This series documents stories from the Herman Cain Awards subreddit, tracking the COVID mis- and disinformation on Facebook that is leading to so many deaths. Today’s cautionary tale is a former Marine with an (outmatched) immune system. 

With a few exceptions, everyone has an immune system, right? So let’s take a look at historical life expectancy. In 1900, it was 46 years for men, 48 years for women. In 1950, it was 65 and 71, respectively. Today, it’s 74 and 80. 

They had immune systems back in 1900, too. So what happened in the years since?

Well, science and medicine conspired to helps us live longer. Amazing, huh? Who knew! 

So yes, good for you if you have an immune system, but don’t be bragging about it like it’s some big deal if you then rush to the pharmacy to pick up medicine, or go to the hospital if sick. Otherwise, it’s like bragging you have arms. Good for you. Most people do. Doesn’t mean you can’t break them in an accident. 

In a bit of irony, he got COVID at the end of November, a year after posting this. The odds that he picked it up at a holiday gathering are pretty darn high. 

He’s hardcore, guys. He won’t let the man Facebook keep him down with the truth. And it’s not as if Facebook is actually truly attempting to tamp down on misinformation. It’s happy to slap one of those worthless “nutrition labels” on any discussion about COVID and give the occasional time-outs to the worst offenders. But as we’ve seen in this very feature, day after day, the bulk of their mis- and disinformation gets through. 

Wingnut: “I take Vitamin D and magnesium and zinc and quercetin and this entire pile of expensive supplements to boost my immune system.”

The world: “Wonderful! Here’s a vaccine to further boost it!”

Wingnut: “I HAVE AN IMMUNE SYSTEM AND YOU DO TOO.”

He’s so proud to be spreading lies. 

Poor eagle wants to be left out of this whole mess.

Facebook prison and he trusts his immune system and he wants “freedom to choose” (but not you women, just him). 

Three kids at home…

He had an immune system, but apparently he didn’t have two fucks to give about protecting his young family if something were to happen to him. 

There’s this idea that you can “fight” COVID. But no, it’s not a conscious effort to resist an invading force. You are at the mercy of the virus, and either your body has whatever it needs to fight it off, or it doesn’t. So poor guy is dying, on a ventilator, knowing death is nigh, and this well-meaning friend or family member is reminding him that he’s leaving his wife and two young daughters behind. The guy was a bit of a jerk, but ouch. Seems cruel. 

He had an immune system. He trusted it!

He was 50 years old, and by the looks of his pictures, actually seemed quite healthy. He was a union longshoreman. He was sick for a week before finally getting admitted to the hospital the first week of December. He died Feb. 3—so two months of hell for him and his family. 

And now he leaves behind a young family, children aged 21, 18, and 12. His obituary says that “Wally will be fondly remembered for his adoration for his wife and children.” Yet he didn’t take steps to protect himself, and he certainly didn’t take steps to protect his family. By all indications, he didn’t have life insurance, and his family is left begging in a GoFundMe to somehow plug the gap he’s leaving behind.