According to investigators, on the morning of July 22, 2020, Neary was on Devil Dog Field across from the Marine headquarters building when he heard eight Marines listening to the song "Put It On" by the artist "Big L." Neary told the Marine nearest him to change the song. After the group finished their workout, Neary walked over to the Marines for a more detailed talk.
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What was said during this more detailed talk is the subject of disagreement between the Marines and Neary, but it's this conversation that would lead to his ouster.
According to one Marine, who later filed a complaint with the inspector general, Neary told the group that "[full n-word] should never be used and it is a word of hate" before adding that "[full n-word] is the reason 'you people' are doing riots in the U.S. 'you people' are the reason why the country is the way it is."
According to that Marine, Neary went on to tell the group that "it's your generation that's burning buildings down and starting these protests" -- just months after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
"He also said, 'go ahead and call HR, I am the head of HR,'" the Marine's account alleged.
