Chaplain deserts post

[Bentspoon]

I heard about this over the weekend:

[URL=http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/special_packages/iraq/5669603.htm[/URL]

The article explains that he just cpuldn't take it anymore and up and drove to the airport - just like that. E-mailed his superior later. He did this the day before Easter services. Presumably this kind of service is something the Marines need or they wouldn't have them there ..... would they? Personnally I think the Marines that are the losers in this (those without the Easter service should see this as an education; "Men of the cloth are worth more in this society than you" and reject the purveyors of myth.

It is desertion. But it won't be treated as such. Where is the outrage - I thought desertion brought on some serious consequences (so does pedophilia but men of the cloth are apparently immune). Will he be punished Absolutely not!

I think it is disgusting.

What is your opinion?

Bentspoon


I heard about this on a very consertive right wing talk show that is local to Wash. state. These people would not give a consciencious objector an objective thought but then this is a man of the cloth.

some of the reasoning of these fine God fearing folk

* well, he will suffer much more in the eyes of his god because of his shame than the military could ever do - I think that is punishment enough

* Hey he volunteered so he shouldn't be held to the same standards

* He is in a non combatant role and therefore the rules of desertion shouldn't really apply

* Gee well you know it is not like it is a necessary function or anything

Even the host kept saying, "Gee, I don't know - this is a tough one". It isn't a tough one if you are not blinded by your own irrational myths. It is desertion plain and simple.

None of the callers or the host could bring themselves to what is clear in my mind - he had a job to do, it was a necessary support function and he deserted it without so much of a howdy do to his superiors. Some would say that somethig should come of it but not one caller could say that it was desertion.

[Crossbow]

For any military officer to run away from his commission during a time of war is at best unprofessional.

However, it may not actually be illegal. The fact is that officers are treated differently than are enlisted and in many cases the CO will allow any officer to quit pretty much whenever he wants to. After all, the job of the CO is hard enough without having to deal with disloyal officers so they rather just have them leave as soon as possible as opposed to getting involved with a protracted Courts Martial.

This man is an officer in the U.S. military. What he did is a clear case of desertion, and he should be severely punished. If an enlisted man did it, he would be serving hard time. An officer is and should be held to higher standards.

[Skeptic]

Historically speaking, the US Army always treated desertion in a way that was VERY lenient. For example, the whole AWOL ("Absent without leave") category was really invented to avoid describing the AWOL soldier as a "deserter", which he would be in any other army.

While technically a capital offense, the last soldier to be actually executed for desertion was private Slovick in 1945--and the last before that, during the civil war.

So it is very likely the chaplain here would be treated leniently--not because he's a chaplain, but because he's in the US army. I must say that e-mailing your CO that you deserted is probably one of the uses of the internet its originators never imagined, though.

[Bentspoon]

I appreciate the insights in the military ways - soemthing I know little about. I want to make it clear that I would certainly not look for any more consequences for this act than any other functional that deserted their post.

However, it is certainly the perception here that he will not be treated status quo and I cannot see a justifiable reason for leniency.

Bentspoon

[DanishDynamite]

A slight aside....

Why are there chaplains in the US army? Are they just Christian chaplains or do they cater to all religions?

[hgc]

Originally posted by DanishDynamite
A slight aside....

Why are there chaplains in the US army? Are they just Christian chaplains or do they cater to all religions?
I know that besides having Protestant and Catholic chaplains, they have Jewish and Moslem chaplains as well. I don't know if there are other kinds. Probably at least a few Bhuddist monks thrown in.

[Lisa]

May I rant here? Please?

The military makes these guys officers. With all the officer perks.
They're job is to hold people's hands and spew pablum on Sundays.
My job was to fix the radios that the ATC used.
Ah, but they're so important! They save souls; I only manage to save lives.
Excuse me, but bullsh*t. Clear case of desertion.
Any moron who doesn't realize the ultimate use of the military is about WAR should go and flip burgers with the 14-years-olds. They're certainly no use to those of us trying to serve a military career.
If I was a military lawyer, I'd be awake at night trying to figure out the best way to nail this *sshole.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by Bentspoon

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/special_packages/iraq/5669603.htm

Sorry, I just couldn't take that broken link any more.

Anyone who wears the uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States and runs away from his duties is a disgrace and should be thrown in the stockade.

If the man had a problem with his job, there is a right way and a wrong way to address it. He is a coward.

This is especially heinous since he is an officer.

He makes me sick. He is getting paid far more than twice the money that the people he was counselling get paid without having to face the combat they had to face and were seeking solace from. What a pathetic, wormy, spineless, pus-bag creep. It is too bad the days of flogging are history. I'd whip him myself.

[PygmyPlaidGiraffe]

A.W.O.L. and suicide up (http://www.cbc.ca/disclosure/archives/040120.html#army)

[Mycroft]

Originally posted by DanishDynamite
A slight aside....

Why are there chaplains in the US army? Are they just Christian chaplains or do they cater to all religions?

An army chaplain can be of any faith, but I believe they are expected to counsel and perform the rites and rituals of all faiths. If you're really curious, I'm sure you can learn more here:

http://chaplain.goarmy.com/chapl101/index.htm