Saturday, December 10, 2011

"Hawaii Five-No!"

Last night at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (aka: “Punchbowl"), a group of World War II vets were visiting their fallen brethren there as part of the observances of the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

While paying their respects, the vets encountered cast and crew members filming an episode of "Hawaii Five-O" (a CBS program) at the cemetery.

According to Steffan Tubbs (morning show host at KOA-AM in Denver and an advocate for veterans of the Greatest Generation...and someone I'm proud to say is a good friend), the "Hawaii Five-O" crew treated the WWII vets with utter disrespect.

Inquiries to CBS have gone unanswered and comments posted on the "Hawaii Five-O" website reportedly are taken down almost as fast as they are posted. Steffan stands by his report and continues to post reactions to what he witnessed.

Steffan's full, eyewitness account follows. Please share.



CBS HAWAII FIVE-O CREW DISSES PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS: A Disgrace at Punchbowl

by Steffan Tubbs


FIVE-O CREW DISGRACEFUL TO WWII PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS

December 9, 2011

(NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC – HONOLULU)'


It looked strange from the moment we pulled up to the Punchbowl, a sacred Hawaiian site once the location for human sacrifice before Cook's arrival to the islands. Our tour bus, filled with 23 WWII Pearl Harbor survivors as part of The Greatest Generations Foundation came to the beautiful location in an old crater above downtown Honolulu for a closing ceremony and presentation. The National Cemetery of the Pacific pays tribute to those veterans of all faiths who served their country, many who lost their lives during WWII.


Sacred ground: the National Cemetery of the Pacific ("Punchbowl")...


I admit I was not happy two days earlier on the morning of December 7 at the Pearl Harbor Memorial service. Thousands of people in attendance, yet President Barack Obama – born just a few miles from the USS Arizona memorial – was not only a no-show, but did not bother to send a written or videotaped greeting of thanks to these men. And then there was no-show Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, his bio and picture listed in the program and scheduled to deliver remarks in person. The president I can slightly understand, but the former Colorado senator? What was going on that was so important he couldn't make it on a private government jet to attend the last and final major Pearl Harbor survivors gathering? I am not aware of the circumstances, and perhaps there was a truly legitimate reason for Salazar's absence, but I have yet to hear it. Instead, the National Park representative on site read a bizarre partial statement from the Secretary and then stopped mid-sentence, paused awkwardly, and said, "Thank you."


As we drove in to the Punchbowl site with thousands of graves, large U-Haul-type trucks were lined along the boulevard as people with headsets scurried about acting busier than they really were. It took me just a few seconds to realize this was a production crew from the CBS series Hawaii Five-O. Their scene had something to do with lead character McGarrett visiting his father's grave, which in reality was surrounded by the real graves of WWII heroes. It didn't seem right. But I let it go.


Within 30 minutes of our arrival, we conducted a small ceremony that began with the presentation of the Colors by the University of Hawaii Army ROTC. The National Anthem followed. I emceed the event and looked out on men who had been injured December 7, 1941 – they represented the USSArizona, Tennessee, St. Louis, Pennsylvania, Lexington, Medusa, Sacramento, Antares, Maryland,West Virginia, Stoddard, Tanney, Vestal and Pyro. This group of men also represented Ft. Kamahameha, Kanehoe Naval Air Station, Hickam Field, Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter and Ford Island. At least eight were in wheelchairs. Average age: 91. The others sat in plastic chairs underneath a large, temporary tent. The cemetery representatives could not have been more respectful and there to assist.


Three hundred yards away and clearly visible to them, no one on the CBS production stopped for the anthem or any part of our program. This included the ending of our presentation – Taps and the moment of silence. I was perturbed, but because our veterans faced me, they couldn't see the disrespect. The ceremony ended and several men hopped on golf carts to visit their fallen comrades buried in other parts of the cemetery.


Make-believe heroes...


