46. "The DD-214 will state HONORABLE RELEASE. Not discharge. And they always tell you when you leave you must abide by the rules or your status can change."

The DD-214. Well, let's see what it says. (I am looking at mine as I type this.....)

"CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.'

OK. That phrase occupies the top line of the certificate alongside the form identifier "DD-214".

OK. Reading. Looking. Hey now! Item #24.

"24. CHARACTER OF SERVICE (Includes upgrades)"

(Mine reads 'HONORABLE'.)

No where on my DD-214 does it read that I must continue to abide by military regulations during my non-active status or risk having the character of service during my active status changed. Don't see it.

Like I said earlier, this is retaliation. Pure and simple.

vegastracon at 8:23PM on May 31st 2007

47. Indeed your character of service at the time of your release, if you were still under contract, was honorable. However until you recieve your actuall discharge orders after the contract is up your status can still change. Bottom line if you want attention, deal with what comes with it.

Greg at 8:43PM on May 31st 2007

48. Interesting that it includes upgrades... but not downgrades?

JK at 8:56PM on May 31st 2007

49. "I disagree with what he says but shall defend to the death his right to say it." great paraphraing from Voltaire Bill, I agree with the soldier though, this country has never asked soo much from our soldiers for something that the majority of the nation does not understand. Too many of my friends are coming home from Iraq, to suffer broken homes, financial hardship, and emotional distress, only to be told that they're going back. It's time to finish the job, whatever that is, and bring our kids home victorious, to the ticker tape parades they have earned. Because even if you disagree with us being there, we're there, and we need to go home. Not pull out, just finish.

Sarah Caddell at 9:52PM on May 31st 2007

50. Being retired myself, I don't know why "CCC" would think that any NCO would ever impersonate an officer to try to impress anyone. "Retired" must have not heard the part where President Bush went forward with this war like it was a personal need of his and not recommended by those paid to keep mistakes like this from happening. Sending soldiers to combat 2, 3, or 4 times cuts their chances for survival down to zip. Half of the Americans in this country have fatigues, you can buy them at Walmart or any army surplus store. I have lots that I purchased, the military didn't, and I wear them, no insignia, or name, I make sure I don't put a Walmart patch on them since that is where they came from. It is just like an Army officer to try to trash an NCO 2 weeks before he has fulfilled his requirement of service. I bet that officer will tell you he or she are perfect and never made a mistake. I bet they didn't smoke pot in college, or if they did, they didn't inhale. I hope for the CPL's sake more than half of the members on that board have some common sense.

sarge at 9:55PM on May 31st 2007

51. If you take a minute and weed thru the crap, the CPL isn't in trouble for wearing a uniform. He's getting drug thru this because he cursed the officer instead of kissing his a__. This is getting all this attention because the officer pimped him out. Could be desk jockie that has othing better to do than look at the pictures all day. Possibly not. Most likely yes. Saw this happen for 24 years...........

sarge at 10:22PM on May 31st 2007

52. ("Kokesh is part of the Individual Ready Reserve, a segment of the reserves that consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations. His attorney, Mike Lebowitz, said Kokesh's IRR status ends June 18." By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, AP)-- I saw so many misquotes I had to go back & check the article. I may have missed a few comments, but has anyone considered that if you worked for a private company and were caught protesting against your own company you would no doubt be fired on the spot...no questions asked/all future benefits lost? Granted most private industry jobs aren't as hazardous to your health as the Armed Forces, and I thank him for serving, but why would you 'dis your own employer while you're still on his payroll? With only @ 3 weeks to go until his contract was up, he couldn't refrain from protests until then? My guess is he wasn't that concerned about what type of discharge he gets, just that his voice was heard.

KD at 11:10PM on May 31st 2007

53. There are from 4 to 7 people in uniforms, one not the CPL in this story is wearing military rank insignia. This isn't about that indiviual, it is about the one going before the panel for cursing the officer, this is crap, pure and simple......

sarge at 10:41PM on May 31st 2007

54. He was not in the Marines at the time of the protest. He was discharged - hence the brouhaha over changing his discharge status. Being on Individual Ready Reserve doesn't mean he is still in the Marines. It means they can still call him back up, activating him again, for however many days or weeks or whatever are still owing on his service enlistment.

