Posted on 07/02/2002 12:17:33 PM PDT by varina davis
Too bad for the Jews Hitler's soldiers were not so brave as Michael -- to disobey 'direct' orders. Good soldiers, like Michael, obey lawful (morally correct) orders, only.
As a lieutenant, he participated in combat operations during 1968 with C Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in the Republic of Vietnam as a rifle platoon commander and rifle company executive officer, and was aide-de-camp to the Assistant 3d Marine Division Commander. In 1969 Lt. Higgins served at Headquarters Marine Corps and in 1970 as the Officer-in-Charge of the Officer Selection Team in Louisville, Kentucky.
Captain Higgins returned to Vietnam in 1972 as an infantry battalion advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps, then served as a rifle company commander with C Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. From 1973 to 1977, Captain Higgins served at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy and Officer Candidate School, both in Quantico, Virginia.
Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in 1977, Capt. Higgins was assigned to the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he again served as a rifle company commander with A Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines. Upon promotion to major, he was reassigned as the Logistics Officer for Regimental Landing Team 2, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade.
After completion of the Air Force Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1980, designated a distinguished graduate, he returned to Washington where he served at Headquarters as a Plans Officer until his selection to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. During 1981 and 1982, he served as Military Assistant to the Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, then as Assistant for Interagency Matters to the Executive Secretary for the Department of Defense. After graduation from the National War College in 1985, he returned to the Pentagon as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, where he served until he was transferred to his United Nations assignment in July 1987. He was promoted to colonel on March 1, 1989.
Col. Higgins' military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (posthumous), Bronze Star with combat "V," Purple Heart (posthumous), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with bronze star and combat "V," Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with silver star, Staff Service Honor Medal, United Nations Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal (posthumous), and numerous unit commendations and campaign ribbons.
So, where are the blemishes?
With all due respect Commander, I think you're being a bit disingenuious here. You know durned well you would not have kicked anyone's fourth point of contact. You would have followed established procedures, just as SPC New's chain of command did.
Although I appreciate the sentiment, let's not get carried away eh sir?
RLTW!
Semper Suo
OK, I would have kicked his ass from here to next Christmas, figuratively speaking.
your career constitutes that of a "sycophant running around in fatigues."
I assume you're talking about Colonel Higgins. Two tours in Viet Nam. Service with the Reagan Defense Department. Instructor at the Marine NCO school. Doesn't sound like a sycophant to me. The Marine Corps doesn't issue the CIB, but his Bronze Star and other awards speak for themselves.
As for me, over 20 years service and never heard a shot fired in anger. How about you?
If we learned anything from the Vietnam war, it is that obeying unlawful orders from superiors, will not excuse soldiers for committing unlawful acts. Our Government has no right to put our troops into the position of damned if they do-damned if they don't.
I am sure that many of the older folks on here were told as was I: Obey orders first and ask questions later. That worked just fine until cowards began giving the orders, and sacrificing their obedient troops to save their own @$$e$, when things went wrong.
I am as aware as anyone else,that instant and unquestioning obedience to orders in combat situations, is essential to victory as well as the safety and well being of the Military unit. It is even more essential that those who issue the orders, not be allowed to save their own butts by sacrificing those who are merely obeying orders.
Michael New was a member of the United States Army-not the UN Arsewipes.
A few more Clintonesque Commander-in-Chief's and it may be an Army of none.
Although for what it's worth, I would say the man was an honorable hard-charging marine and not a sad sack. He was both a platoon leader and a company commander in combat line units and he had experience as a staff officer at many different levels. A fairly rare combination due to the Carter military purge.
Also, officers who serve in the staff position's Col. Higgins served in usually become well connected, and are pretty much able to pick and choose assignments. I'm sure he could have gotten out of that assignment if he so chose. But he didn't. As far as that goes, he could have requested the assignment (just to get out of freaking DC!)! A true warrior and the marine corp is worse off without him. May the Lord bless his soul.
As to SPC New.....I think he did what he thought was right. It took a lot of courage and conviction to do what he did, IMO. I respect that. As to the hub-bub about whether or not the orders were lawful? Well the courts have said they were lawful orders, so New got what punishment he deserved. However, I disagree with the opinion of the court as to the lawfulness of the orders.
That being said, if I was still wearing the uniform, I would wear the U.N. attire if ordered to do so until such a time that the decision was overturned.
GO ARMY!
RLTW!
Semper Suo
You sound like a truly wonderful military person. If there are more like you out there, perhaps y'all could serve under UN command so those who don't think it's constitutional, don't have to do that.
Michael New wouldn't wear a blue beret because he said 'if I wanted to become a mercernary, I would have joined the French Foreign Legion'. The female pilot refused to adopt 12th century customs to satisfy a bunch of insane muslim assholes who probably cheered when the WTC was destroyed.
I won't name names, but how do some of you reconcile that conundrum?
Oh, I get it: It's all about who was POTUS at the time.
I didn't inquire about your military experience, but since you were so quick to lay it all out there, I'll certainly be polite, salute the Navy rank and say thank you for your service to our nation. I'll even admit there were a few days and nights around Nha Trang in '67 that I was delitefully impressed with the Navy's ability to move dirt with 8"guns, from 5 miles offshore. But as an old Inf OCS grunt I must be honest and say from experience, ROTC just isn't all that 'strack' ... and the Navy yet.
On a more serious note, I find the older officers from VN era and before are much more concerned with the 'global-homoginization' of our military forces. The newer crop seem much more willing to accept service and deployment into U.N. Police Actions run by politicians. While that may serve U.S. corporate interests, it happens at the risk and expense of national sovereignty and American blood. Something I consider sacred.
I've never gotten the impression that Sp4New was just some smart-assed troop who acted upon a wild impulse when he refused to show up in formation that morning w/o the American flag on his shoulder ... I feel certain he thought long and hard before he made his stand. I'm certain it took an enormous amount of courage in the face of tremendous pressure, not to mention that it all took place during the Homo-feminization of our military - the Klinton era. This was not the mark nor the actions of a man who was weak, a slacker or simply a smart-ass fool.
This was the evidence of deep-felt conviction and the final outcome of his case is still undecided, with many of us who stand beside him, understanding our national sovereignty is on the line.
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