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

Skip to comments.

Army’s withdrawal of officer’s Silver Star sparks ire of Congress
The Washington Times ^ | March 15, 2015 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on 03/16/2015 9:04:51 AM PDT by jazusamo

Green Beret saved soldiers under fire

A group of House lawmakers is moving to strip the armed services’ civilian leaders of the power to revoke combat valor awards in response to Army Secretary John McHugh unilaterally canceling the Silver Star, one of the military’s highest honors, for a former Green Beret officer.

Mr. McHugh took the action against Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, who braved repeated enemy fire in Afghanistan, even though he has not been charged with any offenses. The Army now is seeking to release him with a less-than-honorable discharge. The officer plans to fight the move, his attorney says.

The secretary acted after the CIA informed the Army that Maj. Golsteyn, during a polygraph exam for a job application, told of killing a terrorist who was making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the weapon that has killed more Americans in Afghanistan than any other. The Army also removed Maj. Golsteyn from the elite ranks of the Green Berets.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who is spearheading the restrictive legislation, says he wants to prevent service secretaries from retaliating against personnel by stripping their awards in cases where there is insufficient evidence to charge them for nonjudicial, or court-martial, punishment.

“Secretary McHugh made a political decision,” Mr. Hunter said. “He used his power as a weapon to retaliate against a soldier when the Army was unable to prove an allegation.”

The CIA disclosure prompted the Army to launch a criminal investigation. Agents fanned out to interview his combat cohorts in Marjah, Afghanistan. The report remains confidential, but sources say it could never confirm that Maj. Golsteyn did anything criminally wrong outside of his statements to the CIA.

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: armysecretary; california; duncanhunter; golsteyn; johnmchugh; majorgoldsteyn; silverstar
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: jazusamo

Shouldn’t they give him an extra medal for that?


21 posted on 03/16/2015 9:38:06 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: P-Marlowe

Absolutely!


22 posted on 03/16/2015 9:40:17 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

That may help us all sooner rather than later.

When Obama tries to declare Martial Law, these members of the military won’t know how to respond against American citizens.


23 posted on 03/16/2015 9:43:05 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hlmencken3

WHY does the CIA have a voice in this MILITARY matter????


24 posted on 03/16/2015 9:44:30 AM PDT by Ann Archy (ABORTION....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

All enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.
Seems like the army brass and the administration are now in the DOMESTIC enemy class.


25 posted on 03/16/2015 9:48:22 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (When did the 2nd amendment suddenly require a license or permit for a gun?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

I’m still waiting for the Bergdahl report.


26 posted on 03/16/2015 9:56:34 AM PDT by windcliff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

Other FReepers would know about CIA - military interaction more than I do, but in this particular case, I think the Major applied for a CIA job and was investigated for that reason.


27 posted on 03/16/2015 9:58:05 AM PDT by hlmencken3 (I paid for an argument, but you're just contradicting!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: M Kehoe

Make a turn to your far left and you will find it.


28 posted on 03/16/2015 10:00:55 AM PDT by lastchance (Credo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MeganC

You specifically forgot trannys.


29 posted on 03/16/2015 10:04:18 AM PDT by originalbuckeye (Moderation in temper is always a virtue; moderation in principle is always a vice. Paine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

Fire them all.


30 posted on 03/16/2015 10:04:44 AM PDT by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

“...for that he’s booted out of the Green Berets?
Too tough on the Imam in Chief’s brethren.
After all, the IED makers are not Islamic.
Should have been bumped up go Lt. Colonel.


31 posted on 03/16/2015 10:07:33 AM PDT by Sasparilla (If you want peace, prepare for war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

None of this is hard to understand if you get it through your head that O is a communist, and Muslim Brotherhood.

We are under judgement. Its not going to get better until we understand that.


32 posted on 03/16/2015 10:09:51 AM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DiogenesLamp; All
I personally think Obama *IS* an "enemy from
abroad." He is certainly not an American.
(IMHO)..He and ValJar et.al. should be shot..
as agents of the Islamic Terrorist.

33 posted on 03/16/2015 10:10:33 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass ("Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." Hedy Lamarr)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: hlmencken3

This says something about the CIA. They heard that an IED maker was killed, and decided that the soldier who did it doesn’t share their values.
Speaks volumes.

The CIA may have been funding, feeding, or arming that enemy, like they did ISIS through Benghazi. Maybe that’s why they were offended.


34 posted on 03/16/2015 10:11:04 AM PDT by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD
Complex ROEs leave combat in the hands of RE bureaucrats who are hampering the effort with Political Correctness...

Ahh, yes- the REMFs who screw everything up with no consequences to themselves.

35 posted on 03/16/2015 10:13:00 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & Ifwater the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino

The CIA hasn’t deserved its reputation, probably since the ‘70s. Waste of money.


36 posted on 03/16/2015 10:14:35 AM PDT by hlmencken3 (I paid for an argument, but you're just contradicting!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
A group of House lawmakers is moving to strip the armed services’ civilian leaders of the power to revoke combat valor awards in response to Army Secretary John McHugh unilaterally canceling the Silver Star, one of the military’s highest honors, for a former Green Beret officer.

How about removing McHugh from his post.

37 posted on 03/16/2015 10:15:57 AM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuffaloJack
Seems like the army brass and the administration are now in the DOMESTIC enemy class.

Along with nearly half of congress, a bunch of judges and justices and the POTUS.

38 posted on 03/16/2015 10:16:43 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & Ifwater the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: marron

Bump


39 posted on 03/16/2015 10:17:48 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: centurion316
I got into a hell of a roe with JAG officer at a Naval conference, when I called him out on the ROE being total dog crap designed to scapegoat the on-scene commanding officers and shield the flag officers.
40 posted on 03/16/2015 10:21:23 AM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

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