How Do We Find The Truth?
Below we will examine Eric’s true interest in the Marines, and the supposed rejection that took place due to him taking the psychotropic drug “Luvox.”
MYTH:
It was Eric’s dream to become a Marine, so he went to a recruiter to make it happen.
FACT:
Eric didn’t seek out the Marines. Columbine High School supplied the Marines with a list of current seniors and their phone numbers and they contacted him through that list. Even when Eric went through initial testing for the USMC 15 days before he died, he admitted that he was still unsure about joining. That was all just a cover for keeping up appearances.
By the 12th of April, 1999, the truth was recorded on videotape by Eric himself and thereby set in stone that he did not care at all about joining the Marines.
On a portion of one of the “Basement Tapes” recorded on the twelfth of April Eric says, “For the past few weeks my parents have hounded me about the things I’ve neglected… my application to the Marines, my car insurance, my checking account… but they don’t know that none of that matters to me.”
Would acceptance into the Marines have stopped the shooting? No.
MYTH:
Eric was told 5 days before the shooting that he was ineligible to become a Marine because he was taking Luvox for his depression.
FACT:
Contrary to popular belief, Eric was NEVER actually told that he was ineligible for the Marines. On April 12th, Eric recorded on video that his application to join the Marines did not matter to him. Three days later on the 15th of April, the Marine Sergeant met with Eric and his parents at their home and this is when Eric’s medication came into question. It is important to note that Eric had already made up his mind that he did not care about joining the Marines before the Sargent visited his home and questioned him regarding the Luvox he was taking.
Five days before the shooting, Eric met with a Sergeant in his home. His mother asked him if the anti-depressant Luvox would make Eric ineligible. The Sergeant said he would check on it, and get back to Eric. Two days later, the Sargent left a message on the answering machine merely asking Eric to call him back. Eric never did. According to the Sargent, the message he left on Eric’s answering machine did not mention anything regarding eligibility and only asked him to return the call. Eric erased the message so that his parents would not hear it – which worked, because they never did get that message. Eric didn’t care about the Marines but he still had to put on a show as though he did. At school the next day Eric told a few people including Brooks Brown that he was rejected from joining the Marines because of the medication he was on. This was just another one of his lies.
Below you will find the interview with Staff Sergeant Gonzales taken from the first 11,000 pages that were released.
On 04-28-99, Sgt. Les Williams and Det. Tom Hayes met with Staff Sergeant Mark F Gonzales at the Marine Corps Recruiting service, 7200 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226 (303-922-8170) Staff Sergeant Gonzales is a Marine recruiter and had contacted Eric Harris through a list of seniors provided by Columbine High School. Staff Sergeant Gonzales stated that he originally contacted Harris by telephone on 04-02-99 at Harris’ home telephone. Harris told Gonzales that he was planning to attent college but was interested in the Marine Corps. Staff Sergeant Gonzales asked Harris what his interestes included during his initial interview. Harris told him that he was interested in computers, soccer and weapons. Harris said that he got A’s and B’s in school and that he worked at the BlackJack Pizza near the Cooper 7 theaters near S. Wadsworth Blvd. and Bowles Ave. Harris also told Staff Sergeant Gonzales during this initial interview that he had never done any drugs.
Staff Sergeant Gonzales set up an appointment for Harris to come into the Littleton office for further interview and testing on 04-05-99 at 1300 hours. Gonzales said that Harris did keep this appointment and showed up driving a Toyota or Nissan with a “Ramstien” sticker on the rear window. Harris was dressed in black combat boots, black trousers and a black t-shirt with the word, “Ramstien” on the front. Staff Sergeant Gonzales recognized this as a German rock group. Harris took the initial screening test given to all recruits and scored a 46. According to Staff Sergeant Gonzales, this is an average score. During an interview following the test to determine his areas of interest, Harris was given several tags which were labeled with different attributes. Harris chose three tags which were labeled physical fitness, leadership and self reliance, self discipline and self direction. Harris indicated that he was interested in the infantry and was particularly interested in the types of weapons, training and use of demolitions. At the conclusion of the interview, Harris wanted to think about enlisting and wanted to talk to his parents about the decision.
On 04-08-00 at 1300 hours, Harris returned to the Littleton recruiting office and spoke with Staff Sergeant Gonzales. Harris again said he wanted to think about enlisting and wanted to discuss it with his parents. Harris arranged for a home visit by Staff Sergeant Gonzales on 04-15-99 at 1800 hours.
On 04-14-99, Staff Sergeant Gonzales went to BlackJack Pizza at approximately 1900 hours to contact Harris. Harris reconfirmed his appointment with Staff Sergeant Gonzales for a home visit on 04-15-99. On 04-15-99, Staff Sergeant Gonzales received a telephone call from Harris and he again reconfirmed his home visit for 1800 hours. At approximately 1800 hours, Staff Sergeant Gonzales arrived at Harris’ home and was met by Eric Harris and his father. Staff Sergeant Gonzales had a casual conversation with Mr. Harris in reference to Harris’ military career. During this conversation, Eric’s mother came downstairs and joined the conversation concerning the Marine Corp. The Harris’ had questions concerning jobs in the Marine Corp and the delayed entry program. Eric’s mother inquired as to Eric’s eligibility if he was currently taking an anti depressant. Eric’s mother retrieved a bottle of pills from the upstairs so that Staff Sergeant Gonzales could identify the drug and check on the eligibility status. Staff Sergeant Gonzales looked at the prescription bottle and copied the name of the drug, Luvox. Staff Sergeant Gonzales told the Harris’ that he would check on Eric’s eligibility status and call them back. He did not tell the Harris’ that he was not eligible at this time because he wanted to check further with the Marine Corp. Either the following day, Friday 04-16-99 or on Saturday 04-17-99, Staff Sergeant Gonzaled left a message on Harris’ home telephone for him to call him. This telephone call was not returned and Staff Sergeant Gonzales had no further contact with Harris. Staff Sergeant Gonzales said that Harris was never notified that he would not be eligible for entry into the Marine Corp.
We understand that there is some possible new evidence published in the book written by Jeff Kass that supposedly has an interview with Sergeant Gonzales that states he actually did tell Eric he was ineligible for the Marines. We don’t have access to this book, so if anyone would like to be so kind as to type or scan that section and send it to us for analysis that would be greatly appreciated!
Reasons to believe Eric was rejected:
Eric told Brooks Brown that he was rejected from the Marines for taking Luvox.
Reasons to question whether Eric was rejected:
Just because someone talks about wanting to be a Marine and obsesses over it does not mean they have a real passion to become a Marine.
Eric never filled out a Marines application.
Eric stated 8 days before he died on video tape, “For the past few weeks my parents have hounded me about the things I’ve neglected… my application to the Marines, my car insurance, my checking account… but they don’t know that none of that matters to me.“
It MUST be noted that Eric stated he didn’t care about joining the Marines 3 days PRIOR to his recruiter finding out he was taking Luvox!
Being visited by a Marines recruiter is not part of the application process. It’s what they do when someone expresses interest in joining.
According to the recruiter Eric met with, he never told Eric Luvox disqualified him
Eric didn’t seek out the Marines. They called him from a list of seniors provided by the school.