"Scott Thomas" steps out of the shadows as Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
Private Beauchamp has stepped into the light, because, well, his, urm, character has been questioned.
I am Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp, a member of Alpha Company, 1/18 Infantry, Second Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division.My pieces were always intended to provide my discreet view of the war; they were never intended as a reflection of the entire U.S. Military. I wanted Americans to have one soldier's view of events in Iraq.
It's been maddening, to say the least, to see the plausibility of events that I witnessed questioned by people who have never served in Iraq. I was initially reluctant to take the time out of my already insane schedule fighting an actual war in order to play some role in an ideological battle that I never wanted to join. That being said, my character, my experiences, and those of my comrades in arms have been called into question, and I believe that it is important to stand by my writing under my real name.
--Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp
According to AKO, he is assigned to the A Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, Vanguards, of the 1st Division of Foot, Schweinfurt, Germany. First fact check holds up! I suspect Private Beauchamp is also now the subject of LTC Glazer and CSM Choudri's personal attention. He seemingly blogs. Be interesting to see how that all goes - and I'm sure that it will go carefully, so as to not have any "i" undotted, nor "t" uncrossed.
That being said, my character, my experiences, and those of my comrades in arms have been called into question....
Imagine that. Private Beauchamp feels maligned and slandered by all the negative attention brought to his writing.
Um, well, yes, we have called into question your character - and your characterizations of your experiences have, shall we say, a certain fabulist, Eve Fairbanks-ish cast to them.
However, regarding character - by your own petard are you hoist, my son.
“I think she’s f*****g hot!” I blurted out.“What?” said my friend, half-smiling.
“Yeah man,” I continued. “I love chicks that have been intimate—with IEDs. It really turns me on—melted skin, missing limbs, plastic noses . . . .”
“You’re crazy, man!” my friend said, doubling over with laughter. I took it as my cue to continue.
“In fact, I was thinking of getting some girls together and doing a photo shoot. Maybe for a calendar? ‘IED Babes.’ We could have them pose in thongs and bikinis on top of the hoods of their blown-up vehicles.”
My friend was practically falling out of his chair laughing. The disfigured woman slammed her cup down and ran out of the chow hall, her half-finished tray of food nearly falling to the ground.
The only person who laid targeting tics on your buffoonish butt is... yourself.
Grow up, boy. Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame - and I'm sure Senator Kerry can find a place for you on his staff after your enlistment is up.
Update: Baldilocks apologizes. Very specifically, however.. I don't think I've got anything to apologize for - I called him fabulist, and stick by it. And I'm guessing, if he's been in as long as he seems to have been, and is a E2... well, he may not be that great a soldier, discipline-wise, either.
But he's there - he's put his butt on the line. I have to give him that. And he's stepped forward. I just hope he doesn't live down to Kerry-esque expectations.
Of course, he may be an E1 before this is all over. Which will just add to his street-cred when he writes the next "Platoon."
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