Responses: 11
I'm going to be 100% honest-I don't know Chief Gallagher; the guy may be a complete malfunction of a human being-he may be a ruthless, undisciplined "loose cannon". He may also be someone whose life has been turned upside down, shaken, and thrown out on the front lawn for all to see and comment upon. He may also be a combat leader whose been singled out among who knows how many other individuals (including superior officers) for scrutiny after years of having a "blind eye" turned. I won't attempt to defend misconduct, but neither am I surprised he may not have "no comment" regarding those who pursued action against him. I think the sooner the Chief returns to civilian life (and undoubtedly a lucrative one), and the sooner the Navy gets back to working on more exigent issues; the better.
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MAJ Fred Zacher
We don't know how many tours Chief Gallagher has made into danger areas. I've seen many of the troops coming back after repeated rotations with severe PTSD. They work and carry on daily activities but to me they look like walking zombies (no disrespect). They seem to have lost the joy of life. For the last 19 years the military has been called upon to fight a dirty war with no end in sight. Sooner or later anyone in the military can be broken. As a current civilian I pray everyday for an end to this continued conflict that is taking our brightest and best and putting them in harms way. Many of them have been sent on four or more tours. Now when President Trump tried to bring the military out of Syria the left went ballistic. How can we ever stop sending our young men and women to war with that kind of disunity in our nation.
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Once we broke good order and started airing our dirty laundry in public, everyone was going to do it including Gallagher.
Unfortunately at some future date the military is going to have to make some examples of people doing this sort of thing to stop it from continuing. Until then we're going to have a bit of a mess.
Unfortunately at some future date the military is going to have to make some examples of people doing this sort of thing to stop it from continuing. Until then we're going to have a bit of a mess.
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SPC Kevin Ford
MSG Tom Earley - I can understand he may see it that way. Buuut ... I suspect a lot of people are angry about their interactions with the UCMJ. Going to media outlets to complain about it while on active duty isn't something that normally is allowed even if you feel you are getting the big green (or blue in the case) wienie.
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SPC Kevin Ford
Capt Gregory Prickett - It could be, I admit that I haven't looked deeply into his past. It is not uncommon for a traumatic event to start someone down a different path.
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He didn't actually pardon Gallagher - Gallagher only got convicted of the posing with a dead body charge. The others he was acquitted. He did grant clemency to one other and I think pardoned the other. With Gallagher he just interfered in matters that Presidents traditionally have stayed out of.
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SGT Cort Landry
He interfered yes, and could have stayed out of it but he's Commander in Chief and has every right to do what he thinks is right. Good or Bad, popular or not, at the end of the day, it's his call.
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MAJ Fred Zacher
When I was in the Army the President was Commander in Chief at the very top of my chain of command. He had full authority to order me into combat and full authority to issue any pardon he chose. I know that current active duty soldiers and sailors are being crucified for things that were accepted during past wars. Some of the court martial cases I've read about have made me glad that I served my time 50 years ago. It's enough stress to worry about an enemy who spends every waking hour trying to find new ways to kill you. Then add to it the additional stress of trying to avoid making a mistake. Soldiers who are worried about being punished for making a mistake will lose their initiative. At that point our military will cease to function as a truly effective fighting force. Just my humble opinion from an over the hill Vietnam Veteran.
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