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Marine who was discharged, court martialed for refusing COVID-19 vaccine arrested for attempting to return to her base in Japan
The Blaze ^ | December 22, 2023 | Leon Wolf

Posted on 12/22/2023 4:22:16 PM PST by Twotone

Former Marine Catherine Arnett, who spent 113 days in the brig and was eventually discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine in 2022, was arrested earlier this month for attempting to return to her duty station in Japan, according to Stars and Stripes.

Arnett's case became a cause célèbre when she refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine in 2022, citing religious objections to the fact that the vaccine was developed using research that involved fetal tissue cells. Arnett's request for a religious exemption was denied. The Marine Corps notified Arnett that she faced administrative separation due to this decision, but Arnett twice refused to board a flight to the United States, or indeed to even leave the base, which led to her being court martialed.

This set in motion a chain of events that led to multiple set trial dates and unsuccesful attempts to discharge Arnett. Finally, in June, the Corps informed Arnett that charges against her were being dropped without prejudice, and that she would be administratively discharged. At the time, Marine Maj. Rob Martins, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing told Task and Purpose, "This decision was made judiciously while balancing what was best for Lance Cpl. Arnett and the United States Marine Corps."

The vaccine mandate was ultimately rescinded on January 10, 2023 by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Arnett, meanwhile, apparently did not agree that her separation from the Marine Corps was best for her. According to Stars and Stripes, Arnett was detained on December 1st while attempting to enter MCAS Iwakuni around 2:30am. She was detained and turned over to local police later that day, who finally released her "last week." Arnett did not respond directly to Stars and Stripes in a request for comment, but someone purporting to be her secretary claimed that Arnett was re-entering the base as an act of civil disobedience. "Ms. Arnett was solely standing on the principle that since the mandate was unconstitutional from the jump, all other actions that transpired as a result were also unlawful orders. She arrived at the base to take the stand and drive home the concept that she refused to take her DD214 and still refuses to comply with any separation orders."

According to Stars and Stripes, Japanese prosecutors have not yet made a decision on whether to charge Arnett with a crime for entering the base without permission.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arnett; covid; japan; mandate; marine; vaccine
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1 posted on 12/22/2023 4:22:16 PM PST by Twotone
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To: Twotone

The last thing the USMC wants these days are officers that have principles that align with defending the US from enemies foreign or domestic.


2 posted on 12/22/2023 4:25:45 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: Twotone

Unfortunately for her, the orders were (as bad as they were) lawful at the time they were given. Rescinding the mandate did not invalidate orders given while the mandate was in force - infortunately for all.


3 posted on 12/22/2023 4:26:48 PM PST by Wuli
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The Pfentagon


4 posted on 12/22/2023 4:27:33 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Wuli

It was not a lawful order.


5 posted on 12/22/2023 4:28:43 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: 13foxtrot

Reinstate her immediately with back pay, The Corps needs people with her integrity.


6 posted on 12/22/2023 4:35:08 PM PST by chopperk
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To: All

I remember reading about some sort of amnesty program. or was that a hoax?


7 posted on 12/22/2023 4:40:59 PM PST by BipolarBob (Yes officer, I saw the speed limit sign. I just didn't see you.)
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To: 13foxtrot

That’s one of the reasons the last thing they will see is anything close to acceptable recruitment and retention.


8 posted on 12/22/2023 4:41:37 PM PST by hardspunned (Former DC GOP globalist stooge)
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To: Wuli

Unfortunately for her, the orders were (as bad as they were) lawful at the time they were given. Rescinding the mandate did not invalidate orders given while the mandate was in force - infortunately for all.

************************************************************

Not when we’ve experienced a coup and the duly elected leader isn’t the sitting president and war is being waged on those they swore to protect. She’s just embarrassing them for following the coup leaders.


9 posted on 12/22/2023 4:42:13 PM PST by pops88 ( Helping usher the glory of God into Las Vegas)
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To: Twotone

I thought they were welcoming these people back due to inability to reach recruitment numbers.


10 posted on 12/22/2023 4:42:14 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: Twotone

Why would she want to jump back into that dumpster fire of a military based legal system? Perhaps I’m not reading the full story, but it sounds like a J6 Gulag prisoner, finally released, is now trying to break back into the Gulag in order to prove a point.


11 posted on 12/22/2023 4:43:14 PM PST by lee martell
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To: Twotone

reinstate her then discharge her as normal...sweep it under the rug


12 posted on 12/22/2023 4:45:45 PM PST by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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To: Twotone

“Catherine Arnett was separated from the United States Marine Corps several months ago and has since had no official affiliation with the service,” base spokesman 1st Lt. Aaron Ellis told Stars and Stripes by email on Wednesday. “Since Catherine Arnett is a civilian, we do not have any additional information.”

Unauthorized entries of U.S. military installations in Japan may be prosecuted by Japanese authorities, Ellis said.

The case was referred to Japanese prosecutors, but no decision had been made as of Tuesday to prosecute Arnett, a spokesman for the Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutor’s Office said by phone Tuesday.

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-12-22/catherine-arnett-mcas-iwakuni-covid-19-arrest-japan-12435743.html


13 posted on 12/22/2023 4:45:46 PM PST by FarCenter
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To: Twotone

She had better tread carefully....particularly with a “Commander-In-Chief” who doesn’t even *try* to hide his contempt for the Armed Forces.


14 posted on 12/22/2023 4:46:53 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Proudly Clinging To My Guns And My Religion)
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To: Robert DeLong

The marines did meet their recruitment quotas.


15 posted on 12/22/2023 4:47:23 PM PST by gcparent (God Bless America )
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To: gcparent

For 2023 USMC cut their authorized force size by 1500


16 posted on 12/22/2023 4:54:34 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: gcparent

...12000 were cut the year before.


17 posted on 12/22/2023 4:56:59 PM PST by 13foxtrot
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To: All

a US soldier who can discern right from wrong.

Arrest her! Court martial her! Convict her! Jail her! Make an example of her!


18 posted on 12/22/2023 5:01:41 PM PST by SteveH
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To: 13foxtrot

I guess that’s one way to meet their quotas. Reduce the force size.


19 posted on 12/22/2023 5:09:02 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (They've begun dismantling Arlington Cemetery, next comes diggin up white solders and dumpin' 'em.)
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To: Twotone

So, all those kicked out for refusing to take the damned jab should be allowed back in since they dropped the damned requirements for the shot. The military is in severe shape in recruitment these days and they are kicking people out for these stupid shots. I have talked to NO retired person that I know that agrees with this stupid shot thing; Everyone said they would never would have been able to stay in the military under the current climate. These homo rules, shots, WXYZ training, crap that they are doing to make the homos happy, anti Christian actions. Makes me sick what they have done to the military. Damn, I am glad I am old and near the end of my run on this disturbed planet. I could not think of being 25, married, and even thinking of bringing a kid into this sorry world!. LORD, I am ready for the Harpazo when you are.


20 posted on 12/22/2023 5:11:21 PM PST by RetiredArmy (The Bible speaks truth! Don't believe it, you do so at your own peril. You'd better be right!!)
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