TSA Humiliates Wounded Marine During Security Screening

The Transportation Security Administration reportedly left a wheelchair-bound Marine humiliated after they forced him to remove his prosthetic legs and later stood in pain on his legs while they examined his wheelchair.

Rep. Duncan Hunter wrote a letter explaining the ordeal that the wounded Marine went through while going through security at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport last week. The Marine lost both of his legs in an IED blast and it forced to wear prosthetic legs and use a wheelchair.

"A TSA office asked the Marine to stand and walk to an alternate area, despite the fact that he physically could not stand or walk on his own. With numerous TSA officers sitting and unwilling to assist, an officer then made him remove his legs, then put them back on, only to advance to a secondary screening location where he was asked again to stand, with extraordinary difficult, while his wheelchair was examined for explosives," Mr. Hunter said, according to the Washington Times.

Hunter added that the TSA agents directed the Marine to the wrong line at first and then made him walk to another line without helping him. The Marine was with a group of Marines returning to San Diego from Arizona.

Along with the letter, congressman Hunter included two photos of the TSA inspection. The photos show a TSA agent patting down the wounded Marine's arms and then examining his prosthetic legs.

"The Marine, whose prosthetics were exposed, was humiliated, "Hunter wrote. "While I recognize the necessity to appropriately screen passengers, I am concerned by the apparent lack of situational awareness and respect among TSA officers - specifically when it comes to the treatment of war wounded."

Hunter asked the TSA to detail their procedure for inspecting wounded troops at airports.

According to Human Events, the TSA has a policy on prosthetics and they don't need to remove the legs to examine them.

"The passenger should inform the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) of the existence of a prosthetic, his or her ability, and of any need for assistance before screening begins. Passengers can use TSA's Notification Card to communicate discreetly with security officers. However, showing this card or other medical documentation will not exempt a passenger from additional screening when necessary."