[tlb]

Might also be an oblique Obama apology to the military after throwing his Afghanistan commander under the bus.

[Artemis Webb]

I think this is simply a case of Obama rubber stamping on a recommendation made from other levels.

[Psalm 144]

Certainly out of character, unless this guy was tight with the LBJ machine or something.

Odd. BO just doesn’t do positive things for decent people.

[saganite]

Consider the alternative. If Obama denied the request with all the evidence in hand and the recommendation of the Air Force and the Defense Depts. to restore Lavelle to his previous rank it would have hit the headlines and Obama would endure even more heat for being antagonistic towards the military. Signing off on the reinstatement was the easy (and right) thing to do.

[ChuteTheMall]

Nixon’s fault.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Does he get his back pay restored to his heirs?

[Vaquero]

[OldSmaj]

Might also be an oblique Obama apology to the military...

Nope...obama is too damned stupid to do something of that nature.

He simply signed something that was put in front of him, while being told that it was a good thing.

On an aside, though...this is something that should rest directly on the shoulders of Nixon.

He scapegoated this officer and the officer took it, because he was an excellent officer.

The shame of the action rests with the Nixon White House, like it or not.

Obama gets no credit, one way or the other...he simply put his "X" on a piece of paper.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Interesting...I met General Lavelle back in the 71-72 timeframe in Hawaii. I think he was PACAF Commander at the time. I was a young Lieutenant of Marines and dated his daughter a few times. One time I had dinner at their quarters at Hickam AFB - I remember feeling a bit weird being attended by Air Force stewards. Anyway, I didn’t embarrass the Marine Corps by asking Mrs. Lavelle to “please pass the f#cking potatoes”!

[CitizenM]

Whatever the political reasons behind this action are/were I am glad for the family that they succeeded. According to another story I read, the General’s retirement pay was never affected and he got his full retirement. However, that can't begin to compensate for the honor and dignity the government stole from him. Poor man, I imagine his heart was heavy with sadness and dismay over this and that he died feeling crushed about how his country did not recognize him rightfully. So glad the family kept up the fight for him and his name.