"SSgt Estes, this is the response I received from the MEO at Al Udeid regarding your question. Hope this helps... Permission must be obtained from a nation before its flag is flown at half-staff. Therefore, unless permission is granted in each case (for each flag that flies over your installation), it is recommended that flags of other nations not be flown when the flag of the United States is at half-staff. I would imagine that your installation commander would also have to get permission not to fly the other countries flag during the period of our half-staff honors. This sounds like a lot of red tape and probably could not be approved quick enough," Shoffstall wrote at 2pm on the 8th.
Yet, Estes persevered. "Sir, did any in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing communicate with the host nation to see if the flag could have been flown at half staff? Sir how can this situation be prevented in the future?" Estes replied to Shoffstall at 5am on Thursday the 9th.
AN ERROR ADMITTED BY HIGHER-UPS
In his next reply, Capt. Shoffstall of Equal Opportunity appears to have made headway on addressing the problem, after discussing it with a higher-up, Chief Morris.
"Chief Morris responded to my e-mail inquiring about this and here is his response: Sir--Thanks for providing me this info. I must apologize that we didn't make this happen. But please rest assured the leadership in the wing was not made aware of this"had we been, without a doubt we would have complied with the President's order. I honestly don't believe this information was delivered to our wing through official channels. Again, it is my apology," Shoffstall later wrote to Estes.
Estes says that Chief Morris is the highest ranked on base.
MISTREATMENT AT THE BASE
"MSgt Kevin E. Owens and SMSgt Tami L. Hennis chewed me out for not using my chain of command," Estes replied to Shoffstall. Estes claims, however, that he was following the advice of his immediate supervisor on the night of the 7th, Mrs. Guerrier.
"[Equal Opportunity] is for any one with a complaint. It was my right to contact you about Mrs. Coretta Scott King or do we live in a society that we can't do this? I will like to file a complaint against MSgt Kevin E. Owens and SMSgt Tami L. Hennis on their actions and treatment of me. Sir I need to bring this to your attention while I was being chewed up and down about emailing you (Captain Troy L. Shoffstall), MSgt Kevin E. Owens allowed me leave his office so I could get some supporting documents. I left his office and email him the documents and went and found my shift supervisor TSgt Ulyssia A. Guerrier and brought her up to the MSgt Kevin E. Owens where... Guerrier was told by... Hennis to leave, for what I don't know. I'm upset that I brought this matter to your attention for all this back lash," Estes wrote.
Estes also says that MSgt. Owens tried to deny there was an Executive Order to lower the flag in the first place, saying he didn't see it on the WhiteHouse.gov website. That is, it's not on the website and therefore it must not be true? Atlanta Progressive News has verified the Executive Order exists.
"SMSgt Hennis and MSgt Owens made me feel shallow and empty because of the way they expressed their concerns and also by their body language," Estes told Atlanta Progressive News.
"SSgt Estes, we definitely need to meet to discuss this issue. I can tell you that Col Palmby is looking into how the guidance was not received by the 380th to lower the flag. He is genuinely concerned and so is Chief Morris. Let me know when you are available to meet," Shoffstall replied to Estes.
Estes says he later met with Shoffstall at 6pm on the 11th. In this meeting, Shoffstall said he wanted Estes to give his superiors time to correct the problem. Estes met with his supervisors but was unsatisfied with his response and later said he wanted still to file a complaint.
WHAT NEXT?
Estes will return home to the US on February 29, 2006. He says a change in procedures may result from his complaint and he is glad he spoke up. However, he feels uncomfortable in his current environment, is upset by the mistreatment by his superiors, and worries about an overall climate of repression.
About the writer:
Yet, Estes persevered. "Sir, did any in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing communicate with the host nation to see if the flag could have been flown at half staff? Sir how can this situation be prevented in the future?" Estes replied to Shoffstall at 5am on Thursday the 9th.
AN ERROR ADMITTED BY HIGHER-UPS
In his next reply, Capt. Shoffstall of Equal Opportunity appears to have made headway on addressing the problem, after discussing it with a higher-up, Chief Morris.
"Chief Morris responded to my e-mail inquiring about this and here is his response: Sir--Thanks for providing me this info. I must apologize that we didn't make this happen. But please rest assured the leadership in the wing was not made aware of this"had we been, without a doubt we would have complied with the President's order. I honestly don't believe this information was delivered to our wing through official channels. Again, it is my apology," Shoffstall later wrote to Estes.
Estes says that Chief Morris is the highest ranked on base.
MISTREATMENT AT THE BASE
"MSgt Kevin E. Owens and SMSgt Tami L. Hennis chewed me out for not using my chain of command," Estes replied to Shoffstall. Estes claims, however, that he was following the advice of his immediate supervisor on the night of the 7th, Mrs. Guerrier.
"[Equal Opportunity] is for any one with a complaint. It was my right to contact you about Mrs. Coretta Scott King or do we live in a society that we can't do this? I will like to file a complaint against MSgt Kevin E. Owens and SMSgt Tami L. Hennis on their actions and treatment of me. Sir I need to bring this to your attention while I was being chewed up and down about emailing you (Captain Troy L. Shoffstall), MSgt Kevin E. Owens allowed me leave his office so I could get some supporting documents. I left his office and email him the documents and went and found my shift supervisor TSgt Ulyssia A. Guerrier and brought her up to the MSgt Kevin E. Owens where... Guerrier was told by... Hennis to leave, for what I don't know. I'm upset that I brought this matter to your attention for all this back lash," Estes wrote.
Estes also says that MSgt. Owens tried to deny there was an Executive Order to lower the flag in the first place, saying he didn't see it on the WhiteHouse.gov website. That is, it's not on the website and therefore it must not be true? Atlanta Progressive News has verified the Executive Order exists.
"SMSgt Hennis and MSgt Owens made me feel shallow and empty because of the way they expressed their concerns and also by their body language," Estes told Atlanta Progressive News.
"SSgt Estes, we definitely need to meet to discuss this issue. I can tell you that Col Palmby is looking into how the guidance was not received by the 380th to lower the flag. He is genuinely concerned and so is Chief Morris. Let me know when you are available to meet," Shoffstall replied to Estes.
Estes says he later met with Shoffstall at 6pm on the 11th. In this meeting, Shoffstall said he wanted Estes to give his superiors time to correct the problem. Estes met with his supervisors but was unsatisfied with his response and later said he wanted still to file a complaint.
WHAT NEXT?
Estes will return home to the US on February 29, 2006. He says a change in procedures may result from his complaint and he is glad he spoke up. However, he feels uncomfortable in his current environment, is upset by the mistreatment by his superiors, and worries about an overall climate of repression.
About the writer:
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