Big Country is asking for your help with costs associated with his wife’s recent cancer diagnosis. See if you can lend him a hand…

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21 Comments

B · February 9, 2024 at 9:54 am

Now, firstly, don’t get mad at me for asking.

But do you, or anyone you know, actually know Big Country?

The reason I ask is that his continued fundraising follows a pattern I have seen many times on the internet. Terrible story about a young family member. Needs funds for (Treatment or to defend legal etc) then a few months of all good….then a few more months of increasing pleas for help because the situation is getting worse….then a calm before another crisis hits. It’s a pattern that, as the willingness to help for one crisis wanes, and other crisis rises to garner additional sympathy. This follows that pattern. Look it up. Lots of folks have used pattern this to gain tens of thousands of dollars. I can provide examples if you wish, but it doesn’t matter. If you know or have a real reason to trust this guy, fine.

I think that thousands of people I have known via the internet have been taken in by grifters over the years. Even wirecutter has been taken by these folks. It’s a thing.

If you personally vouch for this guy, that you know him in real life and trust him… that is one thing. If he is just a presence on the internet, wellllll….

Please don’t get angry at me, but there have been scams and grifters throughout history, the internet (and especially blogs) make it easier for them.

If I am wrong, I will apologize to the dude, but I would ask you to either tell me you know him personally or to find some proof that he is what he says with all the bad luck he claims is really happening.

    Divemedic · February 9, 2024 at 10:10 am

    Point taken. Yes, BCE and I know each other. I first met him face to face at the Great Florida Blogshoot in 2020, and again at the second blogshoot three months later. Some of the more notable bloggers there: Miguel of Gunfreezone, Borepatch, and Queen of the World. Then there were others including Ratus, Big Country, Sapper, and many others. Sgt Bob showed up with an M1 Garand that was in better condition than any other I have seen in a long time.

    So yes, I do know the guy IRL, but only because of blogging, and life seems to be kicking his ass lately.

      Out West · February 12, 2024 at 2:02 pm

      Also no dog in this hunt, but it does strike me as being less than ethical when someone online asks for money (in this case, repeatedly, for large amounts now totaling $100,000 in a few years) via the Givesendgo type web sites. And then provides no transparency in the way of documentation for the situation. And these requests are always for costs not yet incurred, always forecasted expenses.

      If I had a granddaughter who was about to fall into the hands of evil-doers, and it was going to take a large five-figure amount of money for an attorney to attempt to rescue the girl, I’d at least, occasionally, post an attorney invoice or two documenting the situation for the sake of transparency, credibility and honesty. But that’s just me. To be fair, I’ve looked at a number of such fundraising stories, even contributed to some as I did to the granddaughter situation, and I have yet to see one that showed accounting for the donated money. I suppose it’s now just accepted that that’s the way it is.

      I won’t be contributing to this fundraiser but I do very much wish the woman well. Also, I did search Gab extensively for the mentioned conversation and could not find anything that referenced what was alluded to.

    Anonymous · February 9, 2024 at 11:09 am

    You would not be surprised to hear the stories from the guys who have sent some money his way, and how that’s turned out for them.

    Your observation is astute, and well made, IMO, based on what I have read from those who did send him money, and regretted it very soon thereafter.

      Divemedic · February 9, 2024 at 11:24 am

      I have not personally seen any stories like that. You’ve made an allegation, do you care to provide links to any sources as backup?

        Anonymous · February 10, 2024 at 7:21 am

        There is a group on gab that is quite familiar with him. There was a thread in the last year or so when he was conitnually asking for money regarding a grandaughter. It was in that thread that there were three or four who shared the same experience with him. I don’t know how to search for it or find it on gab, but I suppose one could go and find it for himself if he was so inclined.

        I did not make an allegation, BTW. I simply relayed what I have observed.

      jimmyPx · February 9, 2024 at 6:52 pm

      Speaking as a guy who HAS sent money his way, several times in fact, I’d be interested in hearing about how it “turned out for others who gave him money”.

      I’m in my 50s and have been “around the block” a few times. Whenever I give money to someone in the back of my mind I think “could this possibly be a scam” ?

      But you know what, I read BCE every day and have chatted with him online.
      People DO have years where their luck is total crap (2011 was such a year for me).
      I’m not sending him big amounts and if he needs the assistance then I’m glad that I helped.
      If I was scammed then that is on him and karma will bite his ass big time.
      I personally think he’s legit and an old vet who is going through a bad time.

SoCoRuss · February 9, 2024 at 1:07 pm

Dam, BCE cant seem to cut a break.

ModernDayJeremiah · February 9, 2024 at 4:58 pm

I live west of the Mississippi and have never met Big Country in meatspace. That said, his story about his granddaughter and his wife both ring true. I would not be so foolish as to call him a “grifter” to his face. That would likely not turn out well for you.