I decided to take a closer look at the production area from the public thoroughfare and walked closer to see catering trucks, grips, associate directors, production assistants, lighting workers, countless minions and the lead director – a Hollywood-looking middle-aged man wearing a black "AD/HD" t-shirt, a play off the rock band "AC/DC." I stopped well behind the cameras and out of view when a local production assistant politely told me to keep moving. I was not happy and told her we had WWII vets who would likely be in the area. I was told, "Sorry, sir. We rented this part of the cemetery today." My blood started to boil, but I remained calm and moved on. As I stood behind the tent, the director yelled at everyone to: "Get out of the line of sight! If you don't belong here, clear out!"


I made sure to go where I was basically invisible, 40 yards from the nearest camera when the director heatedly walked to me. He was not happy.


"Can you please move?" he said sternly.


"OK," I said. "Where would you like me to go? I have Pearl survivors who are here visiting their fallen comrades at a public cemetery."


He couldn't have cared less and told me that if we stood behind a tent, that would be fine. He walked away completely frustrated and yelled at a local assistant: "I am doing YOUR job! You wanna come back here again? Do your job!" I felt sorry for her. It wasn't her fault a group of vets actually came back for a real reason to this cemetery. Having been around a few movie sets, I knew this was how they were especially if the scene was behind schedule, etc. Keep in mind at this point I was alone. It wasn't as if our entire entourage was milling about. There was only one veteran anywhere near me and was walking toward me from up the road.


Real heroes...


Walter Maciejowski, 90, from Massachusetts soon caught up and I quickly tried to run interference so he wouldn't get yelled at as he stood there in his cream-colored Pearl Harbor Survivors cap. Walter was clueless and was just amazed at the technology. He whispered in my ear as the scene was about to begin 75 yards away. We both stood exactly where the director had told me to stand.


Two minutes later, another guy with an earpiece came up and simply asked us to leave. Period. He was polite, and I politely retorted: "This is a public place and its Pearl Harbor week. These men have made it possible for you to shoot here today. Plus, this is where your director placed us."


He told me he agreed but to please leave with Walter. Oh, he did offer to get us a water or soda to enjoy as we left. We declined.


I told Walter we had to go, and we started to walk away as lead actor Alex O'Laughlin and Terry O'Quinn from Lost did their scene. As we moved out, yet another woman came up to us and with a fake smile told us Walter couldn't take any pictures.


"Our actors get very skiddish around still cameras, sir."


"Funny, and yet they act in front of them," I said, ticked off because we were already leaving.

I wish he hadn’t done it, but Walter asked if they by chance had a hat for him. To his face, she said, "I doubt it but I will try." She never did.


We continued to walk down the road and now 300 yards from where we had stopped previously. At that moment, yet another production assistant, this one in his 20s and with frizzy blonde hair, told us we couldn't stand near the graves because we were in "the line of sight" of the actors. This was physically impossible. We were back near the podium where our ceremony had been held, and oh, we were behind a tree. I let this kid have it with a few select, powerful adult words and basically told him what he could tell his director. I give you my word we were NEVER in the way, NEVER loud and followed every instruction.


It gets worse.


The TGGF program had brought 24 red roses to place at the gravesites on the opposite side of the Punchbowl. The program crew actually had one of their men wearing a backpack and earplug walk through – infiltrate – our rose-laying ceremony hushing everyone.


It was a disgrace.


He ruined the somber mood and my blood was now beyond boiling. Thankfully most of our vets were so focused on placing their roses they didn't catch what was going on. This moron laughed as he communicated with some other crewmember on the other side of the cemetery via his cell phone headset. About this time, a caterer walked over grass and flat headstones, through our vets gathering, with a plate of blackberries and salmon for the actors to snack on.


We loaded our bus after the roses were placed and the vets climbed on and took their seats. Our oldest Pearl veteran 96, youngest 88. One of our crew guys asked the production guy in the backpack if, as we left, one of the actors could take two minutes to hop aboard during a break in shooting to say hello to our veterans as we drove past. Word came about three minutes later via an earpiece, "No."


