Blind Obedience

6
2937

April 7, 2011

Orders:

“Blind Obedience” to orders is an often-heard left-wing liberal rant in reference to those of us who have made a career in the military. Left-wing types demean and insult too – men and women who complete a tour in the military and decide to move into civilian life following honorable and proud service. Leftist views include military folks blindly obeying orders. Very different from the real world of military life. Consider:

How Much Obedience Does an Officer Need?

Beck, Tresckow, and Stauffenberg–Examples of Integrity and Moral Courage for Today’s Officer

by Major (General Staff) Dr. Ulrich F. Zwygart*

Major Zwygart’s excellent analysis of moral disobedience in different armies exposes the myth of blind obedience on the part of most military folks. His essay includes military action and acts of disobedience (for moral reasons) including:

  • World War I – German Army
  • World War I – British Army
  • Between World Wars I and II – American Army
  • World War II – German Army
  • World War II – British Army
  • Algerian War – French Army
  • Vietnam War – American Army
  • Greece, 1973 – Greek Navy
  • Soviet Union, 1975 – Soviet Navy (dissenting officer executed)
  • Lebanon, 1982 – Israeli Army
  • Iraq, 1990 – Iraqi Army (about 100 Iraqi officers executed For refusing to invade Kuwait.)

History is replete with examples of military leaders refusing to obey unlawful or immoral orders. Major Zwygart provides examples of moral military leadership at the macro level and micro level in his essay. He wrote too:

“Obedience to orders is a high military virtue, without which an army is merely a mob.102 The reliability achieved through obedience is an essential characteristic of effective military operations; however, obedience is not absolute. Orders must be based upon law and morality. Soldiers Are obligated to disobey illegal or immoral orders.” (Ibid.)

Continuing with Major Zwygart’s position on moral obedience to military orders, consider the following, please:

Military leaders are taught to obey. Writing in “The First and The Last” General Adolph Galland said: “In a military organization, orders are there to be obeyed.” General Galland’s pointed comment on obedience to orders is correct. Members of Armed Forces obey! It is as simple as that. They do not obey blindly.

Consider a small unit action from the Vietnam War. The Marine Corporal (E-4) in command made an ethical and moral decision concerning combat operations. His decision did not directly cause a negative impact on his tactics for coping with the enemy situation. It did however, expose him, his Marines and the South Vietnamese soldiers to greater danger. **

Circa January 1968, I Corp Vietnam a combined Marine and ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) had a meeting engagement with a Viet Cong Unit. The enemy point man was killed. The action took place in an agricultural area. Village hamlets were interspersed with rice paddies and the structures of Vietnamese agrarian society. The allied patrol deployed “on line” and went to ground preparatory to an on-line assault. A Marine in the patrol was pulling the pin on a hand grenade – preparatory to the assault. (Once the pin is pulled on a hand grenade, it can be held for an indefinite period of time. It will not arm until the handle or spoon is released. Not a task for the faint of heart.) The American Marine NCOIC (non-commissioned officer in charge) Corporal put his hand over the grenade, shook his head “no” and whispered “women and kids”. The patrol moved through the hamlets on line without covering fires or the use of hand grenades. Dangerous – yes – moral – yes! Not the kind of action left leaning media types like to report, was it? It is an excellent example of obedience to orders, i.e. patrol, locate and kill the enemy” without unreasonable danger to innocent civilians.

Orders may be obeyed over the course of centuries. Many families in America serve. They take great pride in long histories of military service to The United States of America. Families with long service histories are very popular with leftist. They provide them with many opportunities to insult and demean them and The United States of America. Consider compliance with military orders for one American family. It is not unique; rather the members of this one American family are rather common in America. The recognition of their (and similar families) valor is a decreasing quality in America. Please travel through the centuries and take a look at one American family.

