A soldier that thinks can get into serious trouble when superior orders collide.
My E-4 son, Ben, is facing a Summary Court Marshal "unauthorized absence" charge this morning from one of those proverbial Catch 22 situations, in Iraq. Told to have and hold the Mail-Van key at 1530, told at 1530 to muster for a mission at 0430 with the key, told at 1630 to give the key to the Supply Clerk (who failed to return it - and will testify to that), told to retrieve the key at 0415, Supply Clerk found with key at 0435, reported back for the mission at 0445, missed 0430 muster and now he faces a charge of unauthorized absence (and in Summary Court Marshal vs. Non-judicial Punishment - go figure..either way it sounds like Catch 22).
I must be seriously missing something here. Whose orders are supposed to be ignored? Why Summary Court Marshal vs. Non-judicial Punishment? He is a world away, scared, communicating via e-mail, and by the time I post this the 9-hour time difference (they're ahead) will more than likely mean it is over and done. Regardless...
Pray for Ben. Pray for our Soldiers. Pray for America. Pray for Peace.