Uncle Jesse · February 9, 2024 at 6:19 pm

Too broke to pay attention but moral/morale support always on tap.
Ignore all advice from the sickcare abattoir system which is mainly about draining the shekels of oldsters over their last few months.
Trust a freshly minted from Marxist EDU/DEI/CRT Costco bulk buy lab coat wearer at your own risk.
I do have a couple of those olive drab and brown pouch MRE components sealed still in box.

Noway2 · February 9, 2024 at 8:18 pm

This is reminiscent of another blogger / author that I like to read breaking down and throwing up the bat signal for financial help. In that particular case, I donated $20, admittedly not much in its own because I enjoy reading her writings. She grew up in communist Portugal if you want a hint. Collectively, she received far more than her goal and obviously I am not the only one who values her writing.

It’s a real problem today with corporate media now trying to throw up pay walls to subscribe to their propaganda. What better way to get viewers hook, line, and sinker. I am willing to throw some money at the small guy, the independent, even if it is just a blog or a substack. It helps keep that voice alive and we need to. Even if it is a small amount, even if it is all you can afford, you’re still showing your support.

Doug · February 9, 2024 at 9:01 pm

Done.

SoCoRuss · February 9, 2024 at 9:17 pm

Feel bad for him and I’m not saying anything bad about the situation, but I’m a little confused. Retired and medically retired service members still have access to TRICARE, the military’s medical insurance program, for themselves and family. They aren’t limited to the VA care only? Why doesn’t he have that? I’m a retired SM with a small VA disability and my oldest son has full retirement and 100% VA disability and my youngest son just got full medical retirement pushed on him and all of us have full TRICARE coverage.

    Anon · February 10, 2024 at 9:52 am

    He has VA coverage. But to get TRICARE for her, he needs to be at 100%. I think he is only at 80 so she wouldn’t be covered

    ModernDayJeremiah · February 10, 2024 at 5:05 pm

    Because the industrial sickcare system would burn (with radiation), poison (with chemotherapy) and butcher (with surgery) breasts that Big Country describes as “works of art”. And if it would actually WORK, he and his wife would probably go for that. But it doesn’t.

    Big Country and Gretchen are looking at options that aren’t “approved” by the Feckless Drug Approver feral agency because they don’t make gazillions for the Government-Murdical-pHarma Industrial Complex. I wish and pray for their success and many happier years on this hunk of rock.

SoCoRuss · February 10, 2024 at 1:19 pm

I have no dog in this hunt. But the TRICARE website says he can as long as its above 30% since that’s the limit for retirement vs separation and is on the Temp or permanent disability list.

https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring/MedicalRetirement

Just my 2 cents. Thought maybe he didn’t get a good separation briefing. My youngest sons brief from Army was loads of pure bullshit. Had a old friend that worked at his bases civilian G staff have a talk with them to straighten them out

    NA · February 11, 2024 at 12:41 am

    Far as I can tell, BCE is trying an approach not covered by VA care. Feb 6 post mentioned out-of-pocket ivermectin injections, fenbendazole (fenben), and macrophage activation factor capsules. Presume all of this adds up.

      B · February 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm

      IF that’s the case then he doesn’t need all that much money Those medicines are dirt cheap. Like dollars a day for the entire dosages.

      Something doesn’t add up.

        jimmyPx · February 11, 2024 at 11:21 pm

        You might want to read his latest post:

        https://bigcountryexpat.com/index.php/2024/02/11/updates-and-stuff-all-over-the-board/

        He’s being smart and isn’t doing this willy nilly on his own using vet meds.

        If you choose not to use a traditional oncologist and go the surgery, chemo/radiation route then you NEED a doctor who knows this stuff inside and out to oversee her treatment. He has an alternative doctor supervising her care and is using meds that come from overseas and can get pricey.

        These are literally life and death decisions for his wife and if it was my wife, I’d do the same thing.

Tsgt Joe · February 12, 2024 at 8:32 am

All I can say is that I know he exists in teal life, I also met him at the 2020 blog shoot. I can also guarantee that he went through hell trying to gain custody of his grand daughter who was in the foster system in another state. I worked in that system and everything he said rang true.

BigCountryExpat · February 17, 2024 at 3:47 am

This here is from Gretchen, no editing… people can say what they want, but I’d assured them that they most certainly want to be in my combat boots… In fact, I’d gleefully swap places with a mo’fo…. I keep wondering if I desecrated a tomb or something…. So from Gretchen to you all directly:
“Dear all you kind readers.
I am NOT the writer in our family. So please be patient with me.
These last couple weeks have been heart wrenching to say the least. However w all the kind words prayers and so many donations you have made things a little better. I’m feeling very positive about treatment and ready to do battle with this invasion of my body. I’ve been trained by my husband in the art of battle. Now there is nothing to do now but to engage the enemies.
Thank you all so much I am humbled again by your generosity. Please don’t give up on us. I haven’t yet begun to fight. ”

Take from it what you will… haters gonna hate (and burn in Hell) and it is what it is. DM, much love from me and Gretchen… I -need- some trigger therapy soon, Jes’ Sayin’

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