Military officials Thursday said two active-duty Marines are being investigated over a social media post in which a corporal can be seen brandishing a rifle beside the caption: “Coming to a gay bar near you!”
The image attracted attention after being published Wednesday to a closed Facebook group for male Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, four days after a gunman opened fire inside of a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 and wounding 53.
“Too soon?” the person who purportedly posted the image also wrote, Marine Corps Times reported.
The post was quickly removed from the 25,000-member “Camp MENdleton resale” group, but appears to have originated on Snapchat before spreading elsewhere.
A spokesman for the I Marine Expeditionary Force, which is leading the investigation, told Marine Corps Time that the corporal in the photograph and the individual who posted it to Facebook have both been identified. According to NBC News, however, the Marine Corps likely won’t name either unless investigators ultimately agree to bring charges.
“We cannot discuss details of an ongoing investigation, but I can tell you the command is taking this incident seriously,” said 1st Lt. Thomas Gray, I MEF spokesman.
Maj. Staci Reidinger, a public affairs officer for I MEF, told The Associated Press that the image “goes against good order and discipline,” and described it as “an embarrassment.”
“This type of behavior and mindset will not be allowed, and it is not consistent with the core values of honor, courage and commitment that are demonstrated by the vast majority of Marines on a daily basis,” I MEF said in a statement.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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