The 82nd Airborne Division is calling out a man who was photographed at the Charlottesville rally on Saturday wearing an 82nd Airborne hat:
The 82nd Airborne Division fought several campaigns against Nazi Germany during World War II. So after a man in a hat bearing the elite Army paratrooper unit’s insignia was pictured throwing a Ku Klux Klan salute (which resembles and is sometimes mistaken for a Nazi salute) during the weekend’s Charlottesville protests, the division delivered a pointed message.
“Anyone can purchase that hat,” 82nd Airborne wrote on its official Twitter page. “Valor is earned.”
The infantry unit, nicknamed the All American Division, was reacting to a photograph that Brandon Friedman, a former Obama administration official, shared of the demonstrator on Twitter. The image was retweeted more than 20,000 times Monday
Here’s the original image that was shared on Twitter:
Would *LOVE* to know the name of Mr. 82nd Airborne Division here rendering Hitler’s Nazi salute. The 82nd jumped into Normandy on D-Day. pic.twitter.com/oObJNgXzEI
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) August 13, 2017
The 82nd Airborne Division responded in a series of Tweets:
Our WWII Airborne forefathers jumped into Europe to defeat Nazism. We know who we are. We know our legacy.
— All American 🌀 (@82ndABNDiv) August 14, 2017
Anyone can purchase that hat. Valor is earned. pic.twitter.com/qk6rQHBwui
— All American 🌀 (@82ndABNDiv) August 14, 2017
Andy – Respectfully, anyone who thinks this man represents our culture and values has never worn the maroon beret…and never will
— All American 🌀 (@82ndABNDiv) August 14, 2017
U really think that guy is an active member of the 82nd just because he has that hat? My mom has that same hat. She’s 78 & has never served
— All American 🌀 (@82ndABNDiv) August 14, 2017
This is also what three US paratroopers look like.. My mixed-race grandfather (right), CPL Edgar Goodwin 505/@82ndABNDiv jumped D-Day. pic.twitter.com/HTZAdNw92n
— Ryan C. Moon (@ryancmoon) August 16, 2017
Excellent.
