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by jdembski from Kansas City

Last Post 12 days, 18 hours Ago


Former marine to have a hearing in KC
May 31, 2007 | 5:33 PM
Category: News
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Adam Kokesh is a former marine who was honorably discharged.  June 4th Adam will have a hearing in KC for protesting the war in Iraq.  The military is threatening to change his discharge now as an "other than honorable discharge".

His threatened bad discharge -- under other than honorable conditions in military parlance -- was a result of Operation First Casualty, a "mock combat patrol" he and eleven other war veterans, including Madden, participated in during a protest in Washington, D.C., on March 19, and an e-mail exchange between Kokesh and the officer recommending his bad conduct discharge

Kokesh doesn't deny he was disrespectful in an e-mail to the officer who informed him of the potential action against him, telling him to perform an anatomically impossible act before calling himself a PFC or "Proud (expletive) Civilian."

Nor does he deny that he participated in the mock combat patrol in a military style uniform. He insisted he wore no markings or insignia on his camos, but according to the letter he received, he could be charged with commission of a serious offense for appearing "at a political event or activity in the Washington, D.C., area in your Marine Corps uniform which violated (regulations)."

If the guy is no longer active and wore no markings or insignia then what is the problem.  He could get the same clothing from a military surplus store.  I feel the people that have the most right to speak up about the war in Iraq are those that have served and been there.  They deserve to practice the first amendment especially since they have put their lives on the line to protect it.

This hearing is a joke.  This guy is going to get so much press over this and it will feed the liberal anti-war agenda.   It will only backfire for the military and the Bush administration.  They should let it go now before it becomes a bigger deal for the anti-war groups

I say props to this guy for speaking out especially since he was there.

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combatvet read my blog
May 31, 2007 | 5:57 PM

And now, the REST of the story...

Adam Kokesh is an INACTIVE RESERVIST.

(I was medically discharged, so I never had to deal with this, but some other vets, please chime in please.)

As far as I understand it, when you enlist, there are a few different obligations in your contract. Your first obligation is your ACTIVE DUTY time, meaning the time you are a soldier on a daily basis. You then also have ACTIVE RESERVE time, where you do your 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year obligations. After that, you are considered INACTIVE RESERVE. INACTIVE RESERVE means that while, yes, you are not bound to attend 1 weekend a month or 2 week a year drills, you CAN in fact be called BACK into active duty. Therefore, while you HAVE been discharged from active duty, you are still subject to the jurisdiction of the UCMJ, (Uniform Code of Military Justice) AND could have your discharge status downgraded.

Protesting against the Military or the United States while still a member of the Armed Services (Which he IS) is prohibited. I'm pretty sure this was explained to him.

Completely aside from his protests, his remarks to a superior officer ALONE would be grounds to downgrade his discharge.

Not surprising to see a typical liberal slant by not telling the entire story...How convenient they missed those facts.

:)
combatvet read my blog
May 31, 2007 | 6:01 PM

I wonder how far up the family tree we have to go before we find a Sheehan?

Sounds a little like a publicity stunt to me.

Before I hear the argument... (and I KNOW it's coming) For every soldier you find that protests the war, I can find you a soldier that supports the war. Funny thing is, the mainstream media doesn't like to put a microphone in front of the supporters...
SUZY_Q read my blog view my photos
May 31, 2007 | 7:46 PM

Adam Kokesh was discharged in Nov. 06 (so he says) I'll admit I don't have the entire story.

Guess we could email him!

You know - I am surprised our government is spending the time and money over such a trifling matter. Don’t our troops need the money in Iraq?

I’m not sure that Adams actions are worthy of the attention they’re getting. Adam admits he wore his uniform, (guilty) but had removed all he patches etc that were sewn on. Somehow he’s expected to serve in Iraq to protect basic freedoms (like freedom of speech) but, yet he’s not allow to have the freedoms he’s fighting for.

However; if the “rules” are as they are – Then he’s probably going to be found “guilty” -
fedupwithitall read my blog view my photos
May 31, 2007 | 7:54 PM

That is correct on this case. Unfortunatley anyways. He did his time, earned his stripes, and laid it all on the line to protect us and our freedoms. To bad he's muzzled by big brother because of it. And Sheehan started out with good intentions. Certainly things went a little (o.k. a lot) overboard but her son died. I personally think there should be that much attention shown for every single one of the thousands and thousands killed in Iraq. But no, the government does its best to suppress every shred of negative news out of Iraq. Minimal details when someone dies, very little to no attention to specific names, and glorifying with exagerated details to build support for others. Like the "rescue operation" taped and later televised when Jessica Lynch was saved. When all the details were she was offered several times to the U.S. but ignored until an unarmed and unguarded hospital was over ran for a publicity stunt rescue. Or when Pat Tillman died a "hero in combat" but was actually gunned down by friendly fire instead.

Back to the topic this Marine served a full commitment to the God, Corps, and Country. Now because of a shady loophole he is denied the rights he served to protect and it is wrong. He protested a war that the majority of America does not support, ecspecially now that we (and I use "we" loosely) are aware of, and choose not to ignore the lies and misinformation that put us there in the first place.
Brydog read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2007 | 9:26 AM

OK everyone, don't blast me because I did not write the rules. This PFC violated the Uniform Code Of Military Justice Articles 89 & 92, Disrespect to a superior officer (in this case the Commander - in - Chief) & disobeying a lawful order.

In all enlisted military contracts there is an "inactive reserve clause". Meaning that if you signed up for active duty and fulfull your obligation, you are still subject to recall and subject to punishment under the UCMJ until your inactive time is completed. The least amount of inactive reserve time you will serve is 2 years. If he actively participated in a public protest against the government, by law he is guilty.

In my case, although I am "retired" from the military, I can not actively protest against the government until June 2015 because I and still subject to recall and would be in violation of those same articles.

As I said, please do not blast me, I didn't right the rules, I just play by them.
Brydog read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2007 | 9:34 AM

Sorry....I meant to say he disrespected the Commander - in - Chief & another superior commissioned officer.
combatvet read my blog
Jun 1, 2007 | 11:29 AM

That's exactly what I thought Brydog. Thanks!
jdembski read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2007 | 1:37 PM

Looks like the VFW is supporting this guy.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/13427362/detai
l.html
Brydog read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2007 | 2:08 PM

You're welcome. I was surprised that I still knew the articles. OH NO.....I'm still brainwashed....LOL
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