Another reason to get out of Afghanistan now! Cancel The title field is required!

1. McCallum David K

   
   6/11/2012 9:06 AM

   An American soldier Sgt Ist Class Walter Johnson is being charged with negligent homicide and dereliction of duty for an incident that occurred in July 2011. After his convoy had been hit with an IED and in the middle of an ongoing firefight a car drove up to their vehicle. A dark robed invidual got out and moved towards the trunk of the vehicle. Sgt Johnson with 5 wounded comrades behind him sees a thin trigger wire that appears to snake towards the trunk of the car................another bomb? The soldier in a period of 4 seconds had to see, think, react..........and he opened up with his M-$ carbine killing that individual along with two others in the car. It was an Afghan doctor and children that were killed not insurgents..................now 1 year later the military wants to try him for those percieved crimes. A tragedy, yes, a crime, no! War is hell and collateral damage occurs.
   
   Ten days after that incident Sgt Johnson got what was percieved as Afghan street justice as his Humvee was hit by RPG, blowing off his nose, shattered his cheek, driving his teeth down his throat and blinded in one eye. He now basically has no face...........but he will be tried before a US military judge to decide it it goes to a full court martial. Yet a terrorist wearing a US uniform kills 13 American soldiers on a US military base and his trial is postponed again because he is being denied wearing a beard during his trial. If we left today, its to late.

   
   
   
   
2. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   6/11/2012 2:06 PM

   David,
   
   I agree with you, I would have hated to think what I would have done if put in that position. Although I most likely would have wet myself instead of shooting, but I don't blame him. Then to be attacked and injured? As for justice, he has to live with the shooting, seems like with all that he's been punished enough.
   
   Why would they deny the terrorist from wearing a beard? Is it military or civilian trail for him? I think he is lucky he even gets to have a trial. But seems I would like more specifics to intelligently comment on it. (well as intelligent as is possible for me).
   
   I agree with getting out now, I don't know the particulars of why we are staying there even after the end of combat operations in 2014. Of course he took criticism for picking a date, for signing a continuing mission in training. What is Governor Romney's take on this? From what I hear he is more gung ho to fighting then the president? I have heard that he wished he had gone to Viet Nam, but also heard he got about 4 deferments. Maybe that is a topic for another thread. Don't really want to take away from the importance of what you stated.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
3. Ashton Alan W

   
   6/12/2012 11:06 AM

   Trying to find more about this online and having zero luck... anyone got a link for me?

   
   
   
   
4. McCallum David K

   
   6/12/2012 11:06 AM

   Mel he is being denied wearing a beard as he is a major in the United States Army........no beards allowed!
   
   Alan it was an AP article in my Sunday paper.......sorry no link to the story. He is currently being held in Germany.

   
   
   
   
5. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   6/12/2012 11:06 AM

   Thanks David, you are talking about the Ft. Hood incident with the Major? I agree he is a US Soldier and the trail should be conducted as such, with him held accountable as such.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
6. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   6/12/2012 2:06 PM

   I don't know about these days, but there were actually beard exemptions when I was on active duty. It always centered on the guys who got bad skin rashes from shaving.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   6/12/2012 3:06 PM

   AGREE

   
   
   
   
8. McCallum David K

   
   6/13/2012 9:06 AM

   Steve,
   Think you are right but think the Coast Guard and Navy were a bit more lenient on beards. The only time we were exempt even in Nam was when we were in the bush......even sticklers about hair if lots of brass were coming for a "field visit" for ten minutes. I think he is growing his beard based on his religious beliefs now as a Muslim and will have to see what trumps what.

   
   
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   6/13/2012 9:06 AM

   David McCallum said: Steve,
   Think you are right but think the Coast Guard and Navy were a bit more lenient on beards. The only time we were exempt even in Nam was when we were in the bush......even sticklers about hair if lots of brass were coming for a "field visit" for ten minutes. I think he is growing his beard based on his religious beliefs now as a Muslim and will have to see what trumps what.

   
   
   Why would they let him do that? Aren't there other service members who are Muslim who follow the grooming rules as everyone else? I'm a tolerant person but hey he signed up under those rules and was following those rules until the day he started shooting, then he should continue as a military officer. The only thing is, if he won't shave can they hold him down to shave him before he goes into court? Is he doing it more for a stalling tactic? If that's the case try him anyway. How do they handle convicted felons in the military prisons, do they allow them to grow beards once they start serving their time?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
10. Wahlin Scott B

    
    6/13/2012 11:06 AM

    When my younger son was in the Army he severely damaged his ankle. After this he had another 18 months to go, so when he was not in surgery or therapy he studied the regulations. He set up a website called "awahl.com" where he messed with the higher ups and communicated with his cohorts. He discovered that there was no reg requiring that the same colored camo was required for tops and pants. So they all started wearing mismatched camo, which lasted about a week. He discovered that they could grow mustaches, but the requirements were very severe. He demonstrated on his website how to properly trim the mustache and soon they all had mustaches. By this time they knew my son was the instigator. So while in formation they asked him when the mustaches would be coming off. He told them that they would be shaving them off in observance of Sun Tzu's birthday, which was three days later. They said that would be fine.

    
    
    
    
11. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    6/14/2012 7:06 AM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: He set up a website called "awahl.com" where he messed with the higher ups.

    
    
    Does your son's first name begin with the letter A? If so, just wondering how long it took the higher ups to figure out it was his website.

    
    
    
    
12. McCallum David K

    
    6/14/2012 10:06 AM

    Mel.......the man killed 13 American soldies on a military base..........it's called stalling......the four corner offense..........he does not want to go to trial.They should strap in a barber chair and shave his bushy #$@# !

    
    
    
    
13. Wahlin Scott B

    
    6/14/2012 3:06 PM

    Peter Bowman, CGCS said:

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: He set up a website called "awahl.com" where he messed with the higher ups.

    
    
    Does your son's first name begin with the letter A? If so, just wondering how long it took the higher ups to figure out it was his website.

    
    
    Yes, Andrew. They figured it out right away, but the regs did not allow them to take it down.