I’ve written about the problem with the growing amount of dick measuring in military and veteran circles before. But the drama never quite seems to stop, and at every turn it seems to get more out of control.

On February 17, we shared a link to an article by Spencer Walker and Daniel Racca at Warfighter News, concerning the history of Eddie Ray Routh, the accused killer of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. We didn’t share the entire article, instead putting the first few paragraphs up and then directing to Warfighter News. Both Spencer and Daniel were credited with the work, as was appropriate.

The reaction has been…disturbing.

Two of the Warfighter Foundation’s board members, one a SEAL widow, the other the daughter of a SEAL, resigned over it.  One even said she would rather be connected with an article put out by ISIS than with SOFREP.

It didn’t stop there.  The two former board members have allegedly embarked on a smear campaign aimed at the Warfighter Foundation.  They have endeavored to instigate disputes between the Warfighter Foundation’s personnel and other veterans.  They have apparently attempted to paint the Foundation as somehow illegitimate, simply because of a passing association with this website. Some of what was allegedly said also creates a clear legal liability and concern for any persons making false and slanderous statements on social media sites about the Warfighter Foundation.

We’ve confirmed that at least one of the former board members regularly receives monies from a number of Special Operations charities.

The people participating in this smear campaign are, in our opinion, allowing over-inflated egos and jealously of SOFREP to lead them to attempt to smear fellow veterans at the Warfighter Foundation. This kind of behavior isn’t rational, it isn’t professional, and it sure as hell shouldn’t be considered acceptable.

“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”-Winston Churchill

The Truth

The Warfighter Foundation was founded and is run by veterans of the U.S. Marines, Army and Navy.  They are all volunteers and 100% of the funds they collect goes to their mission. They have escorted the families of Extortion 17, conducted veteran hikes to raise awareness of veteran suicide, hosted private screenings of Lone Survivor and American Sniper for combat veterans, and donated proceeds to America’s Mighty Warriors, Debbie Lee’s charity.

The team at The Warfighter Foundation have focused on events raising awareness of PTS and veteran suicide, while also trying to aid veteran rehabilitation. In September, they will be taking twenty wounded/disabled veterans on a 130-mile trek to the Mt. Everest Base camp. Spencer Walker, President of the Foundation, has said in reference to these activities, “It is important to realize that our combat veterans could spend two years of weekly individual psychotherapy, and not reap the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of being in the mountains as part of a team with a common objective.”

And yet, for all that they endeavor to do, there are some people with a connection to the SEAL community now trying to tear The Warfighter Foundation down. Personal grievances have been made public, and men who have had nothing to do with them are being tarred because of it.

This is completely and utterly unacceptable.

These individuals should be ashamed of themselves. They risk besmirching the reputation of the entire SEAL community with their behavior. Their compatriots should not tolerate it, and we certainly will not.

Men should be judged by the company they keep, and we are (as are you) in good company standing next to The Warfighter Foundation.

“The time is always right to do the right thing” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

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Editor’s note: Please consider heading over to The Warfighter Foundation’s Facebook page to let them know that SOFREP sent you, and that they have your support.

(Featured Image Courtesy: Yuri Kozyrev / Noor for TIME)