Forever a Hero: Commend the Vietnam Vet Who Took a Bullet for Endangered Turtles

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A 72-year-old disabled veteran, survivor of a Vietnam War bomb blast, had another close call — this time while on duty protecting baby sea turtles.

On July 17, Stan Pannaman and his friend Doug Young were volunteering at a sea turtle nesting site in Florida when an intoxicated man attacked the two watchmen. Michael McAuliffe, a 38-year-old who last year pleaded no contest to battery of a senior citizen, berated the gentlemen — allegedly saying he "hate\[s\] sea turtle people" — before trying to destroy one of the nests. Then he went after the men.

McAuliffe swung at Young, then went for the veteran. Pannaman, who has a concealed weapons permit, drew his pistol, aimed it in a safe direction to reveal its profile, and said, "Sir, I'm armed. Do not come any closer."

McAuliffe backed off, so Pannaman pocketed the pistol. That's when McAuliffe lunged, knocked Pannaman to the ground, and took his gun. McAuliffe aimed at Pannaman's chest and reportedly said, "I'm going to shoot you with your flare gun."

"Sir, it's not a flare gun," said Pannaman.

Before McAuliffe fired, Pannaman spun away. The bullet hit his hip. McAuliffe was apparently surprised when no flare came out. "Are you okay?" he asked the wounded vet.

"Sir, you shot me," said Pannaman. "How could I be okay?"

McAuliffe was remanded on a number of charges without bond; Pannaman is on the road to recovery, but it will be weeks before doctors can remove the bullet due to inflammation. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think monitoring sea turtle nests \[was\] going to be a life-threatening experience," said Pannaman. When asked whether he will keep doing it, he said, without hesitation, "Oh of course."

**Let's show Stan Pannaman, model veteran and sea turtle person, we're thankful for his self-sacrificial community protection, and especially for his defense of Florida's threatened sea turtles.**