Adam Kohesh Verdict

[evlbstrd]

From proud2Blib's original post in the Kansas forum:

"Adam Kokesh was being threatened with
losing his honorable discharge because of his involvement with the
peace community. He wore his uniform to a rally in March and his
picture was taken and published in the Wash Post. That triggered this
attempt by the Marines to revoke his discharge.

Remember the Marine who held up the sign counting the number of times
Gonzalez said "I don't recall" at his hearing about a month ago? That was Adam."

They held the hearing and proud just called me to say that his Honorable Discharge was reduced to a General Discharge. He will receive no Veteran's benefits. Kokesh will appeal.
proud has photos and some press reaction to post as soon as she gets home.

[rpannier]

1. While you can't legally wear the full uniform when you're not in the service

I don't remember the Army ever telling me they could take away my honorable discharge if I did.

Rather bizarre, but not totally surprising in this day-and-age.

[evlbstrd]

3. I believe he was wearing only the "blouse."

Not his full uniform.
Bizarre, just the same.

[rpannier]

5. We were told you couldn't wear the blouse with the US Army tag on it

I can wear it the uniform as long as the US Army tag is not attached.

I don't know the rule for Marines.

But, again...no one ever said anything about revoking my Honorable Discharge if I did. They just said it was a crime and I could be fined.

[evlbstrd]

6. I've never heard about reducing discharge status after the fact, either.

[rpannier]

26. Discharges are based on your behavior while in service

Afterward is on you.

It's why Dan White was accorded a cemetary spot in a military graveyard even though he murdered a City Mayor and a Board Supervisor

[evlbstrd]

28. Used to be, I guess.

Everything is becoming poisoned and punitive.

[rpannier]

29. So true

Pretty soon they'll start digging up the sites of servicemen who are buried in the cemetaries because of something they did after their service had ended.

[evlbstrd]

30. By these standards

every Viet Nam vet who threw their medals over the White House fence should have had their discharges reduced.
It's an old story. The Bonus Marchers of WWI weren't exactly treated well.

[tandot]

25. I've read somewhere that he removed all the tags:

Here it is:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_re_us/military_protest_hearing_1

Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh and other veterans marked the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq in April by wearing their uniforms — with military insignia removed — and roaming around the nation's capital on a mock patrol.

[lonestarnot]

2. Ain't that a bitch! But didn't he know that he was still in?

[evlbstrd]

4. His active service was finished.

But he was stil IRR.

[lonestarnot]

19. Well then not processed out yet so stuck like a pig on the spit.

[evlbstrd]

21. I got my HD and DD-214 after 5 years active.

I wore my old working dungarees all the time until they wore out (I was in school). Peacoat, too. Insignia and all.

[Jim__]

7. That really sucks!

I wonder if he would have lost his honorable discharge if he wore his uniform to a pro-war rally.

[helderheid]

8. He will receive no Veteran's benefits.

Motherfuckers. Get this to Keith Olbermann NOW.

[Clark2008]

10. Isn't it sad we only have ONE news outlet that would ever possibly

do this story?

:(

[uppityperson]

15. link to ABC article

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3244151

[babylonsister]

14. Any clue what benes he might have received other than not now

being able to retire from the reserves?

[uppityperson]

16. articles say he won't lose "military benefits", is this not vets benefits?

Is Veterans benefits different that what they say? I don't know, am ignorant looking for someone who knows. Thank you.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3244151
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/06/04/ap/us/d8piau5o0.txt

After a hearing Monday before an administrative separation board at the Marine Corps Mobilization Command, the panel decided not to recommend a less-than-honorable discharge, choosing instead the general discharge. "This is a nonpunitive discharge," said Col. Patrick McCarthy, chief of staff for the mobilization command. "The most stringent discharge that could have been received is other than honorable, and the board chose to raise that up to a general discharge."

If the recommendation is approved, Kokesh would not lose any military benefits. McCarthy said.

[uppityperson]

9. oh hell, k&r for Adam Kokesh

[BlooInBloo]

11. Fucking bastards.

[uppityperson]

12. Link to article here (Gen Disch= NOT lose military benefits)

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/06/04/ap/us/d8piau5o0.txt
Discharge Suggested for Anti-War Marine
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A military panel has recommended a general discharge for an Iraq war veteran who wore his uniform during a war protest and later responded with an obscenity to a superior who told him he might have violated military rules.

Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh participated in the protest in March, clad in a uniform that had his name tag and other insignia removed. After he was identified in a photo caption in The Washington Post, a superior officer sent him a letter saying he might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms without authorization.

After a hearing Monday before an administrative separation board at the Marine Corps Mobilization Command, the panel decided not to recommend a less-than-honorable discharge, choosing instead the general discharge. "This is a nonpunitive discharge," said Col. Patrick McCarthy, chief of staff for the mobilization command. "The most stringent discharge that could have been received is other than honorable, and the board chose to raise that up to a general discharge."

If the recommendation is approved, Kokesh would not lose any military benefits. McCarthy said.

[BikeWriter]

17. Kick!

[evlbstrd]

24. That's good to know.

I was merely passing on what I was told from the scene.

[babylonsister]

13. Thanks for the info, evlbstrd, and I'm glad he's appealing. nt

[Marie26]

18. Poor guy

They're making an example of him to silence vets that oppose this war.

[malaise]

20. He earned those benefits

There was a nice thread yesterday.

[pacalo]

22. If he fought in Iraq, he deserves Veterans' benefits. The punishment doesn't fit the "crime".

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. I Don't Care What He Did Afterwards. They Have No Right In My Opinion To Take Those Things From Him

after he was honorably discharged. That's just plain wrong.

[cui bono]

27. Video of him a couple other guys on GMA:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x32906