Biggest Traitors of the US Military

2015-03-16T12:41:29-04:00

Loyalty isn't always the easiest asset to find in people. Unfortunately, these men were trusted beyond their means and their disloyalty took its toll on the United States. Here are 3 of the biggest traitors in our history. What's the driving factor behind people switching sides?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 12:54 PM

2015-03-16T12:54:57-04:00

Personally, it would be the two gentlemen (Douglas and George) that ordered and conducted the violent attacks on The Bonus Army on the Capitol Mall in 1932. This includes one officer arresting the enlisted aide that had saved his life in WWI.

But since history is written by the victors, they will forever be known as heroes of American military lore, despite what they did to their fellow veterans.

http://books.google.com/books?id=g5CEg9oOn4MC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Bonus Army

In the summer of 1932, at the height of the Depression, some forty-five thousand World War I veterans--whites and blacks together--descended on Washington D.C., from all over the country to demand the bonus promised them eight years earlier for their wartime service. Fearing violence after the Senate defeated the "bonus bill," Herbert Hoover's Army Chief of Staff, Douglas MacArthur, led tanks through the streets on July 28 to evict the bonus...

Response by COL Ted Mc made Mar 16 at 2015 12:58 PM

2015-03-16T12:58:39-04:00

Three of the biggest traitors? And you put Nidal Malik Hasan on the list?!!?

Benedict Arnold had a justifiable grievance against the government of the United States of America but his actions MIGHT have done the United States of America (as a country) serious harm.

John Anthony Walker Jr. was simply a greedy little scuzball whose actions MIGHT have done the United States of America (as a country) serious harm.

Nidal Malik Hasan was simply a nut whose actions didn't even raise him into top 25 American multiple killers and did the United States of America (as a country) no actual harm.

So, Arnold's reason was personal revenge (and money), Walker's reason was money, and Hasan's reason was "religion".

Now, would anyone like to start the list of people whose actions were ACTUALLY harmful to the United States of America (as a country) and caused the deaths of more than (let's make it difficult) 1,000 Americans?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 16 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-03-16T15:09:12-04:00

This is one helluva good question and an intriguing one.

A traitor is one who betrays a trust. Thus, spies and agents provocateur don't qualify.

Idiots and the insane don't count inasmuch as they don't have the ability to act with criminal intent. That pretty much excludes Jane Fonda and others like her.

That eliminates a lot of candidates and I am happy to say that I can't think of any off hand other than the three already mentioned. Isn't it simply great that America has been relatively free of them?

Response by SSG John Bacon made Mar 16 at 2015 4:15 PM

2015-03-16T16:15:02-04:00

I could point out that Hasan probably had plans of being a turn coat from day 1 and never had Loyalty to the USA.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Mar 16 at 2015 4:37 PM

2015-03-16T16:37:42-04:00

Nidal Malik Hasan for a couple of reasons. He is an Army officer, so he betrayed all that this entails, he is a medical professional and psychiatrist, and betray this whole community and the oaths this entails. Additionally, he knowingly targeted unarmed people with actual violence...the others may have sold out their Nation but they did not turn all on their whole species like a rabid animal.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 16 at 2015 6:46 PM

2015-03-16T18:46:50-04:00

The Walker family, Christopher John Boyce and Andrew Daulton Lee, Jonathan Pollard

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 16 at 2015 6:53 PM

2015-03-16T18:53:38-04:00

Was Hasan actually tried for treason? I don't think so. This was merely a workplace violence incident as far as the current command structure was concerned. Just a common murderer, no treason here. He was charged with 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder but no treason on the docket. You can thank the Army command structure for that one up to and including POTUS.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 10:53 PM

2015-03-16T22:53:08-04:00

Might there be more significant examples than these three? Whom might you think?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Apr 2 at 2015 3:33 PM

2015-04-02T15:33:15-04:00

I'm sorry but I can't let people forget that long before Niael Malik Hasan attacked the Soldiers of Ft Hood, another Soldier took it upon himself to attach his own unit while in the combat zone.

On March 22 - 23, 2003, Hasan K Akbar (born Mark Fidel Kools) threw grenades into several tents of the 1BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Command Group including the tent of the BCT CDR and CSM. He shot and killed Army Capt Chris Seifert and Air Force Maj Stone died from injuries from the blasts. Dozens of others were injured in the attack as well.

What makes this attack stick out more to me over Hasan's attack other than the fact I was there is it was down while deployed. It was done just hours prior to us rolling off camp and entering a country were people laid ready to kill us. It shook us to our core. It caused us all to take stock of ourselves but in the end it made us stronger.

United States v. Hasan K. Akbar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States v. Hasan K. Akbar was the court-martial of a United States Army soldier for a premeditated attack in the early morning hours of March 23, 2003, at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, during the start of the United States invasion of Iraq.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 2 at 2015 5:25 PM

2015-04-02T17:25:12-04:00

What about the guy who frag'd his CO when all this kicked off from the 101st?

Response by SSgt Khanh Pham made Aug 5 at 2015 2:21 PM

2015-08-05T14:21:13-04:00

It will be easy to judge, but refraint from doing so.