(Note 1)
  • Charles Private 5th Virginia Regiment Revolutionary War
  • Steven Private Captain Wallace’s Company War of 1812
    Boatman LA Vols.
  • James Second Co. E. 1st Regiment Mexican War
    Lieutenant
  • Elbert Sergeant Co. F. 45th Virginia Infantry Civil War
    Regiment – CSA – KIA 5-9-64
  • Samuel Sergeant Co. F. 45th Virginia Infantry Civil War
    Regiment – CSA – KIA 8-64
  • James Colonel Co. G. 34th Regiment New York Civil War
    USA
  • John Private 22nd Maine – USA Civil War
  • Bert Private Co. E. Indiana Volunteers Spanish American
    War
  • Charles Private AEF World War I
    Date of Death 6-12-1918
  • Hollis SM3 USNR World War II
    Lost 8/18/43 remains not recovered
  • Lannie TM2 USN – SS-197 World War II
    KIA October – 1944
  • Raymond TSgt 10th Mountain Division World War II
    Combat Medic (Note 2)
  • Bobby Sgt. USA Korean War
    WIA (Note 3)
  • Ray Sgt. USMC Vietnam
  • Ray 1st USA (Note4) Grenada
    Ray 1st USA Panama
  • Ray Captain USA Desert Storm
  • Ramey BM3 U.S. Navy Drug War
    South America
  • Ramey SP4 USA (Note 5) War on Terror
  • Ryan SP4 USA Multi National
    Force – Sinai
  • Ryan SGT USA Iraq
    WIA (Retired – wounded)

Every one of the more than 100+ men from one American family served honorably. Some were killed in action. Others were wounded in action. Not one of them refused to perform their duty for America. The men in the family continue to serve in America’s military. Millions of military personnel worldwide obey orders and serve their countries honorably – even when doing so exposes them to dangers beyond the battlefield. On order, they pick up their weapons and advance, no matter the danger in front of them.

Dear civilians and others who may have no experience with military organizations – please know that military organizations do not create wars. You do! We fight wars with violence of purpose to bring them to a quick end when political considerations allow us to. Of course the military and economic situation can and does create long term wars. Often the length of time a war goes on is a political decision, not a military one. Members of the military are very moral and decent people. We serve America with pride.

Dale R. Suiter
Atlanta Michigan

Bibliography:

* Zwygart, Dr. Ulrich F. Major (General Staff). How Much Obedience Does An Officer Need…” Combat Studies Institute U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027-6900. Note: (Material is not copyrighted)
** Unpublished oral AAR (after action review) I Corp, United States Marine Crops, January 1968 7th Marine Regiment TAOR (tactical area of responsibility) (Material is not copyrighted)

Notes:
  • Note 1: From an unpublished text, used with permission of the author. Anonymity requested by the author. The text describes the military history of one American Family from the Revolutionary War to present day. The author’s research and writing of the text is in progress and still requires extensive field research. Surnames are not included to provide anonymity.
  • Note 2: Raymond received the Bronze Star for retrieving wounded from the battlefield, under fire.
  • Note 3: Bobby is the only individual related through the maternal side of the family. Family lineage is from Ramey and Ryan back to Charles in the Revolutionary War.
  • Note 4: Ray was a member of an U.S. Army component during Grenada and Panama and Desert Storm but served CONUS (Continental United States) during these conflicts.
  • Note 5: Some members of the family have served in more than one component of the U.S. Military. Ramey is currently a member of an U.S. Army component. He is waiting deployment to a combat zone.

ATTENTION READERS

We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully Informed
In fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.

About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
Due to the nature of uncensored content posted by VT's fully independent international writers, VT cannot guarantee absolute validity. All content is owned by the author exclusively. Expressed opinions are NOT necessarily the views of VT, other authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners, or technicians. Some content may be satirical in nature. All images are the full responsibility of the article author and NOT VT.
Previous articleEXCLUSIVE TO VETERANS TODAY : Lebanon – Wiki-Cables Tell of Treason, US Interference
Next articleWorld Russia Forum 2011: Is “Reset” Enough?
Dale R. Suiter served in the United States Marine Corps June 1966 - February - 1970. He served with Ammo Company First FSR, 2nd CAG Q-6 and Q-3, H&S 81's 3/9 and 1/3. His service "On the Rock" was with Ordanance Schools, Camp Hansen. Following the Marine Corp, he completed a career in public service - prison and jail operations. In addition, he completed a career as a reserve officer with the Michigan Army National Guard. His two sons and two sons-in-law are veterans of the war on terror. The family continues in service to the United States of America.