Should this Green Beret officer's Silver Star have been revoked? Was the right thing done in this case?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 02:19:06 -0500

Not enough information?
Sounds Sketchy?

http://www.stripes.com/news/army/green-beret-officer-s-silver-star-revoked-as-army-cites-investigation-1.327766

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2015 7:44 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:44:38 -0500

It's concerning because it puts all Soldiers on edge. The higher ups are concerned about the morale and then they push out info on how to take away decorations and awards. Now we see this story in the headlines. I understand there's a drawdown, but what is this threat on accolades accomplishing?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 5 at 2015 7:47 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:47:23 -0500

Not knowing all the facts and as the saying goes there are multiple sides to every story. Well this is a classic example of that. Yes he was awarded the Silver Star then came under investigation but was that investigation ongoing while the Silver Star was being worked or after. Personally Congress as a whole has better things to worry about in my honest opinion.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2015 8:23 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 08:23:19 -0500

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 7 at 2015 9:21 AM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 09:21:20 -0500

Pure politics, he did what he had to do when duty called...PERIOD

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 9:22 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 09:22:39 -0500

On June 2, 2009, pResident Obama nominated John McHugh to the position of United States Secretary of the Army. He's just another stooge of the current administration.

Golsteyn is alleged to have made critical remarks detailed in the book, The Wrong War, about the American strategy in Afghanistan. His alleged remarks brought on the investigation for an undisclosed violation of the military’s ROE for which he was never charged that ended with revocation of his Silver Star.

The potus and his appointees are as vindictive as a scorned lover. They do not have the best interests of those that serve in their hearts or minds.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 7 at 2015 4:45 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 16:45:18 -0500

My question on the case is simple. Why didn't they just go back to the approval authority and ask if it would have changed his opinion? Article mentions him by name. There's a lot of conjecture about "he would likely would not have."

Just end the debate. If in doubt, go to the General who approved the Silver Star, show him the "evidence" that was brought up during the investigation, and get a thumbs up/down.

At that point it isn't "DoD" revoked the award, it's "Original Granting Authority Reviewed the case, and Cancelled the award."

Any time you end up with a second set of people reviewing a second set of information, of course things are going to change dramatically. However if you have ONE PERSON review "amended" data, then the process is merely a case of "no/yes this would not have changed the outcome, at that point."

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 5:13 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 17:13:44 -0500

Good question, SSG Private RallyPoint Member. I put a lot of stock in the first-hand accounts that said CPT Golsteyn was heroic in his actions that day, but we don't know what the derogatory information might be. I guess it could be anything, and that gives me pause. Apparently it's significant enough that the SecArmy believes LTG Rodriguez would not have signed the award if he had known about it. The trouble when you get up to those levels (SecArmy, I mean) is that things can become political, which is a shame and could negatively impact a good officer's career. Maybe the impact is for good reason, maybe it's political. I guess (now) MAJ Golsteyn probably knows which it is.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2015 4:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:47:27 -0500

CPO Bill Towart; this is a duplicate in nature post. I already posted ab out this particular subject. :)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2015 4:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:50:00 -0500

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-this-green-beret-officer-s-silver-star-have-been-revoked-was-the-right-thing-done-in-this-case

This is the link to what I posted a few days ago.

Should this Green Beret officer's Silver Star have been revoked? Was the right thing done in this...

Not enough information? Sounds Sketchy? http://www.stripes.com/news/army/green-beret-officer-s-silver-star-revoked-as-army-cites-investigation-1.327766

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Feb 8 at 2015 5:07 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 17:07:08 -0500

1. I know the author of the Washington Free Beacon article Aaron MacLean, I graduated from IOC with him and served with him in the same area of Afghanistan for a brief period. We both lost friends in the same corner of dirt south of Marjah. I'd tie my integrity to his any day.
2. I met (then Capt) Matt Golsteyn. I did read the book The Wrong War by Bing West and am inspired by the reporting on what he and his men did.
3. I was not present in the same location as Maj Golsteyn during the time he was cited for the award in question or the action that was reportedly investigated, nor am I privy to any of the bureaucratic or investigative action that has followed.

All this said, this situation smells really bad for the institution.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jun 30 at 2015 12:05 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:05:00 -0400

This is an old conversation, so maybe nobody is interested anymore, but my concern, other than Maj. Golsteyn getting screwed, is the effect this type of FUBAR will have on other service members. As SGT Michael Everett put so well,
"It's concerning because it puts all Soldiers (and all service members) on edge". Will this type of bureaucratic CYA action cause warriors know and follow the ROE more strictly, which can be a good thing, or to hesitate to do the right thing in combat, out of fear of retribution, which is a bad thing. I fear it is the later, just ask Marcus Luttrell.