Soldier Ordered To Stop Running BeerForSoldiers.com

[matcom]

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CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — The 2nd Brigade soldier who created www.beerforsoldiers.com, a Web site that lets people buy a beer online for a U.S. soldier, has been ordered to stop running his site.

Sgt. Dale Rogers, in Iraq with Company C, 1st Battalion (air assault), 503rd Infantry Regiment, posted a notice on the site last week informing readers that he is turning it over to his brother.

A spokesman for the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, which includes 1-503, said in an e-mail that lawyers from the unit rendered a legal opinion that the Web site violated the Joint Ethics Regulation.

“The soldier seems to be using his association with the Army as a way to solicit funds for beer. Whatever his intentions, and I’m sure they are genuine and pure, (the Web site is) … illegal. I noted … however, that the site is still up and running. I am confident it will be shut down soon,” the spokesman said.

Last week Rogers posted a defiant message on the Web site in response to the order.

“I won’t back down! Stand me up at the gates of hell and I won’t back down,” the message said, quoting a Tom Petty song.

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