The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69194   Message #1172560
Posted By: Rapparee
27-Apr-04 - 03:27 PM
Thread Name: BS: Kerry's War Medal Controversy
Subject: RE: BS: Kerry's War Medal Controversy
"The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for commissioned officers are as follows:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance tot he same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)"

Now, GUEST, every member of any of the Armed Forces of the US takes one of these oaths. Note that both oaths are, in the end, to the Constitution, not the President or the VP or the Secretrary of Army or Charlie's Aunt or to you. To the ideas and principles embodied in the Constitution of the United States.

Obviously you haven't yet realized that. Nor have you understood the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which permits US soldiers to question orders they think are illegal. Or anything else about the military, for that matter.