I have been turning the question over and over in may ways. Still turning.
Factors
1. Ignorant : patriots while waving the flag of their country may very well be undermining its very foundation. Someone called me out on my ignorant and droped a MLK quote ""Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." The debate is which action is ignorant and in which context.
There is much more to this than simple word: Is sacrificing your country to kill your enemies ignorant? Keeping silent to preserve relationship that destroy your country? Less touchy for American: southern vietnamese helping the VC against American and its allies, some were under threat, some were under promises, and I have seen both faces. ignorant is worth discussing beyond a few comments. not a simple subject.

2. Vengeance: Uncle Same create more enemies than friends is my assertion. veteran got their own axes to grind, active duty has theirs, businesses, regular civilian. When people are wronged, how do they determine who or what is the real enemy? Isnt it easy to lump them all and call them US, or do people dissect, target specific section, target specific individuals, and avoid collateral damage. Then there is the problem of association, your target associates would be in the way or oppose to your action, and eventually you would have to destroy a country just to kill one cochcroach. It is a complex mess.

3. Greed - Financially we are all motivated, unless you are like gandhi or budha who left everything and wear a cloth around, eating free handout from your neighbors.
5. Love - Honey pot. what would you not do for love? haha With love the world will find peace right. Love for ideology. Love for excitement. Love of wining a struggle-which may relate or mix with ignorant.
6. Fear - Black Mail You can see many people do not voice their opinion on Rally Point, Linked In, FB or other face-face meeting. Leaving out the appropriate reasong for keeping silent, we also have Fear of being judged?, fear of being wrong, or fear of being known. In terms of power play, I am putting myself at a disadvantage for opening my mouth first. For my purpose this is acceptable, and neccessary.

Loyalty is like the greatest subject in regard to military profession, yet it is non existence in discourse. Maybe I missed out on all the loyalty discussion.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 5 at 2015 2:37 PM

2015-08-05T14:37:22-04:00

I loved 'Family of Spies' (about John Walker). He was played by Powers Booth I believe.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 6 at 2015 1:21 AM

2015-08-06T01:21:45-04:00

Timothy McVeigh - OK City bomber. He was a Navy Senior Chief...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 6 at 2015 2:41 AM

2015-08-06T02:41:53-04:00

Oh Joy, Joy, I remember when they busted Walker being that he was a CMS (Communications Material Security (Codes)) Custodian at one time every Naval Communictor both Radiomen and Cryptologic Technician Communications had to get a once over by NIS. That was just so much Fun! NOT!. Also I was working as a Communicator for NIS Europe when they Busted Sgt Clayton Lonetree and I got to Handle the Debrief Messages on that one. Just pisses me off.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 6 at 2015 9:54 AM

2015-08-06T09:54:52-04:00

I am going with Jimmy Carter. Was responsible for destroying over half of our military and leaving us open for attacks. Actually gave a US embassy away (US sovereign land) and we are now screwing with these same people 30+ years later.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 6 at 2015 5:15 PM

2015-08-06T17:15:42-04:00

You mean she hasn't been mentioned yet?

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Aug 7 at 2015 2:00 PM

2015-08-07T14:00:53-04:00

Even though the people who are posted above ARE in fact traitors... I feel the ones who "get over" or look the other way for a fellow Officer or Senior NCO who has done something wrong are just as guilty. Selling info to the enemy or killing a person is no different to selling your fellow soldier out or killing someones career. Suicide has claimed many who have served proudly and were forced out of the Military because they were in a "BAD"chain of command and were ridiculed and hazed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-08-18T21:15:30-04:00

It seems each has his own motivation. Anger, financial gain, and (background, extremism, mental illness). Nidal Hasan was not trusted by his peers who repeatedly complained about him. His Superiors passed this problem off to Ft. Hood personnel.

Does a Vice President count? Aaron Burr

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2016 2:03 PM

2016-07-28T14:03:36-04:00

I would say Hillary, Barack and Bernie but John Walker Lindh (the American Taliban), Bradley or Chelsea Manning (MI SP4 that did Wikileaks with US intelligence) and Edward Snowden are all great candidates in the modern era....

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 29 at 2016 12:40 PM

2016-07-29T12:40:06-04:00

Interestingly, I have come across several people lately, including some vets, who thing that Chelsea Manning is a hero and political prisoner, not a traitor... go figure

Response by LTC Keith Lembke made Aug 11 at 2016 1:29 PM

2016-08-11T13:29:40-04:00

Hey, I thought it was simply work place violence!!! Isn't that the "official" finding? Benedict Arnold was labeled a traitor by the leaders, Walker was called a traitor by the leaders- but Hasan, according to the leaders, was just a disgruntled employee..... Maybe the problem is a lot bigger then we think.

Response by PO3 Nicholas Richards made Nov 24 at 2019 3:27 PM

2019-11-24T15:27:59-05:00

Honestly this post is part of the problem you point the finger at those who got caught but do not mention those politicians that changed laws for the financials gains of certain people and those causing division by financials, race, and sex

Response by PO3 Nicholas Richards made Nov 24 at 2019 11:29 PM

2019-11-24T23:29:20-05:00

How can these be three of the top three traitors? Why would you ask that you say. The answer there is simple because there are to many self serving bureaucrats that get away with the same thing and profiteering on war and oppressing and dividing people. The only difference is they turn there actions into new laws.