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Father Of Slain Stockton Soldier Says Airline Passengers Booed Him On Flight Home

STOCKTON (CBS13) — The father of a slain Stockton soldier is speaking out after he says his family was booed on the flight to bring his son's body home from Afghanistan.

Sgt. John Perry died on Saturday in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber.

Stewart Perry is a father mourning the loss of a son at a service on Thursday.

"Most importantly, I want people to know about the heroic thing that my son did," he said.

His son stumbled on the suicide bomber before he could reach his target—a soldiers' 5K Veterans Day run.

"He would have killed 100, 200, who knows?" he said.

Perry says his son's death comes comes at a time military service is facing disrespect. He says his family was even booed on the flight to bring his son's body home over a delay.

"To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more," he said.

Perry says his son's death also underscores why the American flag is sacred for service members, not just a symbol for protest.

"It's not for protest—it's for the death of the people that are saving us. That's what it's for," he said.

He also called out recent presidential campaign rhetoric, including President-elect Donald Trumps' remarks about the Khan family.

"One example would be Donald Trump speaking badly about a Gold Star family, who I now am, but it also bothers me that people don't want to talk about the terrorism that killed my kid," he said.

A soldier's death defending his country has left a father defending his son.

"My kid was over there to help put a stop to this garbage, and he died," he said.

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