The Marines have already discharged him. Any civilian can go buy a pair of fatigues at an army surplus store and wear them to a protest. That the Marines don't have anything better to do than to harrass this guy is pretty pathetic.

Julia at 11:14PM on May 31st 2007

55. Is saying someone in a BDU outfit with no insignia is representing the military, the same as saying someone in a red t-sirt that doesn't say McDonalds is representing McDonalds? This isn't about the uniform folks..................

sarge at 11:24PM on May 31st 2007

56. Julia, I think you missed my point. Going back to comments 43-45, it sounds like the rules could definitely be stated more clearly on that document, but if I were going to publicly trash my current employer (yes, he is still under contract until June 18 and can be called back to active duty at any time) I would have researched the hell out of the consequences before protesting in public...unless of course I didn't care about the consequences (my point). Ever heard the phrase 'don't burn your bridges'? Sarge, I agree this isn't about the uniform but I know several service members (family and friends) whose blood would boil to be in the presence of a protester like that. Not sure they would go to the level of reporting him, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't consider it an Honorable thing for a Marine to do. It's always been my understanding that while under contract you are not to question orders/operations. He stated he loves the Marines but they are being used politically...that's an opinion in my book. For an officer who beleives in the cause of defending our country/world from people who want to kill us if we don't convert to their religion, I could understand if he/they were pissed off enough to report him...especially if they have the demeanors you suggest...as you said...not about the uniform. And again I ask...wouldn't any other employer immediately fire an employee publicly trashing his company while he was still receiving company benefits? Why is it no one is held accountable for their own actions these days? In the end, I think what happens to him will all boil down to how specific the Marines legal docs are on appropriate behavior and whether or not he can claim ignorance to the details if it goes in the Marines favor.

KD at 12:28AM on Jun 1st 2007

57. "Freedom of Speech" is our first Amendment Right. Our forefathers found the right of free speech so important that they made it the FIRST
Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

It is important that we do not get lulled into giving up our rights. Our forefathers were great and insightful men who were the cornerstones of the foundation of this great nation. They were forward-looking, when they signed the Bill of Rights, because they were fresh enough to the beginning of this country to remember why this country was built to begin with.
Our first ancestors were composed of prisoners, and people persecuted for their beliefs. Our fathers who penned the Constitution and the Bill of Rights wanted to protect us - their future generations - from suffering the injustices that they had encountered; yet had overcome - by building our great nation. With the strategic and unique vision that was empowered by a TRUE democratic nature that was FOR THE PEOPLE ONLY they drafted these protections into our Constitution via the Bill of Rights.
- - - -
These men (Kokesh & company)were not wearing any insignia or badges. Anyone can buy fatigues and wear them.

How can the military threaten to go back in time to undo an "Honorable Discharge" that has already been done? I could see if the incident at hand had happened prior to the "Honorable Discharge" being granted, and the incident had just now been found out. However, the incident at hand happened after the Honorable Discharge had been granted.
- - - -
I love our servicemen and servicewomen. I have much love and respect for each and every one of them. Our Marines are truly my heros! Without the sacrifices that our service people make every day, we could not defend our American Freedoms in a world still frought with totalitarians.
My point is, the freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights that our whole freedom is based on. It is one of the rights that our servicemen and women die for everyday, ensuring that we, as Americans, are able to live without fear of reprisals for what we say.
On the other hand, I don't believe the government will go through with the Dishonorable Discharge thing. However, I feel that Kokesh should open his eyes a little wider and realize that he is being hit in the face with what civilians in other countries face everyday because they don't have a freedom-engineered constitution, and the best military in the world, to back up their freedoms, like we do.
---- - - -
To Kokesh, I want to say a very sincere "Thank you" for the time you spent in the military defending our freedoms and our way of life. As a country we are forever indebted to you and we understand that you suffered the horrors of war that you young servicemen have to endure. War is ugly. But the loss of our freedoms, Kokesh, gets uglier and uglier along the way. Can't you see that now?
Hey, does this make sense?? It made sense when I was writing it. Does anyone out there get me? Or do I need to go to sleep?

