Combative Passenger Confronts Navy SEAL

August 1, 2010

in Passenger Stories

I am a 22 year-old female college student currently living in Rome. Returning home a recent flight from Singapore to Heathrow after a nice winter holiday, I had the complete privilege of being seated next to a very nice gay couple on their way back home to Paris. One was a French airline pilot, and the other was a former U.S. Navy SEAL, now working as an architect. The SEAL was huge – his biceps were the size of my head and he was about 6’7″ – definitely not the kind of person you would want to mess with.

About two hours into our flight, the two guys fall asleep under a blanket, and one guy has his head resting against the other guys’ shoulder. At about the same time, the Arab gentleman in the row in front of us happens to look back and freaks out. He immediately calls the flight attendant over and demands that they be moved apart. When she tells him no, he starts freaking out and starts poking the former SEAL in the chest, demanding that he wake up. Jerry (SEAL) slaps his hand off and goes back to sleep. Still, this guy wasn’t giving up and pokes him again. This time, he wakes up and he is most definitely not happy. I look over at my boyfriend and see the same look: oh crap.

Well, Jerry doesn’t like being poked and stands up. And so does the Arab guy. And the gay dude probably has about 2 feet and 200 pounds of muscle on this guy. The flight attendant is on the verge of going apoplectic, every person in the cabin is staring, and I am expecting a flashback from “Thunderdome.”

The Arab guy, sensing imminent doom, decides that this is not a good time to be ripped in half and backs down, muttering under his breath the whole time. The poor flight attendant looks like all the blood has been drained from her face, and is now being reinforced by the entire rest of the cabin crew, all of whom look like they want to ask Jerry to sit down but are too scared to do so. He looks at them, apologizes for the disruption, and sits back down next to his husband who has this interesting look somewhere between amused and sickened.

In the end, the flight attendants moved the two guys up to first class, and apologized profusely for the behavior of the Arab guy. As soon as they left, the same guy starts badmouthing them, saying he just didn’t want to get arrested, and he would have kicked the other guy’s ass, and gays should burn in hell, etc. Of course, it’s pretty easy to be brave when you’re not staring down 300 pounds of pissed-off ex-Special Forces.

It really just surprised me that people in 2010 could be so intolerant. It’s not like they were doing anything sexual, they were sleeping! People need to mind their own business. And later in the flight, the same guy decides that he doesn’t like the food and starts shouting at the flight attendant. So the lady across the aisle, an older Australian woman, yells back, “Either shut up or I’m going to get the massive chap from up front and let him shut you up!” He looked at her and she stared right back. And there wasn’t another word out of him the entire rest of the flight.

– Jessica

{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }

madachode August 2, 2010 at 4:19 am

A real Navy Seal would never tell you or anyone that they were or are one so one of you is a liar.

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ElegantErica August 2, 2010 at 4:34 am

How do you know that a retired Navy Seal wouldn't tell you he was one?

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madachode August 2, 2010 at 8:54 am

Those types of people do not advertise what they do or have done because they don't need to gloat in order to prove themselves to somebody. almost 100% of the time someone tells you that they are special forces or the favorite ex-Seal, they are lying out of their teeth. this stool pusher was using that line to show how masculine he/she is.

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Jim August 2, 2010 at 10:45 am

If he was, as described by the poster….he wouldn't have anything to prove by saying he was something he wasn't. His size is indicative of his masculinity. How many straight guys look like that, or have the ability to lift a car with their hands.

Hopefully, lesson learned here for most people….someday the Arab dude is going to mess with the wrong gay guy. The gay guy who has been called names all his life. The gay guy who has been disowned by his family. The gay guy who was ex-communicated from his church. The gay guy who has been fired for being gay, denied housing, etc… And, the Arab dude is going to poke one too many times, and 40 years of pent-up, frustrated anger is going to be released on him by a gay dude. Add to that most gay guys are quite athletic…and, the Arab guy will not stand a chance. Just sayin.

BTW, madadoche…stool pusher? Really? What are you….12 years old?

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Stephanie August 3, 2010 at 1:24 am

Yes THIS – SEALS don't call attention to themselves. Very rarely will the exception slip through because the last thing any special forces wants is a braggart.

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Bill Hannegan August 10, 2010 at 7:32 am

Story is almost certainly made up. There are just not very many special ops types who are 6'7" and 300lbs. Almost all the Rangers and SF guys I have worked with are relatively wiry builds, I have never seen one that looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Moving that much body around fast just doesn't work in real life.

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Applekornkid August 2, 2010 at 11:00 am

Nice piece of fiction, not sure the point of writing it though.

