One can reasonably conclude from your comments regarding LtCol Lakin’s actions that you do not believe it is the duty of a military officer to detect, confront and expose corruption in the military chain of command. Such a view appears to disregard the military officer’s oath to defend the Constitution which, I hope you will agree, is a higher duty than participating in a fraudulent chain of command.
The view also seems to hold that the many O6’s and above to whom Lakin appealed over a period of several months had no duty to process his Constitutional concern. His concern was based on the fact that Congress had failed to take even the slightest step toward confirming the CinC’s qualifications for office, notwithstanding evidence in the public record to the contrary, several lawsuits and the substantial public outcry. That was a legal point (a breach of 3USC15), if not a clerical oversight, that could have been easily transmitted by the command structure to members of Congress and easily resolved.
But, lets turn to a more interesting fact. You named 10 highly decorated Viet Nam warriors and claim you “served with them”. More specifically, you state, “I have walked in their company and I know their mettle.” The term is usually taken to mean having been with them on the battlefield either shortly before, during or shortly after their heroics; otherwise, of course, everyone in the community could make a similar claim.
(Here, let me recommend you drop Barry McCaffrey from your list. Shooting noncombatants who are trying to go home, after receiving notice of a cease fire agreement is not the stuff of a hero and for many is an ugly stain on the authenticity of his earlier awards.)
You are most fortunate. Few of us, who do not have occasion to be associated with MOH recipients, have had the honor of formally meeting one, or perhaps even two recipients, if that. You on the other hand, have met a half dozen or so and walked with them.
What is even more amazing is that although these individuals served across a wide spectrum of military activities in different units in different locations in the same relatively narrow time period, you had the chance to walk with them.
The readers of this thread, which includes many who served in Viet Nam, would be very interested in hearing even a modestly detailed story behind your Viet Nam connection to each of the 10 warriors. It must be a hell of a story.
“More specifically, you state, “I have walked in their company and I know their mettle.” The term is usually taken to mean having been with them on the battlefield either shortly before, during or shortly after their heroics; otherwise, of course, everyone in the community could make a similar claim.”
Hogwash. It means you have worked with them and know enough about them to appreciate them. Over the years, centurion316 & I have exchanged many posts on military threads. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes not (Army vs USAF), but it is painfully obvious to anyone with significant military time that centurion316 is genuine.
No military court-martial has any authority to challenge a sitting President. Congress does, but they have not - not ONE person objected to Obama being sworn in.
If you have proof Obama was born overseas, offer it. Until then, he is in the eyes of the law a NBC and the valid Commander-in-Chief. And LTC Lakin agreed under oath.
You are profoundly mistaken on my view. You are also profoundly mistaken on what constitutes a legal order and suffer from a delusion that Odumbo is not the legitimate President of the U.S. Its a hard thing to admit, no doubt, but those are the facts and you have absolutely no evidence that shows that he is not.
The view also seems to hold that the many O6’s and above to whom Lakin appealed over a period of several months had no duty to process his Constitutional concern. His concern was based on the fact that Congress had failed to take even the slightest step toward confirming the CinC’s qualifications for office, notwithstanding evidence in the public record to the contrary, several lawsuits and the substantial public outcry. That was a legal point (a breach of 3USC15), if not a clerical oversight, that could have been easily transmitted by the command structure to members of Congress and easily resolved.
The Electoral College, the Congress, the sitting VP (Cheney), and the Supreme Court all accepted that he was a legitimate candidate and duly elected to his office. The military must honor that judgment. Take that issue up with your Congressman.
But, lets turn to a more interesting fact. You named 10 highly decorated Viet Nam warriors and claim you “served with them”. More specifically, you state, “I have walked in their company and I know their mettle.” The term is usually taken to mean having been with them on the battlefield either shortly before, during or shortly after their heroics; otherwise, of course, everyone in the community could make a similar claim.
(Here, let me recommend you drop Barry McCaffrey from your list. Shooting noncombatants who are trying to go home, after receiving notice of a cease fire agreement is not the stuff of a hero and for many is an ugly stain on the authenticity of his earlier awards.)
You are most fortunate. Few of us, who do not have occasion to be associated with MOH recipients, have had the honor of formally meeting one, or perhaps even two recipients, if that. You on the other hand, have met a half dozen or so and walked with them.
What is even more amazing is that although these individuals served across a wide spectrum of military activities in different units in different locations in the same relatively narrow time period, you had the chance to walk with them.
The readers of this thread, which includes many who served in Viet Nam, would be very interested in hearing even a modestly detailed story behind your Viet Nam connection to each of the 10 warriors. It must be a hell of a story.
Well, since you have accused me of lying and fraud, I suppose that I should respond. First, I need to correct a misstatement that you made: I never said that I walked in combat with all of these men. I have certainly served with them and know their mettle. Your accusatory argument is based on an entirely false premise and is not what I said. When you serve for 25 years, you have the opportunity to serve with a rather large number.
Drew Dix and Lawrence Joel and I served in the same battalion in the 82d Airborne. They were both wearing their MH's during this period. I forgot to mention my First Sergeant, Big Jim Edwards, DSC.
I served with Bob Howard and Chickenman 6 (Major Adams) in Vietnam. I was a reconnaissance platoon leader in an air cav squadron that supported MACVSOG. Bob was at FOB Kontum, I was at Pleiku. Bob was a first stringer in the recon business and I was at best a third stringer and could not operate cross border like he did. I got to know him in Jungle School and he taught me alot about the recon trade. He left Vietnam early to receive his MH. Major Adams gave me alot of grief when he and his company arrived in Pleiku because we smart ass recon lieutenants wouldn't vacate a hooch that he thought was his. I was several miles away on a hilltop and saw his helicopter burst into flames and crash into a mountain. I don't know Brian Thacker, but witnessed his defense of the ARVN firebase near Dak TO and listened to his calls for support on the radio. He escaped the firebase, e&e'd for about 8 days and made it to safety.
Roger Donlon is a friend and neighbor.
I served with Mike Peck, Roger Dimsdale, and Bud Greer later in my career, they were good soldiers.
I've known Barry McCaffrey for many years. He is a prick, but he was a very competent soldier and his citation for his two DSC's speak for themselves. I think that I have said before that this has nothing to do with politics.
They are heroes not just because of what they did on the battlefield, but what they did later to rebuild and lead the Army after Vietnam. I could mention many more, but they would all find it rather odd that I single them out as something special. They were.