tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post1146421814579891475..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: Less-Than-HonorableGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-49965576014134094432010-10-05T23:19:26.392-04:002010-10-05T23:19:26.392-04:00An interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...An interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_ArthurWarrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12168643002230767046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-55065329356687835462010-08-26T09:51:08.736-04:002010-08-26T09:51:08.736-04:00Spook,
This is why I left the Navy for a farming ...Spook,<br /><br />This is why I left the Navy for a farming career.....the dirt washes off better now......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-28497969911550646512010-08-25T17:29:06.632-04:002010-08-25T17:29:06.632-04:00Lori--I also forgot one of the biggest military fr...Lori--I also forgot one of the biggest military frauds in recent times, a guy who should have been prosecuted (at a minimum) for making false official statements and wearing decorations he never earned. I'm referrring to retired VADM Donald Arthur, the former Surgeon General of the Navy.<br /><br />To quote Admiral Mullen, "Arthur has more degrees than a thermometer." Unfortunately for him, one of them (a master's in genetics) was never earned, and two more (a JD and PhD came from a notorious diploma mill and were conferred within 14 months of each other.<br /><br />Admiral Arthur also wore the Combat Action Ribbon, claiming to have participatied in direct ground combat during Operation Desert Storm. However, Arthur's superiors have confirmed that his unit never engaged in direct combat during that campaign. <br /><br />Additionally, Arthur has claimed to have held posts (within the medical corps) that he never occupied, and medical training that he never received. He even lied about undergoing Navy parachute training in Lakehurst, NJ (the former jump school became a waste dump long before he came on active duty), and even claimed to have suffered a traumatic brain injury from one of his many motorcycle accidents--after initially saying he did not receive that injury in the crash.<br /><br />Amazing, Admiral Arthur got away with it. There was some sort of IG investigtion, but he was never punished and retired as a three-star. I try to keep up with (and help expose) the major military frauds, but I never heard of Adm Arthur until he was mentioned by another poster--and I accidentally deleted his comment.<br /><br />By the standards of Donald Arthur, Capt Nowak is indeed, a piker. Of course, I knew plenty of dirt bag flag officers during my Air Force career, including a retired four-star who had two DUIs and referred to a female African-American officer as a black "b---h" to her face. The IG exonerated that SOB because "he was equally hard on everyone." Another one who comes to mind is an active-duty one-star (a MAJCOM IG) who was kicked out of two fighter squadrons for falsifying bomb range scores.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-81051114817305189902010-08-25T13:05:51.180-04:002010-08-25T13:05:51.180-04:00It's inconscionable that the USN hasn't ye...It's inconscionable that the USN hasn't yet gotten rid of her.<br /><br />She should be separated with some rank reduction and no retirement pay. The fact that other miscreants have "slipped out" doesn't change anything.<br /><br />She was also an academy graduate. One would expect more.moxiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277920407142000862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-41569475335046074802010-08-25T11:58:25.555-04:002010-08-25T11:58:25.555-04:00Spook- You are right, unfortunately. It is all ve...Spook- You are right, unfortunately. It is all very disgusting none the less!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-55242532714102929142010-08-24T20:00:37.169-04:002010-08-24T20:00:37.169-04:00Lori--In the last line of the post, I noted that i...Lori--In the last line of the post, I noted that in a just world, Lisa Nowak, Mike Murphy and Jill Metzger would all be in jail. But, we've let too many military cons slip by in recent years; given today's rock-bottom standards, Nowak would have excellent grounds for an appeal if she winds up being discharged w/o any pension. <br /><br />Additionally, the attempted murder case against her was always a stretch--one reason prosecutors were willing to plea it down to far lesser charges. Believe me, the D.A. in Orange County wanted to send Nowak away for a long time (nice scalp for his/her collection), but the case wasn't a slam dunk. Hence, the final plea deal. <br /><br />One more thing: I don't know any of the principals in the Nowak mess, but I heard the same thing about her husband. He is one of the real losers in all of this, along with their children. I sincerely hope he was awarded custody. Captain Nowak clearly has some issues that will require a lot of therapy to resolve. <br /><br />Ed--I disagree that Murphy was a mere "component" officer, holding some sort of ceremonial rank. True, he was a career member of the JAG Corps. But at the time his crimes were discovered, he was Commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, the largest legal organization in the service. He had served as chief JAG for two major commands and run the JAG school at Maxwell, in between White House tours. Murphy was on the fast track for Brig Gen--and quite possibly--an higher rank. In those positions, the Air Force (and the taxpayers) had every right to expect the same exacting standards of conduct that we demand from any line officer. <br /><br />And that leads me to another point: Murphy maintained his little charade for more than 20 years. In fact, his "honorable" service was roughly 12 months (out of a 27-year career), yet he still received a pension and retirement benefits? It's probably inappropriate to compare the Murphy and Nowak cases, but I still stand by my original argument; it's hard to kick her out of the service with no retirement when felons like Murphy (or unindicted criminals like Metzger) are drawing a check.<br /><br />Final observation: it's my impression that the Navy has always been more willing to throw the book at misbehaving officers than the Air Force. In my service, it seems like everyone above O-6 is almost untouchable. Heck, I know one Colonel who did 12months in Leavenworth and still retired because he wasn't dismissed from the service as part of his sentence. Today, he runs a large non-profit in a major U.S. city. Who says crime doesn't pay?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-50604796494957831942010-08-24T16:19:34.438-04:002010-08-24T16:19:34.438-04:00An essential difference between Nowak and Col. Mur...An essential difference between Nowak and Col. Murphy is that Murphy is a component officer (JAG), while Nowak was a line officer. The former is sort of an ceremonial rank while the line officer is expected to be a leader of fighting personnel (writing in the PC of gender equity is extremely difficult in military matters.)<br /><br />To argue that because one circumstance led to one outcome that a subsequent, but totally different situation should follow the precedent is inappropriate. <br /><br />Nowak was in a favored and very public position. She disgraced that position and squandered her advantages. As an officer she is not "discharged" but separated from the service. The court would not be remiss in reducing her rank (still further), denying her pension, reducing her eligibility for benefits, etc. Other cases for other individuals are irrelevant.Ed Rasimushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667325554289268659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-63765494480169512292010-08-24T10:44:01.296-04:002010-08-24T10:44:01.296-04:00Lisa was married at the time of this insanity to a...Lisa was married at the time of this insanity to a very decent and good man. She was blessed with three children. The Navy gave her great opportunities. She has brought great discredit upon the Naval service and should be in jail for attempted murder, not living comfortably on her (somewhat reduced) military retirement. What have we all come to that this is not obvious? And by the way, Lisa is a weapons systems officer, not a pilot, not that it matters here. I am ashamed to have flown with her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com