Thursday, April 26, 2012

Today is the start of the rest of his life

Was it against military regulations for this Marine to criticize the president? Yes it was. It is always against regulations to refuse to follow the orders of superiors or the orders of the commander in chief. However, there are exceptions and those exceptions are covered in the UCMJ by the provision that allows a member of the armed service to disobey what they believe to be illegal orders. As long as they are prepared to defend their position and suffer the consequences, orders can be refused.

In this case, this Marine veteran stated that he would not obey the illegal orders of the commander in chief. He didn't refuse to obey any order specifically, he only stated that he would not obey any illegal orders from this commander in chief and he let that sentiment be known on his personal facebook page. And for doing so he will pay the price of losing his Marine Corps career and as punishment, he will be discharged less than honorably from a Corps that he loves. Sgt. Gary Stein will suffer the consequences of stating that he would not follow illegal orders by this president, but he will do so with honor.

What is honor? How do we measure it? As this Marine said, they can discharge him from the Corps for his actions, but they can not take the title United States Marine away from him.  He has earned that. As for me? I measure fidelity in an individual's commitment to live by their oath. I measure valor by an individual's willingness to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of their country. I measure honor in an individual's ability to stand their ground in the face of adversity, all the while knowing the price that must be paid.

If anything, this Marine just emblazoned the title United States Marine across his character in bolder letters. Sgt. Gary Stein demonstrated the courage, fidelity, valor, honor and steadfastness to stand in the face of adversity and defend that which he knows to be right. To do so against all enemies foreign and domestic as the oath statees. He has stood against that which he knows to be wrong. And for that he will pay a price.

Personally, I wish there were more United States Marines like this one. I wish we had three divisions of them. Semper Fi!



 
Tea Party Marine Gary Stein has responded to his "other-than-honorable discharge" from the United States Military for criticizing President Obama on Facebook.
"I have spent the last 9 years honorably serving this great nation and the Corps," Stein wrote on his personal Facebook page, "Even though I will be discharged no one can take the title of Marine away from me."
Stein drew controversy after starting an Armed Forces Tea Party Facebook page in 2010 and put a photo of Obama on the movie poster of "Jackass."
Stein was further scrutinized by his superiors after he posted that he wouldn't follow "illegal orders" from President Obama.
"I thank my family and friends for their support and love," Stein concluded, "Today is just the start of the rest of my life. Semper Fi."

No comments: