Marine veteran faces hearing on discharge status for wearing uniform at protest rally

[cal04]

An Iraq war veteran is scheduled to appear before a military panel Monday for wearing his uniform during an anti-war protest.

Marine Corporal Adam Kokesh was photographed with several other veterans wearing their fatigues while attending a protest last month marking the forth anniversary of the war. After superiors spotted his picture in The Washington Post, Kokesh was told he might have violated a rule that prohibits troops from wearing uniforms without authorization.

Kokesh finishes up his reserve commitment in less than three weeks. The military panel will decide whether to change his discharge status from "honorable" to "other than honorable."

If the status is changed, Kokesh says he could lose some health benefits and be forced to repay more than ten thousand dollars he received under the GI bill to get his undergraduate degree.

http://www.idaho8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6591006

[Captain Hilts]

1. If you're active duty you cannot do so. They're cracking down on people at RNC rallies too.

The military has cracked down on folks in uniform appearing on stage with Republican candidates in the last election.

So, they're doing this both ways. The rule is the rule.

[Karenina]

3. No insignia - still a uniform?

:shrug:


Adam Kokesh is FEARLESS. From his blog: http://kokesh.blogspot.com/

Dear Captain Sibert and Brigadier General Moore,

As an esteemed US Attorney and a General, you both must have a sense of the potential significance of my separation hearing. The prosecution of a member of the inactive reserve under these circumstances is unprecedented. As citizens, we all have a right to freedom of speech. In the Marines, we often joke that you signed away that freedom, and I understand the necessity for certain restrictions while on active duty. But those who have risked their lives to defend the rights of all Americans have a special claim to those rights when they have completed their service. Is the Marine Corps attempting to strip away those rights from the hundreds of thousands in the inactive reserves?

Maybe that’s not the case. Perhaps I am being singled out because I have become a vocal opponent of the war. Maybe Brigadier General Darrell L. Moore just got upset when he saw a picture of a Marine in the paper disagreeing with him. Maybe that’s when he decided to order Colonel Steve Brown, Deputy Commander of the Mobilization Command to recommend that I be separated with an Other Than Honorable Discharge. Maybe he thought that I would be intimidated by the long letter, the official letterhead, and the threats in official Marine Corps terminology. Maybe he thought that I would just ignore it, and let the Marines “paper-f***” me behind my back. Maybe I would shut up for a while. But let me tell you, you messed with the wrong veteran.

<snip>

I joined the Marines out of patriotism. I said that when I enlisted in 1999, before it was cool, and even wrote it as my reason on the form I filled out at the Military Entrance Processing Station. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Now that I am out of the Marines, I am conti
nuing my patriotic duty by speaking out. It is Marines like you, Brigadier General Moore, and Colonel Brown, who are preventing the American public from hearing the truth about Iraq by intimidating those who would disagree with you from speaking out. If the policies that you support are so righteous, why are you afraid of the truth?

If I accept this “plea bargain,” I would have to allow you to punish me for speaking my mind, allow you to say that it is somehow less than honorable for thousands of IRR Marines to exercise their freedom of speech, allow you to silence the voices of those whose experiences are most relevant in the most pressing debate before the nation, and allow you to say that Thomas Jefferson was wrong. If this is your intent, I would ask to please, kindly, go f*** yourself. I will not allow it.

Semper Fi,

Adam Kokesh, PFC

Proud F***ing Civilian

[TX-RAT]

9. I believe he's still in the reserves.

Taking off the insignia shouldn't make a difference, if anything he might be considered out of uniform.

[Richard Steele]

6. He's not "active duty", and hasn't been for years.

He's INACTIVE Ready Reserve, and only 3 weeks from finishing that.

[Captain Hilts]

8. There are rules against wearing the uniform incorrectly [just parts] but they're NEVER enforced.

You just can't get into the base exchange wearing part of the uniform. Fatigues, etc.

[Richard Steele]

11. Yes, I think this particular prosecution is unprecedented.

Dontcha just love how they're gonna change his discharge
for something he did AFTER he was discharged? For a rule
that's NEVER enforced?

Is it FASCISM yet?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. Isn't this harsh for such a minor offense ",...he might have violated"?

Smells like an oppressive reaction, to me.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Remember this guy?

That's Adam Kokesh.

proud2blib had a thread on this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x963305

[Oilwellian]

7. Hahaha...gmta n/t

[Oilwellian]

5. He's the veteran at Gonzo's hearing....

physically counting his "I don't recalls." Remember that delicious scene? :D

[Captain Hilts]

10. How can he have "superiors" if he's not 'in' in some way? I don't think we know enough facts here.

None of it passes the smell test.