Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Army secretary defends stripping Special Forces officer of awards
WaPo, via Stars & Stripes ^ | March 5, 2015 | Dan Lamothe

Posted on 03/06/2015 3:51:24 AM PST by Timber Rattler

The secretary of the Army is defending his decision to strip awards for heroism from a former Green Beret officer, saying the soldier demonstrated a "lack of honorable conduct" after he earned the medals.

Golsteyn was later investigated for an undisclosed violation of the military's rules of engagement in combat — a violation related to the killing of a known enemy bombmaker, according to officials familiar with the case. The investigation closed in 2014 without Golsteyn's being charged with a crime, but Army Secretary John McHugh made the rare decision to strip him of both awards anyway.

(snip)

In a letter that month, Hunter told McHugh he was concerned that the investigation and decision to strip Golsteyn of awards were not objective, and he asked for the secretary to confirm that he had nothing to do with quashing an appeal filed by the former Special Forces officer.

After McHugh's reply on February 26, Hunter fired back with a letter the following day. The congressman wrote that he disagreed with McHugh's characterization of the investigation, adding that an "allegation relayed by the CIA" could not be used to criminally charge Golsteyn.

"The Army knows this already, of course," Hunter wrote. "The Administrative actions currently underway are a direct result of the Army's inability to justify a criminal charge based on the evidence."

Hunter declined to attend a briefing McHugh offered on the situation if it would only "recite what's already known, or attempt to justify the political end that the Army has sought to achieve."

(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bombmaker; cia; golsteyn; greenberets; johnmchue; taliban; usarmy
This whole thing stinks to high heaven. The end result is that we've got a dead terrorist bombmaker, with the SpecOp officer who greased him being punished for it.
1 posted on 03/06/2015 3:51:24 AM PST by Timber Rattler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

The Obama military punishes troops for killing the enemy.

Serving for this administration is not something I would wish on anyone in my family anymore.


2 posted on 03/06/2015 3:57:18 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

THe is being punished for the same reason
that Hasan is alive.
— The reason? It pleases the
First Moslem pRes_ _ent by Pelosi’s Fraud
in his White Mosque.


3 posted on 03/06/2015 4:00:36 AM PST by Diogenesis ("When a crime is unpunished, the world is unbalanced.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Under the current reasoning, then I guess John Kerry should be stripped of his 4 band aid Purple Hearts.


4 posted on 03/06/2015 4:06:08 AM PST by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
"...a violation related to the killing of a known enemy bomb maker..."

Yeah - the fog of war is not so clear - and to arm chair this decision is FUBAR - what happened to the US Military I once proudly served....a bomb maker who's products maimed and killed how many US military personnel and Allied personnel???

War is was - things that one would not normally do occur...but a bomb maker being killed...well, that's a good thing.

5 posted on 03/06/2015 4:08:52 AM PST by BCW (ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
I've never heard of revoking a man's medals for subsequent conduct. Since when has this practice begun? They took away his "Special Forces tab" as if he never passed that course, never served in Special Forces? How's that work?

If Major Golsteyn did something chargeable, charge him. If he didn't, the army should reinstate his awards and let him finish his career in peace.

There's something very strange and scummy about military leaders who harass and punish real combat heroes while allowing general Officers who screw subordinates (literally) get off with full rank and privileges.

6 posted on 03/06/2015 4:23:36 AM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

More info from a month ago...

http://www.stripes.com/news/army/green-beret-officer-s-silver-star-revoked-as-army-cites-investigation-1.327766


7 posted on 03/06/2015 4:35:14 AM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
Undo Command Influence
8 posted on 03/06/2015 4:38:35 AM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Behind this you’ll find O’s fingerprints. How dare this Army slime knock off one of O’s fellow-muslim bomb makers?!/S


9 posted on 03/06/2015 4:38:45 AM PST by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

And yet Katrina Moerk gets an ARCOM for reporting cyber bullies.

Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot


10 posted on 03/06/2015 4:38:48 AM PST by ItsOurTimeNow ("I'm not questioning your honor...I'm denying its existence." - Tyrion Lannister)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tucker39

Obama’s anti-semitism, and Golsteyn’s jewish-sounding name make me all the more sure that O’s behind it.


11 posted on 03/06/2015 4:41:44 AM PST by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
Army Secretary John McHugh made the rare decision to strip him of both awards anyway.

McHugh is a gutless puke who wouldn't amount to a pimple on a Green Beret's ass. Another Obama bureaucrat disgrace!

12 posted on 03/06/2015 4:56:57 AM PST by GoldenPup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Hey McHugh, the Major doesn’t need you and your damn medals.

But America’s Army NEEDS men like the Major.

These charges are an outrage and YOU McHugh, are the one lacking the courage to stand up to the other cowards in the White House.


13 posted on 03/06/2015 4:57:05 AM PST by G Larry (I'm not here to make liberals happy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

We can only prolong conflicts, or lose them if we continue to hamper our troops with silly “rules”. In addition we reward bad behavior in our enemies with these “rules”, thus the bad behavior will continue. Do the terrorists have any “rules” they have to follow?


14 posted on 03/06/2015 4:57:56 AM PST by logic101.net (If libs believe in Darwin and natural selection why do they get hacked off when it happens?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dforest

Amen.


15 posted on 03/06/2015 5:05:45 AM PST by tgusa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ItsOurTimeNow

BOHICA, warriors.


16 posted on 03/06/2015 5:51:45 AM PST by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: TurboZamboni

17 posted on 03/06/2015 5:59:54 AM PST by ItsOurTimeNow ("I'm not questioning your honor...I'm denying its existence." - Tyrion Lannister)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Surely they can be restored by the next republican commander-in-chief using executive action ? Gonna take 20years to restore the republic. Lets hope our young military will rebound while true conservative officers are promoted ASAP


18 posted on 03/06/2015 6:59:11 AM PST by huldah1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
. . . killing of a known enemy bombmaker . . . investigation closed in 2014 without Golsteyn's being charged with a crime, but Army Secretary John McHugh made the rare decision to strip him of both awards anyway

Was the terrorist bombmaker a personal friend of Obama, or was our communist-in-chief just a fan of the man's work?

19 posted on 03/06/2015 7:08:19 AM PST by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
On rare occasions, the British government would strip a Victoria Cross holder of the medal for disreputable conduct unrelated to the award.

King George V put an end to that in 1920 (from Wikipedia):

The King feels so strongly that, no matter the crime committed by anyone on whom the VC has been conferred, the decoration should not be forfeited. Even were a VC to be sentenced to be hanged for murder, he should be allowed to wear his VC on the scaffold.

20 posted on 03/06/2015 7:33:18 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson