will Win" photo rocked the internet in 2017 after being featured by this publication, has received an "Other Than Honorable" discharge from the U.S. Army. At ayoung age, youre inundated with propaganda and patriotism, and Ithought Icould make adifference joining the Army. But yet theyre still an abstraction and not not allowed to have individualopinions. US report shows China taking steps toward space dominance, Biden to allow Afghans to stay longer in US, sources say, Michigan expands absentee voting for military members, Some companies charge hefty fees to help vets with disability claims, Meet 12M+, the new community app for military spouses, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? He then deployed to Afghanistan, where he earned a combat infantryman badge. Its a program for Indigenous liberation, life, and landan affirmation that colonialism and capitalism must be overturned for this planet to be habitable for human and other-than-human relatives to live dignified lives. At the end of this Convention, the GNDCC will be tasked with initiating a more direct working relationship between DSA and The Red Nation. May 29, 2018 Admin. Soon after getting to West Point, Isaw that this was astructural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. I think theres acouple things that happened since. As a caption to that photo, Rapone tweeted, In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre, a popular left-wing slogan oft-attributed to thelate Marxist revolutionary, physician, and guerrilla leaderwho was ultimately killed and captured by the U.S. CIA. Pa. House committee advances ambulance mileage , Yellen says U.S. could default as soon as June 1, Lawrence County Historical Society celebrates L, Police charge 25 accused offenders in roundup, 25th Dollar General opens in Lawrence County, Bee in car apparent cause of 4-vehicle wreck, Mahoningtown man accused in narcotics sales, Attorney: Rights trampled for expelled Mohawk football player, Union school board approves superintendent evaluation, CURRY, Anthony Sep 22, 1988 - Apr 29, 2023, STEWART, Ronna Mar 14, 1960 - Apr 27, 2023. The GNDCC will make direct connection with The Red Nation, dedicate one person to serve as the main point of contact, and collaborate with the comrades on joint actions, statements and local, national and international campaigns around indigenous liberation and climate justice. Quite the contrary. This time Rapone's father himself publicly weighed in on his son's gross comments and anti-American sentiment, according to the Daily Caller. But the service declined to disclose what investigators found, how Rapone had been disciplined, or even if he has been allowed to stay in the service. At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. Menu. Applicants to West Point must receive a nomination for their applications to be considered. But he wasn't accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. He didnt want all these honorifics. 2023 by the Institute for Public Affairs (EIN: 94-2889692). Photos from the graduation posted on social media earned the vitriol of many his fellow soldiers and avocal cadre of right-wing politicians and mediaeven death threats. So, for me, Iwas trying to resolve this contradiction because no one over here was threatening freedom or democracy or anything like that. x. Rapone is scheduled to speak in July at a Socialism 2018 conference in Chicago, where he and fellow far-lefty Rory Fanning, an ex-Army ranger, will appear together in a "War Resister in the . 1 0 obj Spenser Rapone was a proposed featured speaker of the Socialism 2018, an annual socialist gathering sponsored by the International Socialist Organization held in Chicago, Illinois in July 2018. His expulsion came after a viral tweet showing him clad in uniform, fist raised displaying a hat reading, "COMMUNISM WILL WIN." Rapone's discharge will place him in a situation where he will not be entitled to VA benefits and he may have to . We were just going in their homes and threatening their villages and were creating nothing but chaos anddestruction. 51 The day after Iposted the pictures, my chain of command approached me, read me my rights, and told me Icould talk right now or wait for an attorney, so of course Iwaited for an attorney. Iwas just using all of this expensive equipment in one of the poorest places on earth to serve the interests of acapitalist class. In regards to my son Spenser Rapone, I disavow his political views and overall politics. So theres thataspect. Today, his Twitter account is again public. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. He was an idealistic teenager from the rural Rust Belt town of New Castle, Pennsylvania (literally the . Spenser Rapone, 26, became notable a bit faster than most graduates. Mike Prysner Family Prysner was born and brought up in the United States to his parents. Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. Rapones activism while in uniform appears to be much broader than those two photos. Of the people who go into the military, not many people go with acomplete political formation of the world and, unfortunately, being in that world steers them acertain way. No political movement can be healthy unless it has its own press to inform it, educate it and orient it. Soon after getting to West Point, I saw that this was a structural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. Also during that time, Rapones Facebook posts grew increasingly radical and leftist. Spenser is being discharged from the military with an Other Than Honorable discharge this June, in part, because [Marco] Rubio penned a panic-stricken letter to acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy demanding the branch nullify Rapones military commission after seeing this photo, he wrote. Spenser Rapone, 26, quit on Monday with an other-than-honourable discharge over his "unbecoming" conduct at the famed military academy in New York state. West Point released a statement after Rapone posted the photos, saying his actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army. And U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, called on the secretary of the Army to remove Rapone from