C. Chris Torvik at 1:24AM on Jun 1st 2007

58. TO: Phil # 25 I received the information about his ready reserve status from the news article.
His attorney Mike Lebowitz said Kokesh's I.R.R. status ends on June 8. I furthur stated in my blog all Americans should have a right to thier opinion.
Kokesh had the right to express his opinion. What is in question is how he expressed it. Answer to others, Yes the uniform is given to a discharged serviceman, but it still belongs to the military until you are discharged from active and reserve duty status.

retired at 1:35AM on Jun 1st 2007

59. THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET. WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, YET THE MINUTE WE PROTEST WE ARE SLAPPED DOWN. THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WE WATCH COMMERICIALS OF POLITICAL FIGURES FIGHTING LIKE CHILDREN- SLAMMING EACH OTHER. THEY SAY ,CHILDREN LEARN BY EXAMPLE AND THAT IS JUST WHAT THE POLITICIANS ARE TEACHING OUR YOUNG. IT'S O.K. TO SLANDER, LIE, AND DEFECE OTHERS TO GET A POSITION IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. THEN THEY SELDEM FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN PROMISES. WE CAN NOT SUE THE GOVERNMENT FOR FRAUD SO WHATS LEFT. IF YOU SAY VOTE, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. THINK ABOUT BUSING FOR A GOOD EXAMPLE. WHO WNTED THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SHIPPED OFF TO A SCHOOL CLEAR ACROSSED TOWN, YET WE HAVE IT!. NOW THEIR SAYING IT COST CITIZENS MORE TAXES-HUMMMM.
THIS GENTLEMAN FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY AND WHO KNOWS BETTER IF THE WAR THERE IS WOTH IT BUT HIM. HOW ABOUT WE SEND ALL THOSE POLITICIANS OVER THERE TO FIGHT FOR US, WHILE WE CITIZENS SIT OVER HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

PENNILESS IN KY. at 1:46AM on Jun 1st 2007

60. You "young Turks"(are you even Americans?) have never been in the military. It's plain too see you have no honor or pride in this country and you and this guy should have stayed out. They should bust him for disgracing the uniform and his service. You have no experence to comment on what is a blatent disrespect to his leaders and peers who also served alongside him risking thier lives to protect his as well. you can't change the "rules" just because the issue is unpopular. It would appear he will get what he deserves. If you aren't willing to die for this country to stay free then tuck your head between your legs and pretend the world is a nice place. The rest of us will will stand the watch and preserve the respect of this country and freedoms that I (in Vietnam), my father (in world War II), my mother (in WWI), my father's brother (in WWII), his 2 sisters (both in WWI), my father-in-law (in Korea), my daughters' grandfather (in WWI), and now my daughter (in Iraq) have fought for the rest of you too wimpy to have the guts to join and serve because you might disagree with some politician (it's easy to blame Bush for all your issues but I remember Hilary Clinton and all of Congress voting to go to Iraq. Where they to short-sighted to think it through all the way? Oh yea, they were never in the military either...!) Your free world is in jepardy from those who wish you dead. When are you short-sighted liberal idiots going to get it through your thick skulls that you can't just run away from the bad guys because they now have the resources to chase you down. They do not want peace, they want us dead...period! I'd love to be there to see the look on your face when they show up on your doorstep or maybe in a shoping mall straped with explosives and yelling in Arabic one minute before pushing the button. WOuld you perfer the living conditions in Iraq? The Iraq people deserve better living conditions and its become our job to help them survive. Like it or not.

The dodo bird was a liberal, or maybe just a "Young Turk(ey)". Look where it got him.

harley at 9:10AM on Jun 1st 2007