That didn’t surprise me.


I stayed at the front of the bus with Tim Davis, president and founder of TGGF. He told me to let the vets know what had happened, but I'd already made up my mind I most certainly would. I took the bus microphone and informed the vets in a nutshell what happened. Many of them booed, and then I told them as we drove by, if they felt the urge, to give the CBS crew a one-fingered military salute.


We rolled past and about half our veterans flipped everyone off as we rolled out of the Punchbowl. We all had a good laugh and most agreed we should write CBS and boycott the show and its sponsors.


Having been in the news business nearly 22 years, I understand how the crew was just doing a job and there's big money involved. Shows have to be shot, actors coddled and issues down to rain and daylight come into play. And then, there's common sense and respect.


It would have been an issue if all 24 veterans and 10 staff had come near their "set" (again, on tops of graves of fallen soldiers) and were loud and in the way. Instead, it was just one or two that went to see the on-location production. They didn’t speak, and of course were much friendlier than I was. However, I know many of them were upset. I also thought about the tax incentives this production much receive from taxpayers!


Perhaps you side with the production team, simply trying to film a scene at an historic location. Regardless, I hope I've conveyed how this is just how it is at the end of 2011: people, often consistently, do not show their elders the proper respect they deserve. Of all the weeks of the year – Pearl Harbor week – where fewer than 200 arrived on Oahu for their final goodbye, this was the time for CBS, Hawaii Five-O and the average American to rise up and go the extra mile to accommodate these men. To show respect. To say thank you.


Production on such a grand scale isn't free. To that I say: neither is freedom.


In honor of these men and to show your support, I urge you to share this on Facebook, Twitter, at church, at your poker game, at schools, at work. This shouldn't be a quiet little island secret. Let people know via social networking. Stealing a line from a colleague: Hawaii Five-No!


Mahalo,

Steffan Tubbs

Newsradio 850 KOA, Denver. Colorado's Morning News co-host

Board member, The Greatest Generations Foundation (www.tggf.us)

steffantubbs@clearchannel.com

Twitter: @tubbskoa

Newsroom: 303-713-8500


Steffan Tubbs...


37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let's see, you were already angry at the President, angry at the Secretary of the Interior and his so-called "bizarre statement" and angry that Hawaii Five-0 was even allowed to film at the cemetery. The crew was disrespectful of your but you're the only who noticed it. No one else was mad until you described the events as you interpreted them? Is that about it? Sounds like much ado about nothing. Were mistakes made, probably. But were people being disrepectful? It doesn't sound like it. It sounds more like you managed to make a mountain out of a molehill because you were already pissed off. And I say this as the daughter of an WWII vet.

Terry

Anonymous said...

Well, now you have your name somewhere. And attention drawn to you. And, oh, ruined the visit of all those vets by being a little tattle tail. And, oh, being a butinsky. yeah, you must be proud. Sounds like you had no respect for a group of people doing their job.

Tere

Debbies21 said...

Jack Lord would not have acted like that.

Anonymous said...

If things happened as you say, then it is shameful and the cast and crew should be ashamed of themselves. For these actions to take place on that specific day makes this even worse. When all is said and done, it is only a tv show. They will not die for their county by playing dress up and make believe.

Anonymous said...

I doubt the actors knew anyone was there. However, if things happened the way you say, then there should be some response from H50. You are right that there should have been some respect for the veterans ceremony. But, I would like to ask why the cemetary would allow them to film there knowing that the 70th anniversary was on that day. Since you have a long list of people to be angry at, where is your outrage at them?
They could have scheduled the filming at another time or day. I'm sure the money paid was the reason.
WWII veterans should be remembered and respected, we are all greatful to them, as I have several relatives that served and were wounded in that war.
It sounds as though mistakes were made all around, including yourself. As the written word is more damaging whether it is all true, partially true, or not true. I hope that you would have at least tried to explain your frustration to the powers that be before running to your computer to allow someone from the other side explain.

Anonymous said...

