I think the worst phone call I've had to make to my dad is when I was fresh out of college and working in Tennessee. I got cut off on an exit ramp and didn't have enough space to stop, so I ended up in a fender bender. Well, my fenders, bumper, hood and headlights all needed a makeover, but the Honda CRV that darted in front of me bore only a scratch from my license plate screw. The person I dreaded calling most was my dad, my dad who taught me to drive and taught me to be careful! I wasn't looking forward to him thinking I wasn't careful. I put off the call as long as I could, dialing up USAA first to start the claim. A nice agent took my call, started the claim, and helped me find a body shop that could repair my car. He asked if there was anything else I needed help with and I made an offhanded comment that no, I was okay, unless he had any tips for calling my dad. He paused for a moment before sharing that he was a dad and the first thing he would want to hear would be that I was okay, then that the damage was minimal, then circle back to me being okay.
It was excellent advice and my dad was, indeed, mostly concerned about my wellbeing.
So Dad: when you listen to this episode and get to the part about the worst call Chief Petty Officer Kuhn ever had to make to her father, please take a moment to reflect how lucky we are that the worst call from me resulted in multiple reminders that no one was hurt.
First up, as promised, is the link to the appellate case management page for Kuhn's appeal. I referenced a lot of video coverage from the trial from Court TV, as well as articles from the Pensacola News Journal, Yahoo, and WKRG.
For more information on intimate partner violence, I urge you to explore Alliance For Hope and their Family Justice Center Alliance. If you need help finding shelter in your area, please visit DomesticShelters.org. Last, but not least, many law schools and courthouses offer free legal assistance for people seeking protective restraining orders.
This episode contains a discussion of attempted suicide. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, I urge you to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Help is also available via chat on their website. For support specific to veterans, first dial 988, then selecting option 1. They also have veteran-specific chat support.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming!
Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.
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