Just days after Christmas, two officers from the Space Force experienced a devastating incident that resulted in the loss of their home and their cat, seemingly targeted.
Maj. Jason “Red” Mills shared in a recent interview how his house was broken into, set ablaze, and then vandalized. While he and his family were away in Florida celebrating Christmas, Mills received an alarming call at 5 a.m. on December 28 from Washington, D.C., informing him that his home was on fire. To make matters worse, when he returned, he discovered messages such as “Fuck Trump,” “Fuck Aliens,” and “Fuck USDS” spray-painted on his vandalized car, with the last term likely standing for the “United States Department of Internal Affairs.”
Mills wasn’t speaking on behalf of the Space Force during the call; he mentioned that both he and his wife have been members since the early 2010s. He expressed concern regarding a rise in anti-military sentiment in certain areas of D.C. “I think there has been an overall increase in it,” he remarked, adding that perhaps people noticed his military uniform while commuting, since he worked in parts of the city where military personnel are less visible.
Upon returning home, the fire department informed him that multiple fires had been ignited on different levels of the house, particularly in the kitchen and basement. The fire report confirmed this as an incendiary incident. A man was subsequently arrested, reportedly found with items belonging to Mills.
Mills, with protective gear on, searched through the fire-ravaged property, managing to recover some important belongings, including a hospital bracelet from the day his daughter was born. He even shared a touching photo of salvaged family pictures amidst the destruction. Sadly, he also mentioned having to retrieve his cat’s body from the wreckage.
Not only was his home set ablaze, but his car was also heavily damaged, with documents scattered and black ink smeared across the dashboard and mirrors. A sticker with a large “X” reading “Air Force Research Laboratory” was another bizarre addition found on his vehicle.
Given the nature of the attack, Mills notified his chain of command, receiving what he described as a “heartwarming” response. After the incident, they set up a GoFundMe page, which has surprisingly gathered around $90,000 within just a few days. Mills expressed his astonishment at the contributions, noting that students from the school where he used to teach had collectively sent about $500. One notable donation of $10,000 came from someone bearing the name of the NASA administrator, which officials confirmed.
Mills conveyed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support he received in the aftermath of the fire, stating that it far exceeded their expectations and was incredibly moving.