First off, please read the article before commenting! Mr. Tubbs says the incident happened 2 days AFTER Pearl Harbor Day, on Dec. 9th. Not on Dec. 7th, the actual date of the Pearl Harbor bombing. He states he was already upset because of other perceived slights to the WWII Veterans that did occur on Dec. 7th. But Mr. Tubbs cannot, and actually did not, claim that the events he writes about happened on Pearl Harbor Day. Also, it seems rash and presumptious to castigate Hawaii 5-0 productions for its "disrespectful" actions when the account is completely one-sided. I refuse to lay blame or make an uninformed judgement. I might add, it's not disrespectful to walk on graves, that's usually the only way to get to particular gravesites.

Anonymous said...

@ Previous comment....Yes I know when Pearl Harbor happened, I did pay attention in school. However, the ceremony that the author is referring to was for the 70th anniversary of the bombing for which was 2 days before, but their ceremony was on that day (12/9). The point is that the author was angry already and said so in his article. Since the article was written on the same day and they said that the attempts to contact CBS and H50 had gone unanswered. Since this came out on 12/10, there was not much time for anyone from either of those organizations to comment before the author and his friend decided to request a boycott. Which is why this is so riduculous. Lets keep cooler heads and get all the facts before we write an article. Or does fairness matter to the author? Perhaps that is why most distrust what they read.

Anonymous said...

Boycott.. Hollywood needs an ass whupping and this is good a reason as any. Sounds like planning for this event the 70th anniversary should have been something the parks dept. thought about but obviously did not. I have been around movie sets more than once. The tone is set by the production staff and director .. the crew just fall in line. If there is respect for local sensibilities.. all goes well .. if not all this is left behind is hatred of Hollywood and movie making actors and production staff. The producers of Five O should apologize and whether the writer was angry or not is of no consequence ... this is going to spread far and wide and leave a BAD TASTE in everyone's mouth. Considering the ORIGINAL McGarrett Jack Lord was a WORLD WAR II vet is both ironic and indicative of a change in a culture that is already on the down hill slide. I can not imagine the refined actor and painter, Jack Lord not apologizing personally for what happened. But the new Hollywood is way to self absorbed and self centered and CLUELESS to show any class at all.

Anonymous said...

I feel if the actors had known what was going on they would have gladly spoken to the vets, they have in the past. Sometimes the crew tries to make themselves feel more important than they really are. I also wonder why someone posts a story without getting both sides. Maybe just to get hits on your blog. H50 is and always has cared.

Anonymous said...

knowing some of the crew and prod over the past year or two i respectfully disagree with your take on this . sounds like sour grapes for not getting an invite to see the production, have an actor speak on the bus or getting your buddy a hat. the ceremony was not disturbed and yet you felt it nessesary to announce to these honorable gentelmen that their service was disrespected. the cast and cerew take extreme measures to respect and honor the people who live here as well as contribute to the economy, participate in may events honoring our military and hire local talent. sounds like a case of someone looking for a headline to me.

Anonymous said...

Not only do you trash a whole production and really lay into the actors, who I doubt knew you were even there. But you also kind of put down the vets. You say they were 'clueless' and talk about them as if there kids or really inocent.

You sound like you had a bad day that you noticed and because no one else did you decided to tell them everything youd seen. I take this account with a pinch of salt. If none of the vets were upset until you spoke to them, which this story shows, then they werent being disrespected were they? they were only upset when you told your story and so it is all based on your word.

Anonymous said...

They say there are two sides to every story and this is only one side. Like with anything else, I want to hear both sides before I make a decision or pass judgement. When or if the other side speaks up and I don't like what I hear, I will stop, but for now I intend to keep watching the show.

And in case anyone would comment on this, I honestly have nothing but respect for both veterans and those currently serving in the millitary. I'm very proud to say that my grandpa was a veteran and two of my uncles are as well, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know all the facts about something.

Anonymous said...

