A troubled Iraq war veteran was ordered by a California judge to stay away from actor Tom Cruise after he tried to contact the star several times in order to "enlist him in his mission to get appropriate remedies for soldiers in the Iraq War."

Troubled military veteran Edward Van Tassel showed up on the actor's doorstep three times over the past weeks attempting to deliver a letter. Just weeks before, Tassel was all over the national news after he stopped traffic in Santa Barbara by waving a gun and an American flag on a Highway 101 overpass trying to raise awareness about the plight of veterans. He was arrested hours later and charged with several weapon violations.  

Given the man's history and persistence to get in touch with the "Top Gun" star and near his property, Cruise did not have to personally request the restraining order, the judge issued it on his behalf.

"I certainly did not envision a situation that would enable him to come and go as he pleased," the judge said. "The V.A. let him down, the family let him down and we let him down."

According to his lawyer, Tassel meant no harm and solely wanted to hand-deliver a letter to the actor. Authorities said the 29-year-old man first turned up at Cruise's residence on December 3 but his attempt to contact the actor failed so he tried again several hours later with no results. Four days later he returned at 5 a.m. prompting a security guard to call the cops.

"I reach out to you as a fan and maybe someday as a friend," the letter read. "The soldiers NEED your ASSISTANCE."

Cruise's attorney said that his client "feels very strongly about veterans of not only the Iraq war, but any veterans of war, and that they should be taken care of," and was also quick to point out that Cruise didn't know anything about the incident.