the officer ranks. The Bush administration saw this football player and this guy who looked like G.I. Throughout this whole process, the military has certain ways of coercing you, so there was always athreat of morepunishment. <> A review of Rapones Facebook page shows that over time, since 2014, his posts became increasingly anti-racism, anti-Israel, pro-Muslim, pro-Communist, anti-military, and anti-police. In fact, Ididnt really find what we were being told in America to be reflective of what was really going on in Afghanistan. Ithink it was just him seeing the word communist made him draw his own conclusions fromthere. As described by The Red Nation, The Red Deal is not a counter program of the GND. Template:TOCnestleft Ihad astatement Iwas working on for several months and was waiting for the right time to say it without having to worry aboutpunishment. On Monday, the Army's 10th Mountain Division accepted the resignation of 2nd Lt. Rapone less than a year after he posted . Rainmixing with snow overnight. Have a tip or story idea? Sign up to become a Sustainer before the deadline and take advantage of our best offer ever. 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone at his graduation from the Military Academy (via Twitter) West Point knew that they had an anti-American "commie cadet" on . Threats of harming another Its out there now and Ithink the narrative of this is starting to shift alittle bit, which is good because people are starting to understand my experience. Igot flagged and essentially told that if Iposted anything else, Iwould be in moretrouble. He was nominated out of high school by then-U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire in 2010. Amendment on the Red Deal and Rejecting a Green Military by Sofia Arias (NYC), Sydney Ghazarian (Los Angeles), Brian Ward (Madison), Rory Fanning (Chicago), Spenser Rapone (NYC), Joe Allen. The DSAs Veterans Working Group, of which Rapone is a member, also offered support to him in a statement. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Parents Allowed to Collect Sperm From Son Killed Skiing, 'Commie Cadet' Spenser Rapone Discharged From U.S. Army, West Point Marries First Active-Duty, Same-Sex Couple, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Then there was the move to an all-volunteer force and thats interesting because asubstantial number of Vietnam resisters were volunteers. Even while still a cadet, Rapone's online postings alarmed a West Point history professor, who wrote Rapone up, saying his online postings were "red flags that cannot be ignored." Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapones resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for conduct unbecoming of an officer., Rapone said an investigation found he went online to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers. WATERTOWN, N.Y. The images Spenser Rapone posted on Twitter from his West Point graduation were intentionally shocking: In one, the cadet opens his dress uniform to expose a T-shirt with a blood-red image of socialist icon Che Guevara. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. In the liberal mentality, if you get this particularly disgusting person out of office, then things will change. Left: Army 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone graduating from West Point in May of 2016. Spenser Rapone, the former Army second lieutenant whose "Communism will win" photos went viral in 2017, has received an "other than honorable" discharge. The strikes left 34 people injured, including three children, and caused widespread damage. Rapone is listed as one of the speakers for Socialism 2018, which is slated for early July in Chicago. Both the United States Military Academy and his current command, the 10th Mountain Division, launched investigations into his conduct. Rapone was initially in high spirits during said investigation. He added that its possible the military academy could seek repayment of the cost of Rapones education because he didnt serve the full five-year service obligation required upon graduation. West Point graduate and now former Army infantry officer Spenser Rapone has been processed out of the U.S. Army and received an other than honorable discharge from the military after a photo he posted with his West Point cap and the words Communism will win went viral. Compared to the 294 women welcomed on Reception Day in 2018, West Point reported 285 female cadets were on campus as part of the newest class. Hoseins bio on the West Point website lists Rapone as one of two cadets he last advised at West Point. A spokeswoman for the 10th Mountain Division confirmed that Rapone had started Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia near Columbus in February 2017 but did not complete the course. But he wasnt accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. Be Proactive. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.. West Point's newest class has increased minority representation and the percentage of female new cadets remained consistent with previous years. endobj "We have averaged 290 female cadets, or 23.3 percent of the class, over the last four years and continue to strive to increase the diversity through programs like Leadership Ethics and Diversity in STEM workshops and others.". Its the worst administrative discharge. Uz\`QT2#!dkscS. 1.78 m). It seeks to create astateless, classless, moneyless society. 4 0 obj Rapones Twitter account, where he tweets as @punkproletarian, was previously set to protected while the investigation ran its course. Chris Hedges talks to Spenser Rapone, former combat veteran and US Army officer, about the Washington Post's series the 'Afghanistan Papers'.Drawing on thousands of pages of international government documents about the war in Afghanistan, the series exposes the lies, deceit, mismanagement, waste, corruption, fraud, and failed schemes that both Democratic and Republican administrations . Rapone has admitted being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has even posted pictures showing his membership card alongside his military name patch. While they were going out partying and drinking, he was avery intellectual man.