How do you get both sides of a story when one side is saying "no comment?" I think it's very clear what happened. The crew apparently doesn't think much of the armed forces or the vets. Stop trying to play "defense lawyer" long enough to see reality.

Anonymous said...

Just imagine if the headstone of one of our veterans fallen brothers was underneath the camera dolly?!?! Do you think they would have moved it for them? Yeah, right. Shame on CBS, and shame on Hawaii Five-0 staff.. God Bless our Troops.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for chronicling this despicable event. What man desires for ill God will use for good. Praying this will bring even more attention to these American heroes...CBS should charter a private jet, put them up in suites and bring them back for a private ceremony.

Anonymous said...

This is the WORST!! I was at the Punchbowl last summer to pay my respect to my grandfathers comrades who died in WWII. I was moved by how many of the graves were dated December 7, 1941, the cemetery was full of them. This cemetery belongs to the Pearl Harbor survivors not the 5-0 cast. I think the survivor who asked about the hat should be sent one along with a handwritten apology!!! Does he need a shirt too???

Anonymous said...

Having read the account, I am appalled...at the absolute callous disregard and disrespect by the show crew, actors, the whole cess pool lot of them. Up to now, I hadn't seen the show. I can guarandamntee that I won't see a second of the show -- or anything on CBS -- now. What's more, I will send a note to CBS. Not that they'll care: their pompous arrogance and disrespect is already well demonstrated. But I'll send it anyway. I respect the men of December 7, 1941. I respect ALL of our veterans. I have none for prima donna entertainers and their lowlife producers.

Anonymous said...

When fantasy becomes more important than reality, CBS has a problem. A respectful producer would have taken ten minutes to join the Vets in honoring their fallen comrades. A clever one would have figured out a way to have his team join TGGF in the moment.

Anonymous said...

This truly is disgraceful! I have to wonder how "old" these "actors" and crew members were. Is it pure ego or simple unconscious behavior? It makes me angry because it is ONE MORE example of how unconscious people act around money. They worried about the almighty dollar over the very lifes of men and women who defended their homeland. The actors need to take responsibility for their behavior. If they wanted to take a few minutes...they sure could have. Maybe they needed to fluff their hair or eat their salmon.

Anonymous said...

Been to the Punchbowl many times..a solem place, a place for respect..especially to those that made it possible...sad day for H50

Anonymous said...

I was there and it was every bit as bad as Steffan said. I was particularly appalled, as were the vets, at how casually and disrespectfully the film crew treated the hallowed ground on which they walked. No thought was given to covering the headstones of American WWII heroes with every type of production equipment. Disgraceful. JR

Anonymous said...

This is a sign that something is wrong with this country. Not exactly sure how else to say it. These weren't just ignorant children that were disrespectful but educated adults with careers who really should have known better. I doubt they even feel any amount of shame or regret. That's the saddest part. The world's moved on and it doesn't even know how it should treat the last remaining WW2 veterans.

Anonymous said...

There seems to be an ego problem and sense of entitlement emanating from this production crew of ' Hawaii 5-0'. Although not on the scale of what seems to have occurred on Dec 7th, I passed crew members filming out on western Oahu, past Wainae. As I realized a crew was filming...and suspected the show involved... I rolled my window down to ask 3 PRoduction Assistants what was being filmed...from a young Asian lady, the answer I received was 'Your Mother'! I was speechless. And only because I was entertaining a friend for a weekend, I did not stop or answer back. Mind you my mom of 52 years passed away in 1997. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised to read this report. Sad..but not surprised. I, for one, will not be watching this series any longer

Mike said...

I agree that the CBS crew should have shown more respect. However when you say that you "Let the kid have it with a few select, powerful adult words and basically told him what he could tell his director" and then encouraged the Vets to flip off the production crew, I feel that shows a severe lack of adult behavior and disrespect on your part as well. You should have taken the high road and held your cool, and not resorted to the cussing and and obscene gestures. I truly feel sorry for the way the Vets were treated, but I find it impossible to feel sorry for you! You should be ashamed of yourself and your actions! You inflamed the entire situation with your actions. As a Vet myself I feel you Mr. Tubbs should not be allowed to escort any more Vets to any more memorials. The Greatest Generation should fire you immediately, due to your outright disgusting childish behavior. I for one will never listen to you on the morning show again until you apologize to the Veterans and to CBS for your behavior. I am sure you will not, as you big ego will get in your way.

