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.