Soldier Told Not to Read Levin, Limbaugh or Hannity in Uniform

radio.foxnews.com ^ | 6-7-2013 | Todd Starnes

[servo1969]

A veteran member of the U.S. Army Band said he is facing retribution and punishment from the military for having anti-Obama bumper stickers on his car, reading books written by conservative authors like Mark Levin and David Limbaugh, and serving Chick-fil-A sandwiches at his promotion party.

Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25-year Army veteran and conservative Christian based at Fort Myer in Washington, believes his outspoken opposition to gay marriage prompted higher-ups to take a closer look at his beliefs. The recipient of an Army Commendation Medal and a soloist at the funeral of former First Lady Betty Ford, Sommers said his core beliefs are enough to mark a soldier for persecution in today’s military.

“It seems like with the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – that the Christians have been the ones who’ve had to go underground and in the closet – for fear of retaliation and reprisals,” Sommers told Fox News. “Christians feel like they can’t be forthright with their faith. They have to hide.”

Ret. Navy Commander John Bennett Wells is representing the master sergeant. He said there is no doubt in his mind that the U.S. military is discriminating against Christians – and specifically his client.

“There’s no question about it,“ Wells told Fox News. “Because he is religious, because he feels that homosexual conduct is wrong for religious reasons, he is basically being persecuted.”

Lt. Col. Justin Platt, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon released a statement to Fox News noting that the military branch cannot comment on ongoing investigations or administrative actions.

Army documents obtained by Fox News indicate Sommers was told that his actions bordered on being disrespectful to President Obama and the “slightest inference of disrespect towards superiors can have a demoralizing effect on the unit.”

[CatherineofAragon]

That was how I understood it.

[dsm69]

Time to retire, Sarge. Tell them where to go, in a Christian way of course.

I agree. The Master Sgt. (E-8) has 25 years of service already, more than enough time for him to retire and collect his pension/benefits. He may also be at the maximum service time allowed for his rank. I believe that the most service time an E-8 can have is 25 years, then they must retire/get out. Extensions beyond 25 years service for E-8's can be requested and obtained from higher command, but are rarely granted.

With this all going on, this Master Sgt. would be well served to put in his retirement papers ASAP. If the Army/Military no longer respected my religious/political beliefs, then it would make sense to me to move on, especially if I already had enough service time for full military retirement.