Kent said...

Mr. Steffan Tubbs, You must have an ego as big as all outdoors. Really, I read the Veterans account of the day on the, Greatest Generations Foundation website and he does not mention any of this. He shows what a true adult is. You Mr. Tubbs need to grow up. The only person who was "boiling" about the whole thing, until you told them you story on the bus, was YOU!!!! Now that you have succeeded in ruining their day and making a bigger name for yourself in the local media you can't let it drop. I think what the Veterans should do is start a boycott of your morning show and also boycott any memorial you are attending with The Greatest Generations Foundation. Shame on you for such irresponsible behavior.

Anonymous said...

CBS. It disappoints many involved that you can’t even recognize the fact your H5O production staff were ill-mannered towards the returning Pearl Harbor survivors. Now according to unnamed CBS spokesperson, you are going to look into this to determine if we can trust the word of our Pearl Harbor survivors. Believe me, these war veterans are primed, and ready for one last fight, and trust me - YOU WILL NOT WIN..

Anonymous said...

I am the VP of Communications for The Greatest Generations Foundation who organized the program to Pearl Harbor for the 24 Survivors, arranged the visit to the Punchbowl on December 9, and organized the commemoration ceremony held there.

During the solemn ceremony, I witnessed NONE of the 5-0 crew paying respect during the National Anthem nor taps. Many were walking around; some were talking noisily. Following the ceremony, I walked near the set to discover the actors and crew walking ON the graves.

The production equipment was laid over the grave stones. I was amazed at the audacity of the crew to treat the graves as just a prop in their show, their lack of respect augmented by walking on the grave stones.

The worst part was exactly as Steffan described: during the rose laying. I passed out the 24 roses, inviting each veteran to place a rose on a grave of an unknown soldier, as these men are often overlooked and rarely receive flowers.

The Survivors were honored to do so, some with tears in their eyes. Keep in mind that this was done on the opposite side of the cemetery drive, far away from the crew. It was completely solemn and quiet. Then one of the crew, who suddenly appeared on the edge of our private ceremony, loudly said, "you guys need to be quiet. Keep it down over here." It took everything in me not to erupt in anger at this man, yet I remained composed as to not disturb our somber veterans. I am so sickened by 5-0's lack of respect for these men. These heroes were honoring their comrades, their brothers in arms, their friends...and 5-0 treated them like dirt.

No handshakes of gratitude were given, no expressions of thanks, not even a smile from the 5-0 crew. How dare they interrupt a veteran while he honors and respects his fallen comrades. How dare they treat this sacred, hollowed ground as just another film set. And how dare they trample on the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty. I expect nothing less than a personal apology from CBS and each member of the crew to each of our 24 Survivors."

Alicia Harms
Vice President of Communications The Greatest Generations Foundation

Anonymous said...

Just imagine if the headstone of one of our vets fallen brothers was underneath the camera dolly?!?! Do you think they would have moved it for them? Yeah, right.

Anonymous said...

Steffan, as a Navy vet, member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and chairman of a local vet memorial foundation in Thornton, I was shocked to hear what happened at Punchbowl. Our veterans deserve better than this and CBS owes these men an apology. I will do what I can to get the word out. http://www.tonysrants.com/​military/​cbs-hawaii-five-o-cast-and-crew​-disrespect-world-war-ii-survi​vors/

Anonymous said...

Bravo Steffan!! I just watched the live feed from HI. Looks like a pretty big story there and they said there would be more at 10:00. I sure would like to see this on National News...

Anonymous said...

I think our families and schools have FAILED miserably that these people had no respect for the veterans paying their respects to our fallen. We all need a wake up call.

