When I was in....the military was made of sterner stuff.....not that I'm saying this soldier whined personally....but geesh!
there were two parties that knew what happened, and one of them went to the media.
hint: it wasn't the school.
It was a school and at the door. It could have been any number of people. I go to various schools all the time in my line of work. This was not done in private. It was a high school, apparently. Those are filled with drama queens (both genders) who love to make school staff like idiots and meanies. Kids talk, they tell other kids and parents, often exaggerating. Why would you assume it was the Lt Col rather than school drama snowballing.
It was a misunderstanding, handled promptly. Neither side should be demonized, IMO. One side assuming a muslim or liberal academia and the other side questioning a serviceman for wearing his uniform at all or "prancing around in it."
FFS, I'm glad most of the country isnt like the people here.