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Peace Lover August 2, 2010 at 11:30 am

When I see discrimination like this it not only makes me sad but angry. Every single person is different and there is no such thing as a dominent culture or sexuality or colour. What many people fail to realise is that we are all human, born with the same rights and privilages that everyone deserves. As part of my anti-racism work I often used to get nasty and abusive mail from members of certain hate organisations such as the kkk, neo nazies, racist skinheads etc. I have been branded with all sorts of insults for forming friendships with black and gay people and they are some of the kindest and caring people I have ever met and would never harm anyone. Even I have suffered discrimination simply because I am wiccan. Hating another person simply beacuse they are different is not only sad and pathetic but a cowardly act. It's time to grow up and know that our world is changing for the better. Peace.

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Googie Brown August 2, 2010 at 6:44 pm

Yep, you bet, the world is getting better. Have you been out of the house lately ? you are either delusional or you are inhabiting a different planet, either way try not to be so sad and mad (LOFL).

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D-Money August 2, 2010 at 3:17 pm

How many times had Jesse Ventura told the world that he was a SEAL? 😀

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Billy August 3, 2010 at 7:05 am

4 1/2

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Wiccen? August 3, 2010 at 11:01 am

Peacelover,

What is wiccan and why are you that?

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Peace Lover August 4, 2010 at 10:38 am

Wicca is an earth based religion. It is focused around the worship of mother earth (nature) and the practice of magick. Unfortunatley Wiccan witches and warlocks such as myself often get looked at dirty by other religions such as Christians because thes see this as santic. You can find out all about Wicca if you look it up online. Have a magical day "giggle"

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K in Newfoundland August 4, 2010 at 7:42 am

Why are Americans so freakin' homophobic? So the guy was gay, big deal. So am I and I don't take too kindly to homophobic idiots like this stupid Arab. In America, you say don't mess with Texas. In Canada, you better not f___ with Newfoundland!

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ps August 4, 2010 at 2:57 pm

It seems fictitious that the architect, even in passing, would say he was a SEAL… that's one of those things that are usually kept quiet. But the other part with the allah lover going bonkers is not so off the wall. I was actually on a flite where 2 guys were obviously partners but not flaunting it and some middle eastern scum across the aisle started muttering "faggots" in disgust so it may be part fiction, part true.

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James August 5, 2010 at 6:00 am

Uh… The author never said that Jerry said he was a SEAL. That said, as I understand it, the "secrecy" surrounding being a SEAL applies when one is an active SEAL, this is primarily to protect the missions. When one is retired, there isn't as much need to protect the identity of the SEAL.

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Gunny August 5, 2010 at 4:48 pm

Last I heard the maximum height for squids was 80 inches. I would also find it hard to believe that a 6'7, 300 pounder could make it through BUDS. That body type isn't really conducive to that punishment. It would be like Larry Johnson (UNLV and Knicks) running a marathon.

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ps August 6, 2010 at 2:55 pm

6'7"= 79"… think that's 1 inch under… guess he was barefoot.

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Jessica August 9, 2010 at 10:07 am

Okay, to respond to the comments in the comments posted:

He never told us he was a SEAL. My boyfriend Adriano is Esercito and they both were stationed in Afghanistan at the same time. They got to talking, Jerry mentioned the unit he served with, and Adi knew it was a SEAL Unit. He never brought it up until Adi asked him about it. And even then he was reluctant to admit it. He was far from bragging about it.

And to all the people who made all the witty anti-gay comments: I guarantee that not one of you would have the balls to say any of that to his face. Not one.

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Gregg - admin August 9, 2010 at 2:32 pm

Thanks for sharing your story, Jessica, and for clearing up matters brought up in some of the comments!

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ps August 11, 2010 at 4:08 am

okay, that clears that up. well stated.

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wikedwitch80 August 11, 2010 at 3:51 am

Maybe the guy didn't get that big while he was in. Maybe he decided to become a body builder AFTER he got out. There are waivers for height and weight and those standards change a lot.

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scott h December 5, 2010 at 7:13 pm

A bit of clarification. Some Seals are bigger than 6'6". I served at Seal Team 4 in Little Creek, Va. as a "Support Weenie"( as the Team guys loved to call us "Fleet Types" who were serving with them) and got to know quite a few of the Team through working out and drinking with them. A couple were big bruising types like the one described in the story. Most however were built like linebackers. Very muscular, no waistline, and could run forever. There was even one guy who could have been former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiasons twin brother. But there were a few HUGE dudes in the teams and they were almost always the team M-60 machine gunners.

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