Anonymous said...

You know the disgrace was all to make the islamic communist puppet and his communist regime happy while they were NOT CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS there.

Kent said...

This goes directly to Alicia Harms. Did you even attempt when you arrived at the Punchbowl to go and talk to the H50 crew in a nice manner and tell them that you had 24 Vets who were having a memorial that would last about an hour and half and could they see there way clear to give you that time to honor the Vets? Did you try and work out that you were going to lay the roses on the unknowns headstones and that would they give you the time and the dignity to allow that? Did you try and do anything to try and arrive at a solution with the directors or producers on the scene? From reading the blog post, it sounds as though you arrived and immediately were angry and then just went ahead with the memorial and when things got out of hand all you did was get even more angry and act out and that resulted in the situation turning out very bad for everyone involved. The H50 crew and CBS had rented that area of the Punchbowl in advance. As well as you had arranged for the area in advance. Which was obviously a mistake on the part of the Parks Department. I think you and all the members of The Greatest Generation Foundation need to take course in conflict resolution. And Mr Tubbs needs to take a course in anger management. Furthermore you should force Steffan Tubbs to apologize for his actions that day, when he was repeatedly told to leave the area he cussed out the man from CBS telling him to do so. And then encouraging the Vets to Flip off the crew when leaving was totally uncalled for. I do agree that CBS owes the Vets a sincere apology. But your organization also owes the Vets as well as CBS an apology for Mr. Tubbs actions as well.

Scott said...

Kent,

It may have been helpful for someone to go over to the production group and politely try to discuss with them what they were going to be doing that day and seek some cooperation from them. However, based on how they treated the headstones, and how they treated Steffan when he got within range of the set and even more so on how they treated the vets when they were attempting to place roses on the graves, it seems unlikely that the wonderful people that you are defending would have responded favorably. And none of the after theatrics which were admittedly somewhat childish, would have ever been necessary if the production could have shown respect once they DID know what was going on. The TGGF folks are not the ones to blame, the CBS crew could have made everything fine by simply apologizing, saying they didn't realize this was going on, and offering to hold production until they were finished. It wouldn't have cost them anything but an hour or so of time and could have potentially been a PR boon for the show. But the short-sighted and most likely military-hating hollywood types just couldn't be bothered to show respect for those that earned their freedom for them. You apologists just make it OK for this to happen and it really isn't OK. I hope the show tanks.

Scott said...

P.S. - And judging from the flavor of your rants against Mr Tubbs, perhaps you should join him in those anger management classes that you feel he would benefit from. Perhaps you would benefit as well.

Anonymous said...

To all who may had misunderstood the anguish from the people.
1. To use a sacred place such as the Cemetery at Punchbowl as a tool for financial gain , is simply wrong.
does not matter if you rented or not.
It still is a financial gain to use it improperly.
2. Under the fed.law I had mentioned it in some of my post not this one, but in News now Hawaii, under the FED. US code13., it is stipulated, and my be a violation by the Cemetery to use the Cemetery as a tool for financial gain. Especially if they did rent it out as if it was a park permit for camping or picnic.
3. They violated the rights of the Citizen's under the Freedom Act law. And, the freedom to enjoy and pay respects to their fallen comrades. Again, both the Cemetery and the Director of H5-0. I used to be an extra for them, and now refuse to acknowledge or watch their show due to their ignorance of lack of respect. And, to the fact that I as well as others had been treated rudely by a member of their production crew on set at one time or another. They are rude and arrogant in their manner and respect..so its no surprise to me that they would do this...all for the sake of financial gain.

Anonymous said...

I have done some work for the Greatest Generations Foundation in the past. The senior management is very professional and a more caring and conscientious group of people it would be hard to find. However the people I ended up working with in the field were, how do I put this nicely, a little bit childish. They treated the Vets great but when something went wrong they would blow up and it was their way or the highway so to speak. I have since quit doing any work for them due to this behavior.