The note is just five words long but it was stinging to a deaf Houston couple returning from their vacation in Hawaii.
Just back from a Hawaiian vacation, Angela Huckaby and James Moehle's pictures, souvenirs and smiles tell a story that needs no words. It was wonderful. It was his first ever airline trip and first vacation in 16 years, and the big island lived up to its billing.
But if lost luggage on the flight home didn't sour it, a note left on them definitely did.
"It was just outrageous and cruel and unnecessary," said Moehle's mother, Kay Moehle.
Attached to their luggage when it finally arrived Sunday morning was a receipt, how to reach the deaf couple and then this:
"Deaf and dumb. How much more insulting can you get?" Kay Moehle said.
Huckaby couldn't believe. It was the first time she's been called such a name. Moehle, a successful tradesman, was offended, too.
"He's deaf but he's not dumb," Kay Moehle said.
They have written a letter to American Airlines asking for an apology and disciplinary action against the person responsible. The airline sent us this statement:
"We apologize to Mr. Moehle and Ms. Huckaby. It was clearly a very poor choice of words. We're confident there was no ill will, but we'll be looking into this further and will be following up with our team members at IAH and the contractor that provides our baggage delivery services."
Moehle and Huckaby hope to hear from the airline themselves. His mother wants more.
"That person needs to be fired," Kay Moehle said. "The dumb one is the one who write the note."
The couple says if they get a sincere apology, they'll consider using the airline again.
Find Jessica on Facebook at ABC13JessicaWilley or on Twitter at @jwilleyabc13
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